Page 42 of A Highland Bride Taken
But then they must have had their reasons.
Mabel needed to see them and ascertain how Scarlett was faring in her new marriage. She was supposed to still be on her honeymoon, so the fact that she was traipsing across the Highlands with their unmarried sister was suspicious, indeed.
After some thought, Mabel decided that it would be a good opportunity to take the boys to town to sightsee and perhaps enjoy some goodies from the market. She was sure they would like it. She just prayed that their uncle would give his permission without asking questions.
When she finally found him, he was walking absentmindedly in the garden.
“Me Laird,” she called softly.
Immediately, he turned his vibrant blue gaze on her, surprise flaring in their depths.
“What brings ye here, lass?” he asked, watching her steadily as she closed the distance between them.
“I wanted to ask ye for a favor,” she began, wringing her hands nervously.
“What do ye want, lass?”
“I want to take the boys to town to buy some goodies from the market. They have been stuck within these castle walls for too long,” she answered. “It will be nice for them to see the rest of the clan outside the castle.”
There was a pause while he considered her words.
“I dinnae doubt they’ve been cooped up for far too long. I’d rather join ye, lass, but I’ve got a meeting to attend to this evening. Maybe I could persuade Magnus to accompany ye instead?”
“Ye dinnae need to worry,” she said in a rush. “We will hardly be alone. I am meeting with someone who would keep us company.”
Her last statement must have caught his attention because he furrowed his brow.
Mabel was dismayed that she had given away her plan so thoughtlessly. His next words confirmed her suspicion.
“Who will ye meet?”
Mabel heaved a sigh and decided it was better she told him the truth anyway.
“I am to meet me sisters at an inn nae too far from here. Scarlett sent me a letter. I dinnae ken why. I havenae heard from them in quite a while. I worry that something terrible might have happened to me parents or me sisters. I really need to see them. Me mind would ken nay peace if I dinnae. I promise to return early before the day?—”
Her tirade was cut off by the feel of his hand on her cheek, caressing her in a way that should have soothed her but only served to fan the flames of desire just beneath her skin.
“Do calm yerself, lass. I am sure yer family is well. Ye have leave to go wherever ye want to. Ye are nae a prisoner here. I would just urge ye to do yer best to avoid deserted areas. I have tried to rid me land of brigands, but there are still a few ye should be careful of.”
“I will. Thank ye,” she said, painfully aware of the heat that rose in her cheeks at his proximity and the maddening strokes of his fingers on her skin. “I will leave now, Me Laird.”
She bobbed a quick curtsey before dashing away as fast as she could without running.
The quicker she put distance between them, the better for her and her mind.
Getting the boys to come with her was no hard task, and they were very much excited to be leaving the castle walls—even more excited when they saw the carriage they would be traveling in. Comfortable but not flamboyant, so as not to draw unnecessary attention.
She was even more grateful for the Laird’s generosity and trust to let her go on her own. Not many husbands would permit their wives such liberty, and while she had used it this one time, she would learn to save it only for the most dire circumstances.
She certainly hoped this wasn’t one such time.
Scarlett should have been at Crawford Castle, and Skylar should have been home at MacLennan Castle, but the two of them had obviously decided to follow in her footsteps and traipse across the Highlands, unattended, to a dingy inn in a town they barely knew.
Why they hadn’t come to Muir Castle, she did not know.
Finding the inn her sisters had mentioned was quite easy once she and the boys alighted from the carriage. It was very close to the market, and there were several other residential buildings around it.
While not hidden, she still did not trust that it was entirely safe. Her sisters had behaved impulsively, and she would make sure to tell them as much.
