Page 14 of A Highland Bride Taken
“Ye willnae sleep, Ollie?” he asked.
“Nay, I cannae sleep,” Ollie answered with a pout.
“Why? Are ye afraid?”
“Nay. Where is Mabel?”
Campbell stiffened at the question. “Mabel?”
“Aye. She took care of us today,” Ollie answered. “Me ma spoke of her often, and she is verra bonny. I want her here.”
“Ollie…”
“I want her here!” Ollie cried.
Campbell sighed, knowing he would get nowhere with the lad if he did not do as he wanted.
As much as he did not want to involve the lass any longer, the choice had been taken from him by the now-weeping boy.
He pulled the bell pull to summon a maid, and when she arrived, he asked her to fetch MacLeannan’s daughter, already dreading their next encounter.
6
Tossing and turning in the soft bed, Mabel was frustrated that she was unable to sleep despite her comfortable accommodations. She was surprised that the Laird had been quick to accommodate her, even though he hadn’t been friendly.
She worried her lip again, frustrated at how her cowardice hadn’t allowed her access to the children. Even if it would be a difficult task to sneak out of home, the fact that there were children she had to care for would have been enough of a motivation. Not that she did not understand his decision, but desire won where understanding should have been. He had accused her of acting rashly, after all.
Never had she been so scolded by anyone, not even her parents, yet she had taken it without a word of protest because of the overwhelming presence that was Laird Muir.
Now that she had seen him, she couldn’t address him with the moniker others did, even behind his back. It was thoughtless and unfounded.
She turned onto her side, holding her pillow tighter as she recalled her encounter with who was likely the most interesting man she had ever met.
Handsome beyond what words could describe, with a confident masculine air about him that accentuated her delicate feminine nature. She had been ready to do anything he commanded, but it was by sheer determination that she had been able to voice her protests, even if they hadn’t availed much.
She felt guilty for thinking so hard about him, when she should have been more worried about her parents’ reaction to her misbehavior. She had half a mind to steal away, but she knew without a doubt that he would chase her down before she got very far. He was that stubborn, and it wasn’t hard to imagine his ire.
She sighed again.
So lost was she in thought that it wasn’t until she felt a hand patting her shoulder that she realized she wasn’t alone.
She bolted upright, startled, drawing the bedcovers around her more tightly.
“Pardon me for frightening ye, Me Lady, but the Laird requests yer presence in the twins’ room,” the slight maid said, curtsying. “I knocked several times, but ye didnae answer.”
Mabel flushed, embarrassed that she had been lost in irresponsible thoughts. Thankfully, she hadn’t been thinking out loud, or she would never be able to live past the embarrassment.
“Might I ask why?” she asked, rising quickly and donning her dress.
“He didnae say why, Me Lady,” the maid answered.
Mabel didn’t ask further questions and followed behind the maid with quick steps, wondering why the Laird suddenly had a change of heart. Perhaps she had been able to make him see reason, after all.
When she stepped into the room, she was not prepared to catch the small bundle that ran towards her. She stumbled at the impact but didn’t fall, thankfully.
She recognized the child as Ollie, since Connor was soundly asleep on the bed beside the startled Laird. She gave him a questioning look while wrapping an arm around Ollie, who still hadn’t let go of her skirts.
“Are ye well, Ollie?” she asked, picking up the boy.
