Page 2 of How to Woo a Highlander

Who is this rude character?!

"It is not a Lord, but a Miss who now regrets extending such a generous hand of aid to a group of unscrupulous Scots. That you would be so boorish as to be rude to those who assist you is bad enough, but to think you would leave such a distasteful impression on foreigners is disgraceful. You are lower in moral standards than the bandits we just fended off," she said haughtily, causing the Scot to look taken aback and gape like a fish at her onslaught. Satisfied, she turned to Adam, who gave her a bow.

"I apologize for making you and the men waste your efforts on such a miscreant," she added, heading back into the carriage, leaving Adam wide-eyed and the annoying Scot standing aghast with his jaw open.

"Please, allow our party to continue the journey and forget this unfortunate incident," she ordered. Adam gave another quick bow, rushing to carry out her orders as she settled back into her seat. Her heart was pounding with excitement, despite her anger. Perhaps it was that she was pleased to have wiped the disdain from his face and replaced it with shock.

Such a sour and unpleasant man.

She heard the sound of horses and peeked out through the carriage window to see the Scots riding off. She sneered at their retreating forms, wondering who they were. She had seen their colors, and they were undoubtedly men from the Mackenzie clan. She hoped that they were not all like that, although she wasted no time in putting that man in his place.

His face flashed in her mind again, and she leaned back in her seat as her heart pounded. Despite his horrible demeanor, he was quite handsome. She wondered if the Laird would be as attractive. The carriage began to move again, and she finally noticed the small smile on Mary's face.

"What is it?" she asked, eyeing her governess out of the corner of her eye. Mary smiled wider.

"That was very eloquent. You put that man in his place quite well and also dismissed him. That was truly ladylike," she praised, causing Jane's brow to rise.

"Well, thank you, Mary, it is a product of your tutelage," Jane said, praising Mary in turn and allowing them to fall into a comfortable silence for the rest of the ride.

Mary was to educate the children that Jane would eventually bear as well as keep her company. She had known Mary her whole life and felt the woman was something of a mother to her. Jane did not even remember her own mother, who had died when she was young, so all she knew was the governess. Although Mary could be strict and taciturn, she still gave Jane a feeling of warmth with her presence.

They arrived at the castle in the late afternoon, and Jane took a few deep breaths to calm herself while the footman opened the carriage doors for her. She glanced at Mary, finding strength in the gray eyes of her governess and lifted herself out of the carriage with all the grace she could muster.

She came face to face with her betrothed for the first time. He gave her a smile that seemed bittersweet and a bowed, taking her fingers and kissing them.

"Welcome to the Mackenzie clan castle, Miss Baxendale. I am William Abernethy, the Laird, and I am pleased to meet me betrothed."

He was a very handsome man, Jane noted. His hair was blonde and looked softer than silk, the way it was tied loosely from his face, and his eyes were hazel with golden specs when the light hit them at a certain angle. He looked like an angel but did not make her breath stop as it had with the rude Scot. She bit back a confused frown and, instead, gave him a deep curtsy and smiled.

"It is an even greater pleasure to meet you, my Laird," she answered as she straightened back up. For a few seconds, they exchanged pleasant smiles and looked each other over, before the maids appeared to retrieve her things.

"Ye will be taken to yer chambers, and the maids will help ye settle in. I ken I should take ye around meself, but please, bear with me. Today is the day of the feast fer the Clan Mackenzie's one-hundredth anniversary to power," he explained.

Jane nodded in understanding even before he finished. "Oh," she said.

"Aye, 'tis a busy day fer the clan and me. I'm sorry to make this meetin' after yer arrival so rushed. I will dae me best to make it up to ye another time," William added. Jane was already nodding in agreement.

"Certainly, certainly, I understand, of course, please do not worry about me. Thank you for your hospitality. I will see you at the feast."

He gave her another polite smile, and she returned it before following the maids with Mary. He meant no harm and seemed to be a genuinely pleasant and gentle person, but she could not help feeling uncomfortable and unwelcome as she was ushered into a lavish chamber as the maids fussed and arranged her things.

It seemed he did not take to her, just as she did not take to him. If he had found her exciting, he certainly would have wanted to spend more time with her, regardless of what he had to do. More importantly, she would have wanted to spend more time with him if attracted to him, but she was not. If their first meeting was anything to go by, their marriage would be one of mutual respect and perhaps even friendship.

Mary was expertly directing the maids while Jane lost herself in thoughts. All she wanted was to take a long and relaxing bath to prepare herself mentally for the feast ahead. If she could, she would try to figure out why she felt no attraction for her betrothed. He certainly looked like an angel, but instead, she had been attracted to the rude devil she had met on the way.

Chapter Two

Alastair Bain adjusted the sash over his coat more violently than was necessary, his fingers moving according to the level of his irritation, taking it out on his clothing.

"This bloody thing willnae stay put!" he muttered darkly, all but ready to rip the cloth in half.

His fingers began digging into the cloth to tear it when Lain Darrow stepped in. Lain pried his fingers from the sash and helped him arrange it.

Lain was heir to the recently deceased Head Advisor of the clan and a close friend of Alistair.

"There, there, calm yerself now. Ye dinnae have to take out yer frustrations on yer poor garments," Lain said, his voice teasing as always.

Alastair rolled his eyes at his ever playful friend in mild annoyance. Lain was right; he was taking out his frustrations on his clothing, but he did not care. Of course, he was upset. It was supposed to be a merry day for the clan Mackenzie, but it had started horribly.