Page 51 of Highlander's Captive Bride
The girl shook her head. “Nay, but I’m tempted by one of these scarves. Are they nae pretty?”
Daisy admired them. “Aye, very. That blue one would look very good on ye at the celebration tomorrow,” she suggested, gesturing to a lovely scarf in varying shades of blue.
Nadia beamed at her. “That’s just what I was thinking. Now, ye’ve helped me make me mind up.” She turned to the stallholder. “I’ll take that one,” she said, picking out the blue scarf. She paid for it and placed it in her basket. “Now, can I join ye?” she asked Bellamy. “I’ve finished me shopping now, and I’m in no rush to go anywhere.”
“Nay. We dinnae want company just now, Nadia,” Bellamy responded—rather curtly, Daisy thought. “Ye can go off about yer business and leave us be.”
Nadia looked a bit disappointed, but she nodded. “Very well. I’ll leave ye to it, then, and see ye back at the castle.”
“Aye, goodbye for now, Nadia,” Daisy said, feeling a little bit sorry for the girl, while at the same time inwardly glad that Bellamy had dismissed her. She had to admit, it was very enjoyable just having him to herself.
She watched Nadia make her way through the throng before turning back to Bellamy. “That was a wee bit harsh, was it nae?” she asked in a teasing tone.
Bellamy looked down at her, his eyes flashing a challenge in the sunlight. “Two’s company, three’s a crowd,” he said. “Do ye want me to call her back, then?”
Daisy laughed and shook her head. “Nay, I just felt a wee bit sorry for her, that’s all,” she explained.
“I dinnae ken why,” he replied. “The lassie has everything she needs and wants. She can see us any day of the week if she wishes, so why should I let her play gooseberry, when this is a day out for ye?”
Daisy’s heart skipped a beat at the implication of his choice of words.
“Gooseberry, is it?” she teased.
“Ye ken very well what I mean,” Bellamy returned, squeezing her arm lightly, his glance sending tingles down her spine. He turned back to the stall and fingered the scarves. “So, ye like these, do ye?”
“Aye, they’re very pretty.”
“Well, I’d like to buy ye something, a thank ye gift, so go ahead and choose the one ye like best.” He gestured with his eyes for her to go ahead.
“That’s very kind of ye,” Daisy replied, feeling her cheeks heating up a little, for she was touched by his offer.
She sorted through the scarves and eventually chose one in the Murdoch tartan.
It’ll be something to remember him by when I’m gone.
“Ach, ye’ve chosen that one to please me, have ye nae?” Bellamy asked jokingly, paying for the scarf. The stallholder handed it to Daisy with a warm smile.
Daisy immediately tied the scarf around her neck. “Aye, that’s it,” she replied laughingly.
“Well, ’tis fitting, for ye’re an honorary Murdoch now, ye ken?” Bellamy told her.
Daisy noticed a definite glint of pleasure in his eyes as he adjusted the scarf for her, noticing that they were once more drawing curious glances from passersby.
“Now, are ye hungry? ’Tis already past noon. I say we get something to eat.”
Daisy had not thought she could be hungry after having a hearty breakfast, but now that she thought about it, she realized she was.
“I find I have quite an appetite,” she confessed. “It must be all this fresh air and excitement. Aye, I’d like to eat something.”
“Good. That’s an excuse to show ye me favorite tavern. They do a grand mince and tatties, or haggis with neeps and tatties, or just neeps and tatties,” Bellamy said with relish.
“It sounds very tempting, and I could do with some ale,” Daisy replied, her mouth watering at the thought of well-cooked potatoes and mashed turnips in thick onion gravy, with beef so tender that it fell apart on the spoon.
Bellamy took her to a large, sprawling tavern, where tables and benches had been set outside. Several people were already eating at other tables, or merely enjoying the spring sunshine over a tankard of ale. There was no evidence of rowdiness or drunkenness at all, which was very pleasing.
Almost as soon as they had sat down opposite each other at a table, a servant appeared to greet the Laird with a respectful bow.
“The usual, Hamish. Twice,” Bellamy told the lad, who went off at once to fulfill the order.
