Page 7 of It’s in his Highland Kiss

“Weel!” Eiric said, as he slapped his palms on his thighs and stood, eager to put an end to that conversation as soon as he could. “It’s been decided then. I’d better be on me way, me lady. It was so verra lovely to see ye again.”

With that, Eiric turned around and walked away before Lady Hadlee could say anything else. He all but ran out of the room as though he was being chased, but when he looked over his shoulder, Lady Hadlee had already found someone else with whom she could occupy herself, a poor young woman who would have to listen to her for the remainder of the night.

She didn’t even think to say goodbye to her daughter.

Perhaps that’s for the best. Canna have her seein’ Marion drippin’ wet like that.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

The voice came from behind him, demanding and stern, and Eiric froze on the spot. He recognised that voice; he had heard it so many times before.

“Mary!” he exclaimed, turning around with a smile on his face.

There was no escaping Mary. He could run out of the manor, he could avoid Lady Hadlee and every other person in that room, all of them apart from Mary, who was like a bloodhound every time she got something in her head.

“You’d leave without saying goodbye.”

It wasn’t a question, but rather an accusation, and one that Eiric couldn’t deny. He didn’t like saying goodbye, and he certainly didn’t want to stay in that manor for even a moment longer, but he could hardly refuse to speak to the one cousin—apart from Marion, of course—from that side of the family that he didn’t absolutely despise.

“I’m in a hurry, lass,” Eiric said, trying to reason with her. Just as he spoke, though, it occurred to him that he needed something from Mary, only he didn’t know how to ask for it. “Mary . . . if I asked for one of yer dresses, would ye give it to me?”

The look that Mary gave him was one of utter disbelief. Eiric’s eyes widened, but just as he was about to explain, Mary spoke first.

“Do you think it’ll fit you?” she asked, as she gazed at him from head to toe, sizing him up.

“It isna for me!” Eiric shouted, before he could stop himself. It didn’t take long for him to notice that several pairs of eyes were now on him, watching him as he shouted at the very woman who was being honoured at the feast. With an awkward smile, Eiric held Mary by the arm and pulled her aside, deciding that the best course of action was to simply tell her the truth.

“I need it for Marion,” he said. “She, uh . . . she slipped and fell in the lake and—”

“Oh Lord!” Mary gasped, a hand coming up to cover her mouth. “Is she alright? Where is she?”

“She’s just fine,” Eiric assured her. “But she’s wet to the bone, and she doesna wish for anyone to see her like that. If I could borrow a dress from ye—”

“Of course!” Mary said, as she grabbed his hand and began to pull him up the stairs. “And tell her she can keep it. Poor thing . . . her mother never lets her have anything pretty.”

“Weel . . . can ye keep a secret?” Eiric asked, and it stopped Mary dead in her tracks. She turned to look at him, eyes wide and curious, and nodded frantically, eager to hear what he had to say. “I’m takin’ her to Scotland. I told her maither that me own maither wants to see her, and that I’ll take her for six months.”

“And Lady Hadlee agreed?”

“Och, aye,” Eiric said. “She’s glad to have her off her hands. But I have nay intention of bringing her back.”

Mary looked at him then, and for a moment, Eiric thought that he had made a mistake telling her. Perhaps she would try to change his mind, he thought, or she would run downstairs and inform Lady Hadlee.

“Good,” Mary said. “Don’t ever bring her back to that woman. Lady Hadlee is a monster.”

With that, Mary dragged Eiric to her room, shoving a dozen dresses in his arms and telling him to choose. Though he knew little about dresses, he picked one that he thought Marion would like and rushed to the door.

“Thank you, Mary,” he said. “Remember, ye’re always welcome to Scotland.”

“I might accept your offer,” she said. “Now go. Go before Lady Hadlee changes her mind.”

With a final smile, Eiric rushed back to the stables. He was being brash and reckless, he knew. His Father would certainly reprimand him for bringing Marion to Scotland.

None of it mattered though, not when he saw that smile on her face as the two of them rode away from the manor.

Chapter Four

The dress that Mary loaned Marion was as uncomfortable as it was beautiful, and for the first time in her life, Marion couldn’t help but feel appreciation for the dresses that her mother made her wear. Her waist was cinched to the point where she could hardly breathe, her arms felt trapped in those tight sleeves, and her exposed chest only served to leave her skin at the wind’s mercy.