Page 26 of To Charm a Highlander

“Ach, so ye think the lasses here in the keep are weak, do ye?Would ye care to spread that word, lad?”

Callum stood.“Nay.”

Malcolm slapped him on the back.“Go into the great hall and have an ale.When yer finished, the laird wishes to speak with ye in his solar.”

So, the time had come.He had planned to speak with Haydon as soon as he’d risen from his bed, but the laird was away from the keep for a few days dealing with an issue involving a few of his tenants near the Gunn border.Callum hoped the reason the laird wanted to see him had nothing to do with his brother.

With his arm pounding in pain, he struggled to make it to the keep.One of the lasses brought him a cool mug of ale which he downed, probably too fast, but between being verra thirsty and anxious to see the laird, he dinna have time to linger over his drink.

Feeling better after having the ale and resting his arm, he climbed the stairs and made his way to the laird’s solar.A quick knock on the door was followed by “Enter.”

Haydon waved to the chair in front of his large desk.He was writing in a ledger and once he finished, he laid his pen down and leaned back in his chair.

“How is the arm?”

“Getting better, Laird.I’ve returned to the lists.”

“That’s what I’ve heard.Ye donna think ‘tis too soon?”

“Nay.Would ye continue to lay around in bed had this been yer injury?”

Haydon grinned.“Good answer, lad.”

“Malcolm said ye wanted to speak with me.”

“Aye.From what I’ve been told, ye had asked for a chance to speak with me.”

Callum took a deep breath.“I wanted to request yer permission to court yer sister, Donella.”

After a nerve tightening minute, Haydon nodded.“It seems to me ye only asked a few days ago to go with her to the village.What has changed so much?”

“I have a great deal of respect for yer sister and I would like to get to ken her better.”

“And why should I allow that?What do ye have to offer my sister?”

“No’ much in the way of coin since ye ken my brother has banned me from my clan.I work hard here, and ye have my loyalty.”

“Aye.But how will that benefit Donella?”

“With yer permission, I would build us a small house outside the castle and—”

“Yer getting ahead of yerself, Gunn.”He reached for a parchment on his desk.“I have an interesting missive here.It just arrived this morning.”

Callum frowned.“Aye?”

“’Tis a request to negotiate a contract of marriage for Lady Donella Sutherland.”

Callum fisted his hands on his lap.“How many requests for a betrothal have ye received in the past?”

Haydon dinna hesitate.“None.”

“Think ye ‘tis odd ye received one now that Donella has recovered from her prior issues?”

The door to the solar opened and Conall entered.“Ye wished to speak with me, Haydon?”

The laird waved to the other chair next to Callum.“Aye.‘Tis something here that we need to discuss.Although the final decision is mine, I would care for yer opinion.”

Callum was confused.If he wanted to talk to him about his request to court Donella, why would he do it here, in front of Conall?Then a thought struck him.Conall said the laird had sent for him.If what he wanted to go over with his brother was Callum’s request, how did he ken he would ask such?‘Twas verra strange.