Page 39 of Highlander’s Quest of Desire

Chapter Fifteen

Elspeth laughed. Charles Labert offered her his hand. She took it without hesitation. The wind captured her dress and spun it this way and that, adding to its twirls and swirls as she danced in the glade by the brook with Charles Labert.

It had been three days since they had reached Balquhidder. Elspeth had enjoyed three days of uninterrupted sleep and three-square meals. The English threat had not materialized, and even Bruce was at ease now. While Bruce spent most of his days in the library, or with Master Faraday, Elspeth had enjoyed the company of the Labert boys.

Everything Domnhall had said about them was true. Charles was the best looking, but he was dull. Edward had more wit to his conversation, but his halitosis was distracting and unpleasant. Daniel, the youngest, was sweet natured, humorous, and good fun, but with an annoying need to prove himself an equal to his brothers.

They were enjoying a picnic by the brook. A table had been laid with food for their sustenance and a game of golf had been set up but the boys were enamored with Elspeth and were loath to leave her alone in the other’s company.

She took a few turns around the table with Charles, then Edward cut in, and she was obliged to take a round with him. When Daniel intervened, she was more than glad to dance with him. Edward was nice enough but Elspeth felt flowers would wilt under his bad breath.

“May we join you?”

Elspeth and Daniel stopped dancing to see Laird Labert and Bruce coming down the green. Bruce looked much changed. In only three days his health had improved considerably. So had his mood.

“For dancing with Lady Elspeth or golf?” Charles asked.

“Both, I should think,” Laird Labert laugh, taking Elspeth’s hand and dancing with her for a moment. Bruce watched on, a bored look on his face.

At first, he had been suspicious of everything, and very rude to their hosts, but when after two days the English had not shown at Laird Labert’s door he had relaxed considerably.

It had made no improvement in their relationship though. Elspeth feared all was lost on that front.

“Have ye had anything to eat, my dear?” Laird Labert asked.

“I have, aye. Would ye like some refreshment?”

“Aye, Bruce and I are famished,” Laird Labert accepted a plate of cold cuts and preserves. “Reading is a leisurely pursuit, but it sure makes one hungry.”

“What have you been reading?” Edward enquired.

“The Arthurian legends,” Laird Labert said smoothly.

“And ye, Bruce?”

“History of the Roman legion in Scotland.” He was brief to the point of being rude. Elspeth couldn’t begin to imagine what it was that had offended him now. He had been perfectly genial with the Labert boys at breakfast.

It’s none of yer concern,she reminded herself. What Bruce does, thinks, or worries about is not for ye to waste yer time on.

They ate and discussed the Arthurian legends they all found fascinating.

“I’ve always loved the passages on the Lady of the Lake,” Elspeth said, staring dreamily at the brook. “I would very much love to learn how to swim.”

“Swimming is a dangerous business,” Charles advised sagely. “One must never mock the water gods by boasting that ye can cross their murky passages with ease. They can be vengeful and pull ye down to stay with them forever.”

“He only says that because he doesnae ken how to swim,” Edward crowed.

Charles flushed. “And ye donae ken how to brush yer rancid mouth.”

“Ye could learn far more if ye stuck yer head in a book instead of staring at yerself in the mirror all day long fixing yer hair.”

“Mint is nae yer enemy, Eddy!”

Elspeth was shocked at the bickering. They were attacking each other worse than children. Daniel ignored them and did some cartwheels. Laird Labert glared at his children, but Bruce looked on affably. His mood had considerably improved, and he ate with gusto, a spark of delight in his dark eyes.

“Stop it, the both of ye,” Laird Labert snapped at his sons. “What will Lady Elspeth think of ye two. If ye keep fighting like this she might look elsewhere for a husband.”

Elspeth had been sipping her lemonade when Laird Labert said that. She balked at the idea, and the lemonade refused to go down her throat. Spitting most of it back into her tumbler, Elspeth stared at Laird Labert as if he had grown two heads.