Page 89 of The Highlander's Temporary Bride
Without it, though, Laird MacLarsen seemed more warrior, more human—someone who had sacrificed a great many things. Emma felt a wave of admiration, but she was too distractedby the lady, who turned and stepped around him, lowering her hood.
Emma’s breath caught, and the room suddenly spun around her, the floor falling away. But her heart pounded as she met eyes that were so like her own, only they were spring-time green and creased at the corners. Freckles dotted the woman’s round, flushed cheeks, and dark hair fell in waves around her shoulders.
We are so alike,Emma mused dazedly. And yet, they were not completely identical.
As a bright smile spread across Agnes’s face, Emmarecognizedher. A half-laugh, half-sob burst out of her, and she rushed forward, just as Agnes did. In the next second, they were wrapped in each other’s arms, both sobbing and laughing, unable to get a word out.
“Ach, and here ye thought Lady Ronson invited us to be polite,” rumbled a deep voice that had Emma blinking her eyes open to see Laird MacLarsen fighting a smile. “I told ye, Agnes.”
“Oh, do be quiet, Leo,” Agnes said, and Emma started upon hearing her sister’s voice, squeezing her tighter. “But yes, you were right.”
Leo laughed then, and the sound soothed something in Emma. She gazed at her brother-in-law as he laughed, real joy and love in his eyes, and she knew.
“Oh, he loves you so,” she murmured, and Agnes let out a sweet, hiccupping laugh. “I’d heard that, and yet…” She smiled at Leo. “To witness it is another thing entirely. I’m so glad.”
“Are all Wells so outspoken?” Leo muttered, raking a hand through his hair and then starting as he looked beyond them. “Grant—Laird Ronson.” He bowed his head. “Have ye been there the whole time?”
“I thought I’d give ye a moment,” Grant said in his husky voice. “Well met, Leo. We need nae stand on ceremony, Braither. Nae after huntin’ bandits outside Edinburgh that summer.”
“Och, was that ye? I thought ye were another mercenary with terrible aim,” Leo teased, a grin spreading across his face.
“It was one bloody miss,” Grant grumbled. “And I saved yer arse from that pirate brute.”
“The least ye could do,” Leo quipped.
Emma watched as they briefly hugged each other, and then Leo stepped back.
“Look at ye, man. Back in yer proper place. I kenned ye’d return, kenned ye were meant to be Laird, nae MacCabe’s Blade forever.”
“And I kenned that one day, someone would dissuade ye from wearin’ that stupid mask,” Grant said. “Ye are too fine a man to hide yer battle scars.”
“That’s what I said,” Agnes piped up.
“Should’ve guessed,” Grant drawled. “And aye, to answer yer question, I’ve yet to meet a Wells who minds their tongue. I suppose we shall ken for certain in a few days.”
“We shall,” Leo said. “Apologies for our early arrival. Agnes insisted on ensurin’ that Emma wanted her here?—”
Emma jumped back and held her sister at arm’s length.
Agnes’s eyes were wet with tears, and Emma gave her a weak smile. “Of course I want you here,” she reassured her. “I have been wanting nothing more than to meet you and apologize?—”
“Don’t,” Agnes and Leo said at the same time, then glanced at each other and smiled.
“I think this is a story I’d like to hear,” Grant said. Then, he bowed. “Lady MacLarsen.”
“Ach, where’s me head?” Leo bowed to Emma. “Lady Ronson.”
“Well, almost,” Emma quipped, and Grant shook his head at her. “We are not yet married, Sir.”
Agnes laughed at that and reached for her sister’s hand, squeezing it. “Tell me everything.”
Emma gazed from Agnes to Leo, and then to Grant, feeling her heart swell. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she began to weep, causing Grant to move forward in alarm and offer her a handkerchief.
“Is she with child too?” Leo asked.
Grant’s eyes lit up, and he gaped at Emma, who shook her head.
“No, I’m not—not yet.” But then, Leo’s words registered. “Too?” She looked at Agnes, who flushed a deep red and smacked her husband on the arm. “I’m going to be an aunt?”
