Page 68 of A Highland Bride Taken
Thinking about him now sent warmth through her and had her praying for his safe return from the hunt.
When they moved through the hallways past the Great Hall, she spotted an unfamiliar face staring up at the high seat and turned to inquire about his identity. She studied him, wondering if she had seen him before. But when he turned to her, she did not recognize his shock of white hair or the brown eyes set in a rather handsome face.
He briefly eyed her and the boys, a disdainful look on his face, before focusing his full attention on her. The condescension in his gaze made her skin crawl.
He studied her, and she pulled the boys closer to her, a sense of dread coiling in her gut.
“I dinnae believe ye to be a member of the clan,” she stated, watching him carefully. “I ask ye to introduce yerself, Sir.”
“Is this how ye welcome yer guests, Lady Muir?” he asked in a disappointed tone. “‘Tis shameful. I will speak to Campbell about this.”
How did he know who she was?
Mabel frowned deeply and studied him, trying to ascertain if she had met him before. He looked well along in years, but his posture spoke of strength that warned her to be cautious.
How she wished she could call out to one of the guards to escort him out of the castle, but she could not tell if he was her husband’s guest. She did not want to risk his ire by insulting someone dear to him.
“Ye will forgive me if I unintentionally insult ye,” she began. “Ye entered me home unannounced, and ye’re a stranger to me.”
“Still, ye should have been raised to ken the proper way to treat guests,” the man scolded, sticking his nose in the air. “I had hoped me grandson wouldnae be a fool to marry someone of low birth like his braither, but it seems I was wrong again.”
Heat seared Mabel’s cheeks at the insult, but her anger flared as well.
How dare he?
He had not only insulted her, but also Layla.
But he referred to her husband as his grandson.
Her husband had never mentioned his grandfather to her before, and unfortunately, he had such a dour personality that it left much to be desired.
She suddenly wished for her husband’s presence. He would know how to handle the man.
“I suppose these are me great-grandsons,” he continued, lowering his gaze to Connor and Ollie, who were now hiding behind her skirts. “Hiding behind a woman’s skirts? So cowardly. Has Campbell taught ye nothing? Shameful. Ye are to greet yer elder with respect. I suppose I expect too much, seeing as ye’re of low birth like yer maither and ye’re being raised by another unworthy woman.”
“Dinnae insult Aunt Mabel!” Ollie yelled, coming to stand in front of her. “If ye do, I will use me sword to?—”
None of them could have anticipated what happened next. The man slapped Ollie across the face.
Mabel could not swallow her scream when the boy’s head snapped to the side.
“Ye will learn respect, even if I have to teach it to ye,” the man scolded. “I am the Laird of Clan McCormick and yer great-grandfaither, and ye will show me the respect I am due.”
Mabel froze, as she had never witnessed such abuse. But when she saw tears rolling down the little boy’s cheek, she pulled him into her side. He was still glaring at the older man.
His protectiveness touched her and angered her.
This man, no matter who he claimed to be, had no right to barge into her home and abuse her boys. Her husband was not home, or he would have taught his grandfather a lesson. But as the lady of the clan, she would have to be strong and protect the boys until her husband returned.
Important or not, she would not tolerate anyone abusing them, and she could not believe that someone so despicable would be of importance to her husband, who was fair in his dealings. He might be firm, but he was not beastly. Laird McCormick should have been given the moniker instead of her husband.
“I have spoken to Campbell about yer education, but I see I will have to involve meself, as ye are nothing but disrespectful, untrained boys,” he sneered. “A firm hand is what children need, and I have said so several times. I must do this for the sake of our bloodline, and even though yer faither tainted it with his folly, I will ensure that ye dinnae follow in his footsteps. I have told Campbell that I will?—”
“Ye will do naught to these boys,” Mabel spat.
She made to step closer to him, but Connor held tightly onto her skirts, the tears streaming down his face soaking the fabric.
She hated seeing the boys so frightened; she had only wanted to make them happy.
