Page 58 of Taken By the Savage Highlander

“Aye, but I cannae say that I’m surprised,” Cameron said, refusing to address the warmth that had taken residency in his chest at the sight of Margo relaxing into the social fold. “Marian had already decided they were friends the second she learned Margo existed.”

“She does have an excitable spirit,” Lachlan said with a fond laugh. “I think she could tell that Margo needed a friend nearby. I ken ye told me she had her sister, but they are stayin’ in the same place. Ye cannae write letters to someone that lives down the hall from ye.”

“Are ye implyin’ that’s what friendship is, Lachlan?” Cameron scoffed, turning his attention to the servants.

They were unloading the carriages methodically, treating the chests inside with great care. He could not hear their conversation, but the ladies seemed to be just as invigorated by the upcoming ceilidh as Margo. It was the kind of spectacle he never wanted for himself. He could not deny, however, that there was an infectious quality to the merriment in the air.

“Nay, but it is part of it, is it nae?” Lachlan replied, crossing his arms over his chest. “She can have a life outside the walls of Castle MacLeod.”

“I was never stoppin’ her from doin’ so,” Cameron said. The defensiveness was reflexive. He knew that his cousin wasn not incorrect in his observations. “Though this will open her world up significantly. It has been a bit since we last hosted guests at MacLeod.”

The servants finished with the carts and carriages, stepping back to allow the grooms to finish the job. Lachlan and Cameron stayed quiet for a few minutes, overseeing the work. When the last cart was pulled away, Lachlan turned to walk inside.

“Marian and the other Ladies will be includin’ her in their preparations,” Lachlan said as they left the courtyard. “I believe she wishes to teach Margo what goes into plannin’ a gatherin’ like this. She’s been quite desperate to attend more ceilidhs.”

Cameron grunted, nodding at the maids who had helped him during his previous stay. “I’m sure the villagers would be eager to attend as well. Ye ken that throwin’ parties isnae something I particularly enjoy.”

Lachlan laughed, stopping in the Atrium and waving a maid over. “We’ve put ye and Margo in separate chambers for the evening. I ken ye are already wed, but I assumed that Marian and the others would keep Margo up half the night with plannin’.”

Cameron wasn’t foolish enough to believe that Lachlan had made the decision solely because of the women keeping Margo awake. It was his cousin’s way of giving him an out, a reason to not push Margo any further than he would when they returned to the MacLeod Castle. If he were not still chastising himself for his abruptness with her in the carriage, he may have argued against the arrangement if only on principle.

I daenae care more about me image than I do about Margo’s comfort. I will let her have the next few days to herself.

“Show Laird MacLeod to his quarters,” Lachlan ordered the maid standing closest to them. Then, he turned to Cameron and said, “Yer chambers are connected to Margo’s. The door along the right wall locks on her side.”

With a final grunt of acknowledgement, Cameron followed the maid. It was practical, giving Margo control over that connection, but part of him hoped that she would choose to leave it unlocked; that she would invite him in.

Daenae let me force meself upon ye, lass.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

“You have been in your head today,” Eleanor said, leaning in close to Margo.

Looking away from the three women threading flower chains, Margo willed her eyes to focus on her sister’s face. She blinked twice before admitting, “I did not get much sleep last night.”

Even now, sitting with her group of girls in her chambers, the door connecting her room with Cameron’s stared back at her. The maid who had shown her upstairs after supper the previous night had made a point of showing her the lock. As soon as she had left, Margo had disengaged it.

I still do not know what possessed me to do it.

“I understand,” Eleanor murmured, scooting a bit closer. “This ceilidh is for you. You will be the centre of attention. It would make me nervous as well.”

Margo gave her a tight smile. Her sister was not wrong, necessarily. But she did not need to know that it was not just the impending celebration. All night, Margo had stared at the door, expecting Cameron to come through, to join her in bed the way he had promised he would when they returned to the MacLeod Castle.

She realized now that he had likely requested the separate rooms; that he was never going to test whether or not she had locked him out.

“What are the two of you talking about over there?” Marian asked, setting the flowers and twine down on the low, oak table in front of her.

“Just some jitters,” Margo said honestly, reaching forward and retrieving her mug of lukewarm tea. “Nothing serious.”

“I bet you are having pre-wedding jitters,” Anna said helpfully, her fingers deftly stringing the delicate flowers together. “You said that you were not expecting your wedding to take place. It’s just… a delay in their arrival. I know that I was a right mess before Hugh and I were wed. Though I suppose our situation was not exactly standard.”

“As time goes by, I am more and more convinced that no marriage is truly standard,” Lilly said without looking away from her own work. “Men are such fickle things sometimes.”

“I cannot say that I disagree with you,” Margo said with a light laugh.

“The fickle ones make the best husbands,” Marian said decisively. She seemed to have completely abandoned her task, waving over a maid to carry away the finished decorations. “There is never a dull moment, even if you are just trying to reason why he behaves the way that he does.”

The conversation paused for a brief moment, when several servants rushed in the room. One of the women was carrying the dress Margo would be wearing for the ceilidh. Marian stood gracefully, helping Lilly to her feet as Anna helped clear the area. A lightning strike of nerves zipped up her spine. The Gathering was only a few hours away. She was certain the first attendees would be arriving any minute now.