“Surely it shouldnae take an eternity for them to arrive, since their messenger arrived almost an hour ago,” Callum complained. “’Tis bloody cold—I can feel me balls freezing off.”
“Let’s give them more time,” Adair reasoned. “Ye ken how treacherous the roads can be this time of year.”
It had rained the night before, and the muddy roads made travel slow and difficult. Perhaps Laird Scott’s carriage had gotten stuck.
Adair itched with the urge to send out some men to escort them to the castle—travel made him uneasy, for some reason—but just as he was about to give in, the whinnying of horses reached his ears.
“They’re here,” he announced, standing straighter.
Callum righted himself and ran a hand through his hair, which gave him a ruggedly handsome look. They had similar features, but where Adair’s features were sharper and lined with worry, Callum’s were softer, with a ready smile that had earned him more than a few admirers over the years.
The daughters of visiting lairds often swooned at the sight of him and fell in love when he flirted with them. It had caused no few problems for him when the lasses returned home heartbroken because he hadn’t asked for their hands. It was a miracle that it hadn’t led to war.
Youthful exuberance,their father would have said.
Adair pushed the thought out of his mind when the carriage rolled into view, six mounted horses following closely behind.The riders descended first, followed by the driver, who moved hastily to open the carriage door with a flourish.
Laird Scott descended first, tall and proud despite his age, though his greying hair and beard betrayed it. He was handsome, with the proud bearing of a Highland laird.
A thought niggled at the back of Adair’s mind. Malcolm Scott reminded him of someone, but the name eluded him.
Adair shook the thought out of his mind. Now was not the time.
He watched as Laird Scott surveyed the castle with an assessing gaze, as though deciding whether it was worthy of his presence. With a nod, he reached a hand into the carriage, which was grasped by a smaller, delicate one.
Lady Isla stepped out of the carriage and nodded gently upon seeing Adair. She was very bonny, with an elegant bearing that befitted her station, albeit young. But at least he could rest easy knowing that it should not be difficult for his brother to grow attracted to her.
“Welcome to MacDonnell Castle, Laird Scott, Lady Isla,” Adair greeted as they ascended the front steps, Laird Scott in front and Lady Isla a polite distance behind. “I hope the journey was uneventful.”
“I should like to say that, but the final stretch leaves much to be desired,” Laird Scott said with an upturned nose. “Ye shouldpay more attention to yer roads, MacDonnell. I was this close to turning the carriage around and going back home.”
“Duly noted, Scott,” Adair answered with a polite nod. “Might I also introduce me braither, Callum. Callum, this is Laird Scott and his daughter, Lady Isla.”
Callum bowed. “Welcome to MacDonnell Castle, Laird Scott, Lady Isla.”
Laird Scott eyed him as though sizing him up, and after a long minute, he motioned for his daughter to step forward.
“This is me lovely daughter, Isla,” he said, nodding toward her. “Come, dear child. Come and meet yer groom.”
Lady Isla stepped forward and bobbed a small curtsy. “’Tis a pleasure to meet ye, me Laird,” she told Adair. Then she extended a hand toward Callum. “And ye as well.”
Callum bowed over her hand, placing a chaste kiss on the back of it. “Welcome to MacDonnell Castle, me Lady.”
Adair was delighted to see the lass blush under his brother’s charm. It meant that good things lay ahead of them if the lass liked him well enough.
Laird Scott seemingly shared his sentiment, as he nodded his head.
“Shall we resume our discussion inside? I had the kitchens prepare tea and luncheon so that ye may refresh yerselves,” Adair suggested.
“Ye’re rather hospitable, MacDonnell,” Laird Scott said, still with an upturned nose. “I am glad to see that me daughter will be well cared for here.”
Adair resisted the urge to glare at the disdain in the man’s voice. Instead, he fixed a polite smile on his face and gave a firm nod.
It didn’t matter how rude the man was. What mattered was the impending marriage moving without a hitch and the terms of their agreement.
He led them into the castle, he and Laird Scott in front while Callum and Lady Isla trailed behind. They adjourned to the drawing room, where a fire was blazing. The warmth chased away the chill that had settled in his bones.
As soon as they settled, a maid came in with a tea tray. After she had served them all, she stepped out with a polite curtsy.
