Page 4 of How to Woo a Highlander

Alastair felt his expression turn serious as he remembered the grass covered in blood and the bodies he’d helped to bury in the border villages. It felt strange how he’d been part of the grief and loss a mere day ago, and now he was back at the castle where everything seemed alright.

“Aye, me friend, it was indeed bad. Many young men were slaughtered in those villages. It seemed they just wanted the young men. Or perhaps those lads were the ones who resisted and paid for it with their lives. I took more time helping than I expected, which was why I only headed home this morning.”

His friend looked deeply disturbed as he considered this. William was a good Laird and cared deeply for his people. He hoped that he would be able to shrug off his sadness at the news of the attacks and not go about the rest of the feast gloomily. While they had run into some ill-timed trouble, the feast of celebration was necessary. The clan had been in power for a hundred years, and five of those had been under William’s prosperous rule.

“Dinnae despair me friend. The people have suffered a loss, but their spirit is nae broken. They were preparing to celebrate as well just this mornin’ before I left. Despite the losses, they are still strong, as they ken their Laird will protect them,” he assured his friend. William gave him a weak smile and tapped his shoulder.

Alastair worried, for William always looked like a tired lamb when he looked into his eyes. He was as calm and pleasant as ever, but there was a sadness that he had not seen for a long time, and he did not like it. He pointed it out to Lain, and even Lain had seen it, although he had immediately joked about how he should spend less time looking into William’s eyes, he knew that Lain worried too.

“Ye saw the situation with yer own eyes. What dae ye suggest I dae to help?” William asked him.

“Send a few more of our soldiers down to the border villages. There is only one outpost there since these villagers only produce enough to care for themselves, and nayone attacked them before.” Alastair added.

William nodded his agreement as Alastair considered how unsafe it was in the border villages. They were small and peaceful, and no one thought to attack them, so they were not rigorously guarded by the clan. They were barely taxed since they could only sustain themselves and nothing more. It was not expected that raiders would suddenly take an interest in slaughtering these people.

“The security in those parts is really lackin’, me friend. On the way back, me and me men were ambushed by a band of twenty bandits just as we left the border villages to take the road into the clan.”.

William’s eyes widened, and his grip tightened as he searched his friend for signs of injury.

“What?! Ye are nae injured are ye? By the gods, why are ye just tellin’ me this now? Dae ye need to see a healer?”

Alastair sighed, knowing that his friend would react that way and tried to calm him before he was carted out of the feast to a healer.

“Relax, William, I am alright. I hate to say it, but we were saved by an English party that was passin’ by. The English helped us take them down without issue,” he added darkly.

“Oh, nay…” William said, holding his hand to his head, “ye were awful to them, were ye nae?”

Alastair frowned defensively.

“Me? Awful? I will tell ye there was this horrible English witch…” he began, only for his words to dry on his tongue as he caught sight of the very woman.

Chapter Three

Jane stood stiffly in the corner of the large hall watching the feast. Mary had not accompanied her, and she sorely regretted it. She felt like an outsider with everyone talking and laughing around her, while she knew no one in the crowd. She picked a glass of wine from the tray of a passing servant to keep her hand busy.

After the room had been arranged, Mary had taken the maids to assist her in the arrangement of her own room. Jane had taken that opportunity to bathe and had Mary help her to dress for the feast. The dress she wore was one of her most elegant with its low neckline and pretty lace frills. She had combed out her hair to fall over her shoulders, making her milky skin more pronounced. She had wanted to look good to feel more confident, but now she was not sure if it was the right choice since people kept glancing her way, although they did not speak to her. It was somewhat unnerving.

I should have asked Mary to come with me, at least I would have had someone to talk to.

She frowned against the cup at her lips as she took a sip. Mary had been tired, so she was probably taking a nap. She emptied her glass in one go and dropped it on the tray of another passing servant. Suddenly she froze as her eyes caught a pair of familiar brown ones. Her jaw dropped, and his expression mirrored hers.

It’s the rude devil from the road! I never thought I would see him again. What is he doing here?

Her thoughts were jumping over each other as she forced down a swallow, looking him over. He had changed quite a bit, looking more formal, but there was still a wildness about him that his outfit and slicked-back hair could not tame. The wildness in his eyes raked over her body in a way that made her cheeks warm, and she wrapped her arms around her waist defensively and glared at him defiantly.

He made her feel strange, but she wouldn’t give him the pleasure of seeing her cower. He stood with his hands behind his back, looking like a respectable member of society, unlike earlier. She glanced to see who he was standing with and balked at the sight of Laird William. Once again, her jaw dropped in surprise, seeing the men stood so close together.

William looked every bit of an angel, standing regally beside the rude devil. She could imagine how many women would swoon over him. Her heart should have been thudding for him, but she was more affected by the man beside him. She frowned and turned away, not liking her reactions.

As she spun around, she found herself face to face with another incredibly handsome man. Her eyes widened, and she stepped back.

“Oh my goodness, I am so sorry,” she cried.

The man before her had stunning blue eyes and the most charming smile she had ever seen. He seemed to have no qualms using them disarmingly as he grinned at her and took her fingers in his hand, bowing slightly to place a kiss against her knuckles.

“I beg ye, gracious miss, there is nay need for an apology. It was me fault as I had been approachin’ ye even though ye had nae noticed me. Lain Darrow; pleased to make yer acquaintance Miss…”

Jane found herself grinning as he straightened and let go of her hand. She gave him a curtsy, matching his flourish.