Page 20 of Claimed Highland Brides

She took a seat and turned expectantly to her uncle, chin up, eyes as clear as she could make them, hands folded in her lap. With a sigh, her uncle retook his own seat and turned to her with a smile. She could not help but notice that his eyes were a lot sadder than the last time she had seen him, when he came to spend Christmas with them.

“’Tis truly guid tae see ye, goddaughter.”

She smiled. “’Tis guid tae see ye too, godfaither. Although the need frae haste makes me fashit. Is something the matter wi’ our home? Is there a debt I dinnae ken aboot?”

Uncle Donnchadh sighed, shaking his head. “Nothing sae...pressing. But ye’re faither dinnae on’y leave ye the hoose and land it sits on my dear. There’s more.”

She lifted a skeptical eyebrow, as she had acted as her father’s secretary on all his business affairs. “Oh?”

“Aye. Yer mither also came into their marriage with a significant dowry. One tae kill frae. Very soon, the vultures will be agatherin’ and it will be prudent tae be protected afore that has happened.”

Fiona’s eyebrows rose even higher. Her father had never mentioned such a dowry.

“The dowry was to be passed on to the eldest of her children, which is you, upon marriage. If’n we dinnae manage this verra carefully, ye might find yersel’ abducted and wed by force.”

She gasped, hand to her chest. “Who would do tha’?”

The laird snorted although his eyes grew sadder. “Ye’re a sweet child and ye dinnae ken what men would do frae greed.”

“But...Uncle,” she ventured tentatively, “why can I no choose my own husband?”

He stiffened in his seat, glaring balefully at her. “Have ye no been listening tae a word I’ve said? D’ye not ken the lengths any man would gang tae, in order to win ye? Ye think ye can choose better than me?”

Fiona shifted in her seat in the wake of his anger. She had never seen the laird so aroused to fury. It was a little terrifying. “Nae, Uncle. I-I beg yer pardon.”

He slumped back in his seat, looking defeated yet relieved. “I apologize frae scaring ye. I dinnae mean tae do tha’.”

“I-It’s quite alright.”

At that moment there was a slight knock on the door and then it opened right away to reveal a manservant holding a tray of steaming dishes. Fiona perked up at once, as she was quite hungry. The manservant crossed the table and placed the tray in front of her. As he was about to leave, she restrained him by pulling on his wrist. “Uh, excuse me, but would ye be so kind as to tak’ a tray to my body servant? She is in my chambers at the moment.”

The manservant bowed. “Of course, ma’am. I believe someone has awready been dispatched tae bring her some food.”

“Guid.” She released his wrist. “I thank ‘e.”

“Ye’re welcome ma’am.” The manservant walked out and Fiona dug into her food with focused intensity. She really was very hungry. Her uncle silently watched her eat and for that she was grateful. She did not feel like speaking about her impending marriage on an empty stomach.

As soon as she put her plate aside, however, he began to speak as he got to his feet. “My dear, I believe we have kept yer future husband waiting long enough. Come wi’ me and meet him.”

She tried to smile as she got to her feet but it was difficult. Taking her uncle’s proffered arm, she allowed him to lead her to a small balcony adjacent to the room. There stood a man, fairly short in stature—at least in comparison to Daividh—but taller than she was. He turned to her and smiled, the wrinkles around his eyes multiplying tenfold it seemed. His pale red hair seemed to be fading fast to grey and thinning as well. She was surprised that he did not wear a wig.

She stretched her lips, trying to smile and not scream in horror. The man walked towards her and for a hopeful moment, she hoped that he was the father of her future husband. He took her hand in his dry callused one and brought her knuckles to his lips. She suppressed a shudder as he placed a kiss on the back of her hand.

“My dear Miss Douglass, so pleased I am to meet ye. I expect we shall get on famously. I am Padraig Hunter, Laird of Glendale, and your husband-to-be.”