Page 1 of The Highlander’s Kilted Affair

CHAPTER ONE

Mackay Castle, the wedding of Laird Cathal Mackay

“We are surely going tae be hanged for ruining this wedding, Yvaine,” Evelyn Sinclair hissed at her younger sister. “We shouldnae be here.”

“Och, will ye stop fretting,” Yvaine replied evenly. “Dae ye nae remember why we came? We’re supposed tae be having some fun. Besides, our clan was invited. Ye ken that. If Faither had accepted, we’d have come here with him.”

They were slowly moving through the many people who already filled the corridor. Laughter and boisterous conversations met their ears, the women giggling, and the men guffawing. Tankards spilled their contents as the merrier guests hardly seemed to care where their drink ended up, and a faint trickle of music danced on the air as the sisters made their way to the great hall of Mackay Castle.

Evelyn brushed her long, dark blonde hair behind her ear and moved closer to her sister as they continued to maneuver through the crowd. “Aye, well,” she whispered. “There was never a chance o’ that happening. He’s nae the same anymore, so distant and secluded. He can barely look us in the eye, never mind anybody else.”

Yvaine looked at Evelyn sadly. “He did lose his wife, Evelyn.”

“And we lost our maither,” Evelyn countered. “But it has been a year already. He cannae mourn forever.”

“It isnae the same fer him. Ye ken that he blames himself. She was murdered tae punish him, and he cannae get past that.”

Evelyn could hardly argue, and perhaps her anger for her father’s lack of affection masked the sadness she felt for him and for herself. Their mother and father had adored each other, anyone with eyes had seen it. After her mother’s murder, her father, Laird Donald Sinclair, had not been the same.

She did try to understand how hard it was for him, but she and Yvaine had lost someone precious too. They had needed him over the last year. They had needed his love and support as they dealt with their own feelings of grief. But he had not been there for them. A part of him had died with his wife, and Evelyn had wondered, over the last months, if he would ever return from the darkness that still surrounded his being.

The further into the castle they ventured, the more her nerves grew. This was not something she or Yvaine would normally do. Holding integrity in high esteem, they didn’t break the rules. Evelyn fingered the necklace at her throat. It was a gift from her mother, and thus, more precious to her than anything else she owned. Yvaine was right. Their clan had been invited, but her father had declined, and thus, none of the Sinclair clan were expected to be there. More than that, though, Donald Sinclair did not know his daughters had sneakily left the castle that evening and travelled the couple of hours to attend the wedding feast of Laird Mackay.

It had been Yvaine’s idea.

The previous afternoon, the sisters had been walking in the gardens of their father’s castle. Yvaine had been trying to cheer Evelyn up, but there was nothing she could say to lift her spirits.

“Life isnae fair,” Yvaine had said. “What Faither is making ye dae isnae fair either.”

Evelyn had shrugged. “We need the alliance. What am I supposed tae dae? Run away? I have nay choice, Yvaine. I have tae marry him.”

“But ye havenae even met him. Faither is being cruel.”

Evelyn heaved a huge sigh. “I will meet him in a few weeks when we travel to Laird Audor Gunn’s castle,” she had murmured, a little frustration creeping into her tone.

The sisters had walked for a little while longer, when Yvaine had suddenly gasped, spun to look at Evelyn, and blurted, “I have an idea.”

Evelyn had tilted her head, raised her eyebrows, and looked at Yvaine knowingly. “Ye cannae convince him. I’ve tried. He willnae listen.”

Yvaine shook her head. “It’s nae about Faither. It’s about Laird Mackay’s wedding.”

Evelyn frowned then. “What about it?”

“We should go,” Yvaine had blurted excitedly. “As a rebellion against yer destiny, we can sneak out and go tae Mackay Castle. I’ve heard it’s going tae be a huge affair. Laird Cathal Mackay is our ally, and besides, it will only take an hour or so tae reach them across the border o’ the clan lands.”

At first, Evelyn had been appalled. “That is a crazy idea. What if we get caught? What if Faither finds out? What if someone sees us?”

While Yvaine was someone who ordinarily would never go against her father, or anyone else for that matter, she surprised Evelyn with her answer. “Who cares? What possible punishment could be worse than forcing ye tae marry a man ye dinnae even ken? Ye deserve tae have a little fun and forget about everything. A final revolt before yer life is nae longer yer own.”

Evelyn had still been unsure. They would be taking a huge risk. But upon seeing Yvaine’s eagerness and knowing that even suggesting such a thing went against her character in every way, Evelyn had realized her sister was doing this for her. She was willing to risk getting into trouble just so Evelyn could have one night of freedom.

“All right,” Evelyn had finally agreed.

Once in the great hall, Evelyn’s nerves settled a little. Perhaps it was the joyous atmosphere of laughter, or the sight of people dancing to the thump of the bodhran drum, the fiddle, and the tin whistle.

“Ye see,” Yvaine smiled, handing Evelyn a drink, “are ye nae glad we came now?”

“I am,” Evelyn replied. “But if Faither discovers it, I’m going tae tell him it was all yer idea.”