Page 62 of A Sinful Night with a Scot
“It is yer sister, me laird,” one of the guards declared.
But he need not have bothered, for Keane spotted her at the exact same time. Surprise soon turned to worry when he noticed the expression on her face. Instead of delight at seeing her brother, Iseabail glared down at him.
“Ye’re in big trouble, braither,” Owen, Iseabail’s husband, chuckled, before jumping from his horse.
“Aye. I can see that,” Keane replied.
Lord. What the blazes is she doing here? I expected a harsh reply tae me letter, nae a special appearance.
Keane followed Owen as he approached Iseabail. He then waited while her husband, taking her by the waist, lifted her off her beast.
“Keane,” Iseabail said tersely, wrapping her arms around him in an embrace. She then took a step back and slapped him across the cheek.
“Oh!” Elsie gasped.
Iseabail turned to Elsie, who stood there with her mouth wide open. His sister’s expression changed immediately. With a huge smile, she took several steps towards his shocked wife, her arms open wide.
“Och, me dear,” Iseabail sighed.
Elsie was still stunned when Iseabail wrapped her arms around her and gave her a huge hug.
“It is so good tae meet ye,” Iseabail gushed. Turning her head slightly, so Keane could hear her clearly, she continued. “Even if it is in hardly the right circumstances.”
“Och, sister, would ye give it a rest. I told ye I was married, did I nae?”
“In aletter, Keane,” she spat, spinning to glare at him again.
Keane grinned down at her, knowing that she could not possibly stay mad at him for long. He then held his arms out to her again. “Can I please get an embrace without the slap?”
Iseabail held her frown for only a second longer. A beaming smile replaced it, and she ran into his arms. “Och, ‘tis so good tae see ye, braither.”
Over Iseabail’s shoulder, Keane caught Elsie watching the goings on. Her wide eyes betrayed the fact that she was still reeling from the whirlwind of emotions his sister had just expressed.
“Me wife thinks ye’re completely mad,” Keane said.
Stepping away from him, she turned back to smile at Elsie. “Better mad than boring, dinnae ye agree?”
A slow smile grew on Elsie’s lips, though it was clear she was still astonished.
“I dae.” She nodded.
“I am Owen. The mad lass’s husband,” Owen said, stepping forward to Elsie and taking her hand to plant a polite kiss.
“Elsie,” Elsie replied as she greeted him with a curtsy.
“Wonderful tae meet ye, Elsie. Were ye aware that ye’d married intae a crazy family?” Owen quipped, grinning widely.
She shook her head. “Given I am married tae Keane, I’d say I had a wee clue.”
Owen, Keane, and Iseabail burst into laughter at her reply. After that, the four made their way into the castle. Iseabail and Elsie were already some ways ahead of them. They fell into conversation like they had known each other for years.
Owen threw his arm around Keane’s shoulder as they continued on behind.
“It is good tae see ye, me friend. I would have tried tae warn ye.” He nodded to Iseabail. “But the minute she finished reading yer letter, we were packing tae leave.”
“I dinnae doubt it,” Keane replied. “And in truth, I cannae really blame her fer being mad at me.”
Owen gave Keane a knowing look. Lowering his voice, he said, “I’m guessing, with the speed o’ the wedding, there’s more tae this than meets the eye. Is she with child?”
