Page 14 of The Highlander's Auctioned Hellion
They both nodded vigorously as the kitten climbed up Eilis’s arm and onto her shoulder, balancing there to glare at him.
“And give the damned thing a bath.”
“Ye curse a lot,” Eilis said reproachfully.
“Aye, well, I am nay gentleman, lassie.”
He left them happily huddled over the kitten, and as he left the room, his thoughts moving to the next guest he would have to welcome into his home.
And now she will have a kitten to care for, too.
Just before he had gone to speak with Lydia’s father, Callum had watched as a young boy ran across the lawns and into her arms.
The affection in her eyes when she greeted him had made Callum even more certain she would be the right woman to care for his nieces. But there were no guarantees in this life, he knew that better than anyone.
Even if she’s nae good at raisin’ bairns, she’ll have to learn to live with it just like all of us. At least she’ll be better than a beast.
CHAPTER 5
“You are certainly goingto be living a different life where you are headed.”
Lydia glanced at her mother standing behind her, both she and Tommy were staring wide-eyed at the enormous, gleaming carriage that had arrived to collect Lydia that morning.
It was so large that it dominated most of the driveway.
Large and imposing, just like its master.
When Lydia had risen that morning, she hadn’t known what to expect from her “transportation” up to Scotland.
The only information she had of the Laird was that he was wealthy. Yet, he had arrived on horseback at the auction and left the same way. She had even considered whether she might have to ride side-saddle all the way to the castle.
By the time she went down to breakfast, she had visions of a wagon arriving, driven by some wizened old man with no teeth.
Instead, the carriage that greeted her was sleek, well-maintained, and bearing the crest of the Murray clan on the doors.
“It certainly is impressive,” her mother said, stepping up beside her. Lydia nodded, staring at the carriage, a sense of trepidation running through her.
The driver was a large man with bright red hair tied in a ponytail down his back. He wasn’t half as big as Laird Murray, but intimidating nonetheless.
He leaped down from the carriage, towering over her mother and Lydia, and bowed low.
“Lady Lydia?” he asked.
“Yes, I am Lydia Turner.”
“A pleasure to meet ye, M’Lady. I am Alexander Monteith, the Laird’s man-at-arms. He sent me to see that nae harm comes to ye on the journey.”
“That was kind of him,” her mother murmured as Tommy stepped up to Alexander, pointing at his belt.
“You have a sword.”
Alexander grinned. “Aye, lad, would ye like to see it?”
“No!” her mother said quickly, stepping forward protectively. “No, he has quite enough in his head of weapons without seeing that.”
Alexander chuckled. “Allow me to assist ye with your belongings M’Lady,” he said, waving away their servants as he bent down to lift the trunks himself.
“Are you not tired?” Lydia asked. “Surely, you would like to stay for a little while. You must have been traveling through the night.”
