Page 4 of A Highlander's Bride

Before Daniel had a chance to ask anything else, the healer, Emma, hurried up to him, clutching her ever-present basket of medicants. “What happened here?”

Daniel nodded to Brendan to explain to the lass.

After learning about the mishap and examining him, she ordered him to be taken to one of the bed chambers so she could help him.

Daniel authorized the use of one of the keep bedchambers. The men moved Ian onto a large board and they carried him upstairs with Daniel leading the way. Once the man was settled and Emma attending him, Daniel downed a mug of ale, then went to his own bedchamber, washed and dressed for the day.

He had plans to visit one of the bothies who were having problemswith leakage. He ordered a wagon with supplies on it so he and the owner, John, could fix the problem if it wasn’t too bad. Since this was the first he’d heard about it, he assumed they could quickly mend it.

’Twas a cloudy day, which only added to the depression of his overindulgence and lack of enthusiasm for the king’s edict. When he got to the bothy, he found several of other men from the village had already started on the roof. With them all working silently, they got the leakage and other problems the man was having fixed. It took longer than Daniel had expected and it was almost dark when he left the bothy.

After sweating out the alcohol from his body as he made his way through the job, Daniel decided to take advantage of the light from the full moon so he went to the loch and, stripping off his clothes, dove into the cold water. He swam for about a half hour and then climbed out, dried himself with hisléine, then slid his braies on and headed back to the keep.

He wanted nothing more than a quick meal in the kitchen and a good night’s sleep.

An unknown carriage sat in front of the stable. He walked up to Lewis, the man who was now taking Ian’s place until the man was able to return to work. That reminded Daniel that he needed to look in on Ian to see how the man was faring. When he’d first seen him, he hadn’t looked too bad, but it was hard to tell these things without a healer’s report which he would receive soon.

“Whose carriage is this?” Daniel asked Lewis.

“Laird Munro, his wife and daughter arrived while ye were gone. I think Louise greeted them in yer place and led them to the keep.”

Daniel nodded. So, one of the lasses had arrived. It must have been Lady Beth Munro. He knew nothing about her, except that right now she was housed in one of the bedchambers in the castle.

He strode to the outer bailey where he found his chatelaine, Louise, directing men to unload a wagon that must have belonged tothe Munro family.

“There ye are, laird. Ye weren’t here to meet yer guests,” Louise said, looking a tad put out.

“Nay. I was seeing to the injury of one of our men, then spent the rest of the day fixing John’s bothy so he and his wife and bairns won’t have to sleep under trees if it rains.”

“Did ye ken they were coming?” She gestured toward the carriage that was now being brought to the stables.

“Aye and nay. The king has ordered two lasses and their parents to Castle Leod for the purpose of me selecting one to marry.”

Louise sucked in a breath and placed her hand on her chest. “So soon. Dinna the king give ye time to prepare?”

Daniel shook his head. “Nay. I only found out about it yesterday.”

The chatelaine shook her head, placing her hands on her middle. She sniffed, and rightly so, since she was the one who had to provide for guests without prior notice and the laird present. “I sent them up to their bedchambers to refresh themselves before we have supper, which will be verra soon.”

There went his plans for a quick supper and a comfortable bed. He nodded. “I will change and go to the great hall in time to greet them when they come down.”

Daniel took a deep breath.

And now it begins.

Chapter Two

Three days before

Foulis Castle

Beth looked aroundthe bedchamber she’d slept in for as long as she could remember, the trunks full of the lovely gowns her mam had made for her to bring to the “bride-to-be” auction. She and another lass would be paraded before some arrogant, obnoxious laird forhis choice. Every time she thought about it, she grew angrier.

She sat on the bed, her chin resting on her fist. She couldn’t believe her da, who had loved her dearly all her life, had agreed to this.

She gave a great sigh, then after a minute or so, a smile broke out on her face. Slowly she sat up and laughed, then laughed harder. Yes, she would do it! It would definitely cause some problems for her, but it would be worth it if she turned the laird’s eyes to the other lass, whoever she might be.

She raced to her wardrobe and began pulling out her old gowns, aprons ready for the trash, and her old shredded worn cape.