Page 55 of The Highlander's Fake Wife
“How very responsible of him,” Duncan noted.
“I suppose so.” Lyall looked clearly annoyed, adding almost as an afterthought, “He said ye and th’other lairds had important business to discuss, but I was nay allowed to sit in.” His scowl soured, arms tightening against his chest. “Doesnae seem proper, what with meself workin’ to be his future man-at-arms an’ all.”
“Aye, it’s good yer taking an interest in politics, Lyall,” Arthur agreed, setting the squealing girls back down onto the ground. “But the less folk who ken, the better. For now, ye can help by ensuring no one else tries to listen in.”
That seemed to perk the young man up, and he immediately took his new task on with gusto. “As ye command, me Laird.”
“Bonnie! I got me own hound too, like Pipkin!” Rosie squealed. “Uncle Arthur gave him to me!”
“What’s his name?” Bonnie asked.
“Fergus!” Rosie squealed. “He’s a deerhound, like Maesie, only he’s more blackish, and he’s smaller, and he’s so cute”
“I wanna see Fergus, I wanna see Fergus!” With that, Bonnie grabbed Rosie’s hand as the pair took off across the castle’s drawbridge, cackling wildly all the way across.
“So much fer greeting all her guests,” Alison sighed lightly.
“She lasted longer than I thought,” Duncan admitted. “And it’ll be good fer her to play, especially after what she told us. A bit o’extra attention from her friends’ll do her well.” He then squinted farther down the path, pointing forward for Arthur to see. “Ah; that’ll be Hector an’ Katie now. I doubt Gerald will be attending–as usual–so, I’ll go an’ find Marcus and meet ye in me study?”
Arthur nodded, relieved his romantic life was no longer the topic of interest. He had hoped for a moment to go and hunt down Olivia, but that seemed far too big an inconvenience for the other lairds. So, Arthur resolved to finish their meeting as quickly as possible, as to not waste any more valuable time he could be spending at the side of his selkie.
“Oh, but before ye go!” Alison grasped Arthur’s sleeve gently, a mischievous glint flashing across her eye. “I was going to visit Olivia’s room, she how she was gettin’ on with her dress. Ye daenae mind accompanying me, do ye, Arthur?”
Arthur turned to Duncan, who only shrugged his shoulders with a slight smirk of his own. “I willnae be the one to deny her wishes. I have to sleep beside her.”
Arthur groaned inwardly. Evidently, his love life would continue to be a topic of interest.
28
It was the first time Olivia had seen the fabled dress. Her mother had explained it had been specially tailored for her, and between the scare and their quick departure from MacDonnell keep–and, of course, she wouldn’t risk ruining it by unwrapping it on the road–Olivia hadn’t the time to take a proper look.
But now, as she held the dress against her body and inspected herself, she couldn’t help but be mesmerized at the craftsmanship. It really had been perfectly made to fit her body, the silver cloth and dappled pattern bringing out the undertones of grey beneath her oceanic eyes.
“Suppose there’s only one way to ken for sure,” she half-muttered to herself as she began to slip the dress on.
Sometime after, a gentle knock sounded against her door. “Olivia? I wanted to check in on ye; all our guests have arrived for the celebration.”
Olivia’s face flushed at the slight concern in Alison’s tone. “A-Aye! Apologies, I’m just about finished.” She quickly finished adjusting her arisaid before moving toward the door, opening it with a sweeping motion. Before she could apologize again, she found herself taken aback by Arthur’s stare, suddenly realizing he’d been quietly standing at the Lady’s side the entire time. ‘Ogle’ wasn’t the correct term for what the laird of MacDonnell was doing; he fully took her in, from the intricate braids to the hem of her gown, absorbing the scene as if he were a plant desperate for sunlight.
“Aye, I agree, Arthur,” Alison teased lightly. “She does look amazing, doesnae she?”
Arthur blinked, only able to nod as Olivia’s face flushed hot.
“Well, let’s not linger any further in the hall, shall we?” Alison gestured to Arthur, who seemed to snap out of his daze and offer a hand Olivia’s way. She took it as gracefully as she could manage, trying very hard not to stare directly into his wonder-filled eyes. Truly, she couldn’t recall a time that a man had looked at her with such…admiration.
The trio made their way out from the castle’s entrance and toward the center of the celebration. A few benches and chairs had been set up within the main square, banners flickering in the breeze as the sound of music filled the air. Folks were already dancing around a large, open circle reserved for such activities, and Olivia couldn’t help but smile as such revelry.
“I cannae wait to see ye spin in that gown,” Arthur whispered to her.
Again, Olivia felt flushed in the face.
“Alright, alright; ye have a meeting to attend, Laird MacDonnell!” Alison’s smile turned to a smirk once more. “Give yer betrothed a goodbye kiss fer now; I promise she’s in good hands with me an’ Katie.”
Olivia squeezed Arthur’s hand tightly; she didn’t want him to leave just yet. And Arthur seemed to reciprocate the desire, letting out a soft sigh as he raised her hand to his lips. “I’ll come find ye afterward, selkie. Save me a dance.”
Olivia nodded, somewhat in a daze as she watched Arthur slip through the crowd and back towards the castle proper. Alison’s hand gave her a squeeze, now, and she allowed herself to be led toward the head tables.
“Ye really fancy him, daenae ye, Olivia?” Alison asked.
