Page 33 of Under the Laird’s Promise

"Aye, this is Tavish MacBain." Maighread's voice stayed gentle, natural. "Tavish, this is Ailsa, her sister Moira, and their brother Finn. Their father serves in our guard."

The boy stepped forward, craning his neck to look up at Tavish. "Are ye really going tae marry Lady Maighread?"

Tavish's throat closed. He managed a nod but couldn't force words past his lips.

"When's the wedding?" Moira piped up. "Will there be a feast? Can we come?"

"Are ye in love?" Ailsa's question came breathless, romantic. "Like in the bard's songs? Did ye slay a dragon tae win her hand?"

"I—" Tavish started, then stopped. What was he supposed to say? The truth would shatter their innocent excitement. Lies felt wrong spoken to children.

He looked helplessly at Maighread.

She stepped in smoothly, crouching to the children's level. "There will indeed be a wedding, though we haven't set a date yet. And aye, there will be a feast where everyone's invited."

"But are ye in love?" Ailsa persisted. "Truly?"

Maighread's cheeks colored prettily. "What a question."

"Mama says people should only marry fer love," Finn announced. "Otherwise they'll be miserable ferever."

"Yer mama is very wise." Maighread straightened slightly. "And ye needn't worry. Tavish and I care fer each other very much."

"How much?" Moira demanded.

Maighread glanced at Tavish, something soft passing between them. Then she crouched to the children's level. "Ye want tae hear about the courtship?"

"Aye!" all three chorused.

"All right then. But just the beginning, mind. Then ye must help Cook." She gestured for them to sit on the nearby bench. "It was three years ago, at the Beltane gathering in Edinburgh..."

Tavish settled beside her as she spoke, watching the children's faces light up. She described the crowded hall, the music, the dancing. How she'd been holding a cup of wine when someone jostled her.

"And that's when I caught it," Tavish added, entering the story naturally. "Right before it spilled all over her lovely gown."

"Were ye scared?" Moira asked.

"Terrified," Tavish admitted with a grin. "She looked ready tae murder whoever had nearly ruined her dress."

"But then he smiled," Maighread continued, "and asked if I'd dance with him."

"Did ye say aye?" Ailsa breathed.

"Nae at first. I told him I didn't dance with strangers." Maighread's eyes met Tavish's briefly. "But he was very persistent."

"I promised I was harmless," Tavish said. "Which was a complete lie, but she believed me anyway."

The children giggled.

"We danced three times that night," Maighread said. "And by the third dance, we were talking like old friends. About everything—our families, our hopes, things we'd never told anyone else."

"And then what?" Finn demanded.

"Then I had tae leave," Tavish said. "But before I did, I asked if I could write tae her. And she said aye."

"Fer three whole years, we wrote letters tae each other," Maighread added. "Until finally, Tavish couldn't wait any longer."

"What did ye dae?" Ailsa asked.