Page 97 of A Legacy of the Light

The couple turn to face us. Reyne’s father is dressed in a deep red jacket and matching pants that bring out the color of his hair, and her mother is dressed in a pink gown that looks like cupcake frosting.

“Reyne. If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times to call us Mother and Father when we are in public,” Lady Garia scolds her daughter without greeting Reyne or acknowledging my presence. Reyne’s father rolls his eyes out of sight of his wife.

Reyne’s smile tightens. “Mother, Father. This is Elsie. Elsie, these are my parents, General Hector Macleod and Lady Garia Macleod.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” I say politely, offering my hand.

“Elsie, so lovely to meet you,” Reyne’s father replies as he shakes my hand. General Macleod is not much taller than me, and he has broad shoulders and a warm smile like Reyne’s. She has a lot of his features. Her hair is the same vibrant shade as his, and they have the same shape to their face. His accent is a lot stronger than Reyne’s.

“Reyne has told me a lot about you both,” I say, returning the general’s smile.

“How are you finding Elfayne?” he asks.

“It’s wonderful. My Granny was born and raised in Scotland in my world, so I feel as though I have stepped into one of her stories.”

“How wonderful. Reyne has told us a lot about you. Would you like to join us for dinner one night next week?” His enthusiasm and immediate welcome makes my cheeks hurt with a huge smile.

“I would like that, thank you.”

I turn my attention to Lady Garia, offering her my hand. Her brown hair is cut short to her shoulders and has the same curl as her daughter’s. She doesn’t speak as her piercing blue gaze assesses me head to toe.

She ignores my outstretched hand. “I assume that dress is one of my sister-in-law’s designs?” Lady Garia asks, and her lip curls a little as her eyes drift over the split up my thigh.

“Yes. It’s beautiful, don’t you think? I’m grateful she could fit me in on such short notice.”

Reyne’s mother looks at me with a tight smile. “Yes. Cait’s designs certainly are an acquired taste. I do wish Reyne would shop with me.” She casts her eyes over her daughter’s dress and her jaw tightens.

General Hector clears his throat subtly and his wife cuts him a sharp look, silently communicating something between them.

“Reyne tells me she’s training you?” Her father steers the conversation swiftly away from the topic of his sister.

“She is. We’re only two days in. But I expect she’ll have me up to speed in no time, General. She’s being very patient with me,” I tell him.

“Well, I did learn from the best,” Reyne interjects, slipping her arm around her father’s waist and hugging him.

He places a tender kiss on the top of her head. “You were my best student, lass,” he tells her. “And please call me Hector, Elsie.”

I smile as I watch them trade jokes about her first training sessions, Lady Garia rolling her eyes every now and again. Reyne gets all her warmth from her father. The only traits she shares with her mother are the color of her eyes, the curls in her hair, and the shape of her nose.

Reyne kisses Hector on the cheek. “Elsie and I are going to get something to drink. We’ll see you later.”

“It was lovely to meet you both,” I tell them as Reyne leads me to the table and grabs two golden-rimmed flutes filled with sparkling pink liquid.

She hands me one and I hesitate before taking a drink. “Is this Seelie wine?”

Reyne nods and brings her glass to her lips. “Be careful,” she warns.

I take a tentative sip, and flavor explodes on my tongue. It’s sweet with a slight tartness and tastes exactly like raspberry lemonade.

“That’s delicious,” I whisper before taking another sip, the bubbles popping in my mouth as it slides down my throat.

“Do not let me have too many of these,” I warn Reyne. “Tavish told me it’s a lot stronger than human alcohol, and I don’t want to get wasted and make a fool of myself.”

Reyne laughs. “I swear I won’t let you make a fool of yourself.”

“Thanks. Your parents seem nice. You’re so much like your dad.”

A bright smile breaks across her face and she links her arm through mine. “Come on. Tavish and the king will be arriving any minute and I want a good spot to see.” She leads me to the center of the room.