Page 10 of The Icy Highlander's Bride
"Ye never ken who will be a good match," Olivia told her. "Yer brother can be scary too, but we're happy together. Happier every day."
"And he protected ye, Lana," Ciara reminded her. "That has to mean something. He couldnae bear to see that man treat ye badly. Maybe he'll be a good match for ye, after all."
5
"Ithought ye wouldnae speak to anyone last night," Cameron said as he shoveled porridge into his mouth. "And ye wind up married."
He had been laughing about the news ever since he heard it on the road last evening. He kept kicking himself for being out of the room when the incident occurred, and he kept complaining that Daniel wasn't providing enough details.
But Daniel wanted to put the confrontation with Laird Cullen out of his mind. He had succeeded in finding himself a wife—the very reason he left his castle—and that was all that mattered.
Daniel's mind was running through the steps he needed to take to secure this deal. He was well aware that Alexander could change his mind, especially if Lana protested. He thought about her boldness last night and held back a smile.
"What are ye laughing about?" Cameron asked. "Ye're lucky things worked out well. Ye could have really hurt yer reputation last evening."
"It doesnae hurt me to have people fear me," Daniel muttered as he dropped more sausage onto his plate.
Cameron nearly spat out his food in shock. "Well that's nay attitude to go into a marriage with," he scolded. "Do ye want yer wife to fear ye?"
"It doesnae matter if she thinks of me at all," Daniel said, stabbing his knife much too hard into a sausage. "I dinnae choose her for company."
A laugh suddenly rang out into the room, and Daniel looked up to see a little girl running toward the table. His daughter, Skye, rushed into the room in a flash of auburn hair and flowing skirts. The cornflower blue dress was too long for her, and she hitched it up so she could run.
Daniel blinked at the image of his daughter in a grownup's dress. She looked like a little woman instead of the baby she was a few years ago. Even her auburn hair was braided and looped around her head instead of hanging down her back.
When did his girl get so grown?
"Look at me dress!" Skye called out as she rushed toward the table.
Daniel's shoulders stiffened as the girl headed toward him, her cheeks flushed with mischief. He thought she might jump into his arms, eager to interact with her father, but when he forced himself to smile in her direction, she rushed around the table to find her uncle.
"Uncle Cam, look at me dress," she cried out as Daniel shoved down the disappointment he felt at his daughter passing him over for his brother.
Skye did a twirl, and the fabric of her skirts billowed around her. There was that laugh again, a sound so carefree and joyous.
"How wonderful!" Cameron said.
Daniel watched him rise from the table and take the girl into his arms. He was surprised by how easy it was for Cameron, how he knew to lift the girl into the air and spin her around. When they finished, her long braids had fallen from where they were pinned to her head.
"Greet yer faither, Skye."
The little girl shoved a hand across her face, pushing the braids away so she could see the head of the table. She was still in Cameron's arms, and the very mention of her father seemed to chill her. She glanced at Daniel, and he noticed the way her shoulders rose to her ears as she looked at him from the corner of her eye. One glance and she dropped her head into her uncle's shoulder, hiding her face.
"It's alright," Cameron whispered.
Daniel didn't miss the apologetic look his brother gave him. It was far too close to pity for Daniel's liking.
They heard heavy footsteps in the hall and the audible huffing of someone who couldn't catch their breath. The elderly, round housekeeper, a woman called Silvers, was suddenly in the doorway, her eyes frantic as she looked around the room. Her gaze landed on the little girl who was hiding in Cameron's arms.
"Forgive me, Me Laird." The woman dropped into a curtsy that Daniel noticed was a vestige of his father's household. But old habits died hard for some servants in the castle. Instead of correcting her, he kept his gaze fixed on his breakfast.
"I couldnae' catch her," Silvers huffed out.
Daniel knew she had a first name, but he didn't know it. He could still picture her running after him and Cameron when they were children, as they tried to ditch their schoolwork or took a fancy for hunting mushrooms in the woods.
Daniel heard Skye's small giggle, still muffled by Cameron's shoulder. She was mischievous, this one, clearly enjoying the fact she had gotten away from Silvers.
Like faither like daughter…
