Page 2 of A Highland Bride Taken
Mabel let her mother drag her to Lady Fraser and watched as they traded thinly veiled barbs between polite words.
“I must congratulate ye on such awonderfulmatch, Lady MacLennan. Surely ye must be proud of yer Scarlett,” Lady Fraser said with a smile.
“Indeed. Me Scarlett is a great beauty, and our clan is strong. The match is the best that could have been. I am so happy that one of me daughters has wed so well. I can only imagine the other two will follow suit soon.”
Mabel didn’t miss how Lady Fraser’s nose turned up in disgust at the sheer arrogance in her mother’s tone. It wasn’t polite to brag so openly about one’s good fortune, especially to one who wasn’t as fortunate.
She felt her cheeks redden in embarrassment as her mother continued crowing, oblivious to the disapproving looks she was earning.
If only the ground would open up and swallow me.
“Maither, we should meet other guests,” Mabel suggested, trying to distract her mother from her crusade.
“There is still time, Mabel,” Lady MacLennan insisted. “Lady Fraser and I are old friends, and it has been an age since we’ve last seen each other.”
“We will be seeing ye soon, Astrid,” Lady Fraser replied with a proud smile. “Me son, Ewan, will marry Rionna Boyd come spring.”
Lady MacLennan’s smile turned sour but didn’t dim. Clearly, Lady Fraser’s good fortune hadn’t been expected.
If there was one thing Lady MacLennan hated, it was not knowing something, even if she claimed to hate gossip.
“Congratulations are in order, then,” she offered, keeping the smile on her face. “We have kept ye long enough. We will go and give our greetings to Laird Crawford.”
Resisting the urge to sigh in relief, now that the conversation was finally over, Mabel let herself be pulled away by her mother.
“I see Freya’s manners are lacking as ever,” her mother spat once they were out of earshot. “Bragging about her good fortune. Appalling!”
Mabel exchanged a look with Skylar, who only rolled her eyes in response. They were both used to their mother’s antics.
She took in her sister’s glum countenance by her husband’s side and felt pity for her.
Although her marriage to Kian Murray, Laird of Clan Crawford, was advantageous, Scarlett was not glad for it, seeing as the man ignored her at all turns. Mabel shuddered at the thought that she, too, would have to resign herself to such a fate if her parents had their way.
Laird Crawford was not much older than her sister and had been rumored to be flirtatious, though no one had complained about being seduced by him. His clan was one of the wealthiest due to their whiskey exports, which had flourished since he had inherited the Lairdship.
He was ruthless in business, and it had sparked rumors about how Laird MacLennan had been able to secure the match with him in the first place.
“Lady MacLennan,” he greeted.
“Laird Crawford.” Lady MacLennan bowed her head. “We came to congratulate ye on such an auspicious day. We are verra glad ye agreed to this union between our clans.”
“I am the lucky one, Lady MacLennan,” he said with a charming smile. “Ye and Laird MacLennan have blessed me with yer bonny daughter.”
Lady MacLennan glowed under his praise, while Scarlett sank further into her seat.
Laird Crawford was a handsome enough man, but her sister looked entirely unhappy with the match, rather than pleased—a sharp contrast to their mother’s joy. He seemed positively charming as he conversed with their mother and guests alike, but Mabel couldn’t help but note that he had not said a word to Scarlett.
“I must say that we’re surprised yer friend, Laird Muir, isnae in attendance,” Lady MacLennan added.
“Maither,” Mabel whispered in warning.
Would the woman never get tired of embarrassing them?
“‘Tis a tragedy that keeps him,” Laird Crawford answered with a grim look. “I wouldnae speak of it, but ye must ken. His braither and wife died in a carriage accident a week ago. Ye might ken them. Their elopement caused a scandal a few years back when Aidan ran away with a maid.”
Mabel’s heart clenched at the news, and her eyes shot to him, unable to hide her surprise.
The story he had mentioned sounded oddly familiar, so she listened attentively, hoping he wasn’t referring to the couple she was thinking of.
