Page 15 of Wedded to the Twisted Highlander
He was, after all, the Laird of McFair Castle. He had duties to carry out.
“And when are ye goin’ to remember that ye’re nae our faither?” Reid shot back.
“Ye’re right, I’m nae. Faither is upstairs on his deathbed, and I’m doin’ the best I can wit’ what I’ve got. Now, if ye’re nae goin’ to help me…”
“Aye, I’m leavin’,” Reid huffed, as usual when things started getting too heated. But it wasn’t like he could do anything to Thomas, and they both knew it.
Being the firstborn did have its perks, but Thomas wished that the torch was handed down to Olivia instead of him.
“Mark me words, Braither,” Reid said as he paused in the doorway. “One of these days, something is goin’ to come around and knock ye off yer high horse. And when that day comes, I promise, I’m nae goin’ to do a thing to help ye. I’m just goin’ to sit back and laugh.”
“And when that day comes, dearest braither, I can promise ye it’ll be yer mess that I’ll be cleanin’ up. But the way, the messenger already told me about the lass from Edinburgh, and she’ll nae stay under our roof.”
“But she’s already on her way. She’ll be arrivin’ tomorrow,” Reid said.
“And ye’ll send her back to where she came from,” Thomas grunted.
“Whatever happened to marryin’ for love?” Reid complained.
Thomas arched an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by his brother’s deeds. “If I ever thought ye could fall in love, I’d be all for it. But I believe, dear braither, that ye have abused the term,” he said. “Ye summoned her to bed her and nothing more.”
“That’s nae, true,” Reid protested.
Thomas flashed him a warning glare.
Reid rolled his eyes and placed his hand on the door handle. “Well, nae entirely.”
“I have work,” Thomas reminded him in a cold, stern voice as he returned his attention to the ledger.
“Just one more thing,” Reid insisted. But before he could finish, Thomas reached into the top drawer of his desk and took out one of the many smooth stones he’d been collecting from the river.
With speed and precision, Thomas threw the stone at the door, lodging the pebble into the wood.
Reid jumped back, shocked by the impact. “I’m tellin’,” he snarled, as if their mother would do anything.
Thomas shook his head. Despite Reid being only three years younger, he behaved like a child.
“Go and see what Maither will do,” Thomas said as he watched his brother throw open the door and stomp out of the room.
Thomas exhaled as silence fell over the room. Only the gentle popping of the fire filled the hallowed space that was his study. As much as he wished his brother would find purpose in his life, he understood that Reid had to find it on his own.
As he turned to the ledger, Thomas replayed his conversation with Reid. How his brother always managed to catch the new ladies that came to the castle astonished him. After all, Thomas barely had any time to himself. With the harvest coming up and the rents being due, the last thing he needed was a distraction.
“Me Laird,” a councilman called as he poked his head around the door.
Thomas pressed his lips into a thin line, irked by the sudden intrusion. “What?” he barked.
“Are ye aware of the young lass in the castle?” the councilman asked.
“Aye, I’m aware,” Thomas huffed, wishing he could stop thinking about Astrid. Yet, it seemed that no one in the castle was going to let him forget about her. “Treat her kindly. She’s a guest.”
“Who is she, exactly?” the councilman asked, his voice cracking with concern.
“She’s the new healer. She’ll stay here till either me faither gets better or goes home. Now, will ye be productive and spread the word so that I dinnae have to answer the same question again? I’ve work to do.”
“Aye, of course,” the councilman answered with a swift bow.
For a moment, Thomas wondered if maybe he’d made a mistake by letting Astrid stay with him. But what other choice did he have? If he threw her out on the street, it might as well be the bowels of hell for her.
