Page 23 of A Highlander's Bride

“They are my people, Lady Chisholm. They are members of Clan Mackenzie and therefore, my responsibility.”

She raised her chin. “It seems to me if they dinna have so many bairns, they wouldn’t be yer responsibility. I ken my Alice would no’ allow herself to have too many bairns. They tire a woman out and take away any time she might have for herself.”

*

Daniel was sotired of Lady Chisholm that he wasn’t sure he could take another day with her. Mayhap he could claim to have an ague, but he refused to hide in his own house and had too many duties to see to and people who were counting on him.

He glanced over at Beth, and he swore either she was asleep or doing a good job of faking it. ’Twas something he would consider doing, but they were almost at the village, and he didn’t want to end up running into a tree.

“My laird, I heard from yer chatelaine that there is to be a gathering of the clan members in another week’s time.”

“Aye, tis Beltane, We celebrate it every year.”

According to the king’s edict, he was to be married—or at least betrothed—by Beltane. He was certain the elders were expecting him to have a betrothal agreement in hand by then.

Despite the requirement hanging over his head, he had no intention of doing so unless he’d received an aye from Beth. If the event was in another week, he had better apply more pressure on the lass without pushing her. Otherwise, he would defy the elders and the king himself, state he had decided on no one and then travel to Foulis Castle to continue pursuing Beth.

Let the king do what he must. ’Twas his life.

He glanced over at Lady Alice and was once again struck by her total disinterest in just about everything she had done during this much too long visit. It was apparent that her mam was the one interested in this match.

He could not remember the last time Castle Leod hosted any sort of party. When he was growing up, his da had spent most of his time in Inverness and London, and his mam suffered from “nerves” so she rarely left her room.

Like Lady Alice?

Left to his own devices, the lonely child spent a great deal of time outdoors, doing the usual things lads do, and when he grew older, his da arrived home at one point and introduced him to his tutor.

Mr. Gage worked with Daniel for years, teaching him all the things his da should have been doing. One time when Daniel asked Da why he was never home, he merely stated that he could not stand his wife’s company.

He couldn’t help wondering if his mam was another Lady Chisholm. He’d never seen her much, spending most of his time with his tutor and other lads in the area doing all the things young lads do.

When they arrived at the village, he jumped down from the carriage and turned to assist the ladies. Due to recent rains, the groundwas wet, but Beth had smartly worn boots, whereas Lady Alice and her mam had on slippers better suited to the gathering they were so looking forward to. Of course, that forced them to hang onto his arms. When he glanced over at Beth she grinned, apparently knowing his thoughts about the predicament he was in.

Instead of enjoying the day alone with Beth and moving ahead with his pursuit of the lass, he was stuck with these two on his arms, with Lady Chisholm’s voice screeching into his ear every minute. Did the woman ever breathe?

“My laird, Lady Alice and I must go somewhere we can dry off our slippers. ’Tis getting quite cold with them wet.”

He watched Beth, wearing sensible half-boots, wander from the three of them and begin looking at a vendor selling small animals carved from wood.

Daniel walked them all over to where Beth was browsing, picking up little animals from a woodcutter’s table and studying them. “I think this would be just perfect for my nephews.”

“How many nephews do ye have?” Daniel asked.

“Six.”

Lady Chisholm tsked. “Ye ne’er have to worry about Lady Alice imposing that many bairns on ye, My Laird.”

Beth turned to the woman. “My nieces and nephews are from two different mothers.”

Ignoring her comment, Lady Chisholm tugged on Daniel’s arm. “I can feel Lady Alice shaking. We must get to a place where we can warm ourselves and dry out our shoes.”

Since there was no way Lady Chisholm could feel her daughter shaking since they were on different sides of his body, he chose to ignore correcting her on that. “Aye. ’Tis sorry I am. I will take ye to the village tavern. ’Tis small, but they have a few tables there and a braiser that will warm ye.”

He nodded to Beth. “I will be back once I get the ladies settled.”

Lady Chisholm sucked in a breath. “Surely ye doona intend to leave me and my daughter alone in a village tavern?”

Beth attempted to hide her smile as Daniel squeezed the bridge of his nose with his index finger and thumb. “My lady, ye will be fine. I ken the owner of the tavern and he will watch o’er ye. Ididpromise to spend time with Lady Beth on this trip, so please be patient and allow us some time to look around the village as I promised.”