Page 53 of A Plaid Case of Loving Ye
“Och, that’s what I mean, see?” George shook his head. “Ye were hit on the head months ago.Tonightye’re looking like a dobber because ye’ve just been married.”
“Nay, brother.” Still smiling, Ramsay smacked his younger brother’s shoulder hard enough to cause the ale to spill. “I’m looking like this because I’m in love. One day soon ye’ll understand.”
“Saints protect me,” George muttered, rubbing his shoulder. “If I were feeling vindictive, I wouldnae tell ye Nicola’s on her way over here with her younger sisters. Och, ‘tis too badthoseOliphants are married. I wouldnae mind falling in love with one of them!”
Ramsay’s chest tightened and he spun to see his wife—with her sisters Leanna and Robena—hurrying toward him, carrying Relic. Would there ever be a time when seeing Nicoladidn’tcause his heart to leap?
Well, if there is, ye could always get her to heal ye, because ye’d obviously be near death.
“I wouldnae advise it,” he muttered to his brother, maintaining his grin as he waited for the women to approach. “I’ve heard Laird McClure and Laird MacBain are jealous types, and they’re over there talking to Da.”
George didn’t have a chance to reply before the women were upon them.
“Oh, thank St. Crystal!” Nicola cried, reaching out to snatch the mug of ale from her brother-in-law. George didn’t object, but grinned as she gulped it down then handed the empty mug at her sister Leanna—‘twas easy to tell them apart, since Robena’s hair had been cut short for some reason.
But George’s smile abruptly faded when, as a sort of exchange, Nicola thrust wee Relic into his arms. “Here, hold him—dinnae fash, he’s just been changed. I need my hands free.”
Ignoring George’s horrified expression as he held the bairn out at arm’s length—Relic seemed to think ‘twas all great fun, judging from the way he kicked and gurgled—Ramsay reacted instinctively to his new wife’s worry. “What is it, love?” He reached for her.
“Nay, nay, dinnae wrinkle my gown. Coira’s bringing Mother over here to meet ye, and I have to look my best.”
Ramsay’s brow rose. It had been his idea to delay their wedding long enough for Nicola’s sisters to travel to McIlvain Keep, although Fenella and Wynda hadn’t been able to attend. Apparently, when Nicola’s parents had received the invitation, Coira had waved it under their mother’s nose and stated “Ye will be attending.”
“Wife, I’ll no’ wrinkle ye,” he promised, slipping his arm around her waist. “And even if Idid, ye cannae imagine a few wrinkles will lessen yer value in anyone’s eyes.”
‘Twas his new sister-in-law Leanna who snorted. “Ye dinnae ken Mother, she delights in finding deficiencies. Come along, George, I’ll introduce ye—and that precious bundle ye’re carrying, Nay! Support his arse with yer other hand!—to my husband. He’s over there, far away from this encounter.”
“Coward!” Robena cheerfully called after their departing sister.
Nicola sent her remaining sister a look that bordered on desperate. “Ye’ll no’ leave me, will ye?”
Robena smiled. When she shook her head, her short curls—which made her look a bit like a pretty lad—bobbed back and forth. “If I’m here, Mother will no’ ken who to be angry at. She hasnae yet forgiven me for marrying Kester at the Highland Games without my family in attendance.”
Ramsay’s new wife reached over and took her sister’s hand. “All of us kenned ye two would wind up married; ye just had to find a way past the King’s edict. Ye had our blessings. Mother just likes to be ornery—Mother! How delightful to see ye again.”
The desperation and panic in Nicola’s eyes were obvious, but she slid from Ramsay’s arms to accept her mother’s hug.
“Nicola, my sweet lass! All grown up and married to this fine young man!”
Nicola reared back and peered at her mother’s face. “Are ye feeling well? Nae complaints?”
The older woman merely beamed and turned to include Ramsay in her embrace. “Mayhap ye’ll be the first to present us with a grandson, and thus ye’ll be returning to Oliphant Castle as laird and lady?”
This woman didn’t seem to be the weak hypochondriac Nicola had described, and judging from Nicola’s confusion, she was surprised as well. Still, Ramsay couldn’t allow his new mother-in-law to think Nicola would be returning to her position as live-in-medical-provider to Lady Oliphant.
“I’m pleased to make yer acquaintance, milady,” he said gently. “But I will be laird of my own clan—soon, if Da has his way and steps down. Our family is large already, and neither my wife nor I have any interest in leading the Oliphants.”
Nicola’s mother huffed good-naturedly. “Och, well, hopefully ye’ll visit often?”
Warily, Nicola exchanged glances with Robena and the other woman who’d joined them. Ramsay recognized her as the oldest Oliphant sister, Coira, who’d escorted Nicola to the nunnery, although she was wearing a gown today.
“I…would like to visit, Mother,” Nicola hedged.
“Excellent! Now, Coira tells me ye’ve already started on yer family by adopting a sweet bairn. Is that him over there with Leanna and Kenneth? I need to hold him!”
As she bustled off, Robena burst into incredulous laughter, and Coira enfolded a dazed Nicola in a hug.
“She really is remarkably improved, sister,” Coira said with a grin. “I’ve no’ heard her complain of Wandering Leg Syndrome, or Autumn Tetanus, or Aggravated Malarky, or Lickety Split, or any of her other complaints. Occasionally, she does claim fatigue and takes to her bed, but Fen fixes her up some of yer whisky-and-water-and-honey draughts, and Mother sleeps well.”
