Page 26 of In Love With the Wrong Highland Sister
“What is wrong, Gavin?” James asked, concerned.
“I never know what to say to her,” he replied. “I should have said something funny, a witty remark. ‘Be careful, my lady.’ You would have thought of something wittier.”
“But she laughed!” James protested. “Quite uproariously. Even Laria smiled, and that is a miracle. They are both so lovely when they smile.”
At that moment their food arrived, along with Lady Margaret, who was looking bleary-eyed and very much the worse for wear. Gavin was spreading out a blanket on the grass, but James went forward to greet her and smiled pleasantly at her.
“How are you, milady?” he asked, as he drew her forward to sit on the blanket.
“I am feeling a little shaken, to be honest, but a ride in a carriage for hours will do that to you, I expect,” she laughed. “The laird has a dreadful headache, but since it is entirely his own fault, I have no sympathy for him at all.”
James laughed as he helped Lady Margaret onto a cushion he had placed on the blanket for her comfort. He brought out a flagon of ale and poured a cup for her before laying out plates of cold food in front of her, watching her sigh with satisfaction as she bit into a slice of cold chicken.
Just then, the laird came out of the carriage. He looked a little tired but otherwise none the worse for wear. When he saw Laria, however, he avoided her eyes and accepted a plate of assorted foodstuffs from Gavin. All through the meal, James tried to ask her questions, but she answered in monosyllables, and eventually, he gave up.
* * *
Just before they were ready to leave, Gavin pulled his brother aside.
“Leave Eloisa alone for a while,” he advised. “She is not likely to respond to you if you put her under so much pressure, and if you keep a little distance, she may even come to her senses.”
James nodded for a moment, then agreed. “Yes, you are right, Gavin.” Then he sighed. “Why are women such complicated creatures?”
“I think the first man to ask that was Adam,” he replied thoughtfully. “He never got an answer to his question, so I doubt you will!”
Gavin laughed and put his arm around his brother’s shoulders.
At last, they were ready to go again. Fortunately, their overnight stay at an inn called the Shepherd’s Crook was less than two miles away. They pulled into its courtyard just as twilight was beginning to settle in.
The landlord had been advised of their coming and came out to welcome them with a beaming smile. He was a short, dumpy man with sparkling blue eyes that spoke of a lifetime of good humor. “Good day, M’Laird, milady, ladies, gentlemen!” he cried, with his arms open wide in welcome. “Samuel Mackintosh at your service! I trust ye had a good journey?”
“Indeed we did, Mister Mackintosh,” Lady Margaret replied, smiling at him. “But we are all ready for a rest, a bath, and a meal now!”
“An’ that ye shall have, milady!” the landlord said happily as he led them inside the plainly furnished but spotlessly clean little inn.
They had reserved three rooms, one for the sisters, one for the brothers, and one for the laird and lady.
Their baths came very quickly after their arrival, and as they dried each other’s hair after washing, Eloisa said thoughtfully: “Laria, I have been thinking about your marriage contract.” She had been dreading asking the question. She felt her sister’s body stiffen but went on. “Do you not think that a man who wants you knowing that you can never bear him any children is a worthy man? Should you not just abide by the contract and stop fighting against it?”
“I have done nothing but think about it,” Laria replied. “I am so confused, Ellie.” She sighed, then pasted a smile on her face. “Let me not think about it tonight; I am becoming weary of it. Instead, you must show me this craft you are mastering!”
“I thought you would never ask,” Eloisa laughed, picking up her knitting.
Laria smiled and put her arms around Eloisa’s shoulders. In truth, she had no interest at all in learning to knit, but it would keep her sister happy and her own mind focused on something other than James.
* * *
After they had eaten, Laria spent a short while with her sister trying to learn the craft she was so fond of, but her attention began to wander, and when she started to yawn, Eloisa glared at her.
“You are really not interested in this, are you?” she asked, annoyed. “I am wasting my time trying to teach you.”
“I am sorry.” Laria gave her a sympathetic look. “I know you love to do it, and you are teaching all the women on the estate, but I am not the kind of person who can sit still and wiggle my fingers for hours at a time.”
“Teach me, then,” Gavin interjected. “I would like to learn.”
Laria and Eloisa gazed at him, astonished.
“It is usually something that ladies do,” Laria told him at last.
