Page 7 of How to Woo a Highlander

William looked relieved and grasped her hand in his with gratitude.

"Thank ye, Jane. I am fortunate that ye are so understandin'. Me clan is havin' trouble with the neighborin' clan Grant. I cannae have me own people in an uproar."

Jane could see that despite his youth, he was quite the responsible Laird, and that he was currently dealing with a lot of problems. She knew nothing of Highlander politics, but it was clear that he was under a lot of stress.

She squeezed his fingers reassuringly.

"Don't worry about me Laird William, the last thing I will do is make things difficult for you.".

He beamed at her, seeming genuinely happy.

"I am truly lucky. Ye are a wonderful person, Jane," he complimented.

It was a simple compliment without a single iota of flirtation, but he was so sincere that she blushed. A smile lifted her lips. She might never have a romantic relationship with him, but at least they could be good friends. It was not the marriage she hoped for as a young girl, but it was better than most.

She gave him a genuine grin, now perfectly comfortable with her arm locked in his.

This is not so bad, he is a lovely man, and quite handsome. I can be happy here.

As they walked, her earlier doubts melted away, and her resolve strengthened.

"Ah, Jane, let me introduce ye to me best friend," William said.

Jane turned, and her smile fell as her thoughts exploded into chaos. His dark eyes bore into her as though they were deathly spikes, which could impale her, yet all she could think was that up close, he was even more handsome.

"Meet Mr. Alastair Bain, my best friend and right-hand man," William said with a flourish, totally oblivious to the frost between the two.

"Alastair, meet Miss Jane Baxendale," he finished.

The man called Alastair continued to glare at her.

"We've met," he groaned angrily.

Chapter Four

Alastair had been watching the English woman from the moment he’d set eyes on her standing with Lain. He had been incensed for some reason. She looked simply stunning, and he detested the part of him that couldn’t help but be attracted to her. What were the odds that he would meet her again? And at the feast no less. She hadn’t left his mind since their first encounter, and now he was forced to see her again.

Seeing her with William made him twice as angry as he had been after he spotted her with Lain. Maybe it was because Lain was usually flirtatious and would go after anything in a skirt, but he had not been as affected even when he saw her with him. He knew it would never amount to anything. William was more serious, and so it was worrisome to see them close together.

Has this English witch entranced William as well? Why is she with him, and why dae I feel so bothered. Am I merely jealous?

He rejected the thought violently. Why should he be jealous? It was not like he wanted to talk to her himself. His denial only served to make him even angrier, and he clenched his fists at his sides. Her eyes sparkled like the finest emeralds, now that he was close enough to admire them. They shone with intelligence and a fiery passion, such that he almost wished they weren’t looking at him with such disdain.

“Yes, we have indeed met.” She looked at him over her nose. “I see that you aren’t any less rude in a formal setting.”

He smarted at her words while William turned from one to the other with a puzzled expression.

“Ye have met before? Where?” he innocently asked before it dawned on him. “Oh, nay, Alastair, dinnae tell me it was she who saved ye earlier today.”

Alastair averted his eyes to avoid William’s scolding gaze and noticed that Lain was approaching. He rubbed his hand over his face and groaned.

This couldnae get any worse

Lain threw an arm over his shoulders even as William began to rebuke him.

“Ye dinnae look the slightest bit remorseful!” he said.

Lain looked questioningly between them. “I saw ye three over here, and I thought I should come to join in, but it seems I missed something.”