Page 45 of A Virgin for the Icy Laird
“I must say, MacDonnell,” Laird Scott remarked, setting down his cup, “ye seem to have trained yer servants well. I am impressed.”
A muscle ticked in Adair’s jaw at the condescension in the man’s tone.While he granted his servants no special favors, he counted them as part of his clan and family.
“Me servants daenae need much training, Scott,” he replied. “They are excellent on their own.”
He did not elaborate, not trusting himself to say something else that wouldn’t come off as an insult. If they didn’t need the extra income and land Lady Isla would bring to the clan, he would cancel the agreement right then and there.
“Will ye stay here until the wedding, then?” he asked instead, needing to know so he could warn his people of the man’s poor attitude.
“Nay,” Laird Scott answered. “I will return to me castle for the time being to make preparations, as well as to give me daughter and her groom time to get to ken each other without me hovering. I am very protective of me daughter, MacDonnell, so I hope yer braither will show her the utmost respect.”
Adair’s anger flared, but he forced it down and let a small smile cross his face as he nodded.
“There is naught to worry about, Scott,” he said, turning to eye the couple where they sat some paces away. “Callum is an honorable man.”
Laird Scott nodded, rising from his seat. “I should like to retire now so I can prepare for the journey tomorrow,” he announced. “I am sure me daughter and her groom will need more time together.”
Adair rose as well. “I will have a maid show ye to yer chambers, then.” He then turned to Callum. “I am sure Lady Isla would love to see the gardens. The day has warmed a bit, and I am sure she will find them most beautiful.”
“Aye,” Callum answered.
Adair shot him a pointed look, silently warning him to be careful, and his brother nodded once in understanding.
With that, Callum and Lady Isla left the room.
After handing off Laird Scott to a maid, Adair walked to his study, needing a reprieve.
He hoped that he hadn’t just invited trouble into his clan.
“Lady Isla is one of the most elegant lasses to ever walk these halls,” Sarah, one of the knitters, gushed, walking into the morning room with a dazed smile on her face. “And she’s so elegant and charming. Master Callum is lucky!”
Murmurs of agreement echoed through the room.
Emily’s curiosity was piqued as they began sharing their thoughts on the woman Callum was to wed soon.
Lady Isla had arrived a few days ago, and her arrival had tightened everyone’s schedule, as the wedding was to be held in a month.
With her mind constantly on the fact that her arrangement with Adair would end in a month, Emily had thrown herself into her work. She had yet to meet the woman, but she would have liked to, if only to learn how to behave like a gently bred lady during her short tenure at the castle.
Unfortunately, Sarah and Davina had been assigned as Lady Isla’s knitters, so her wishes would not be actualized. But there was still time before the wedding, so she would make sure to look out for the woman during mealtimes.
“Do ye nae think her proud?” Fiona, another knitter, asked. Her voice was almost a whisper, as though she feared the words would escape the room.
“I daenae ken what ye mean, Fiona,” Emily answered, not wanting to be part of any slander. “I havenae met Lady Isla, so I have no opinions on her character.”
Fiona sat up and sniffed, as if affronted. “Well, I have, and I think she is snobbish,” she said, turning up her nose. “She wanders the halls and makes suggestions as if she is the lady of the castle and not Master Callum’s bride. I wish the Laird would put her in her place.”
“I daenae think the Laird minds very much,” Emily said, packing up her needles. “And if her suggestions help improve the castle,ye shouldnae think her proud. She is a stranger here without her family. She may only be trying to familiarize herself with the place so she doesnae feel lonely.”
She grew aware that the others were listening in on their conversation when the room fell silent around her. She looked up and noticed that they were watching her with mixed looks. Some looked chagrined, as if she had scolded them, and others looked proud, as if she had given the right answer. She looked back at Fiona, whose cheeks had reddened.
Perhaps she should have thought better of speaking up when she wasn’t even supposed to be sitting in the workroom anymore. She had been lonely working in her chambers and found herself missing the idle chatter of the workroom.
She sincerely hoped she hadn’t just alienated the only friends she had.
“Do forgive me, Fiona,” she offered. “I didnae mean to scold ye.”
“Daenae apologize, Lady Emily,” Fiona said. “Ye’re right. I shouldnae judge her so harshly when she may be lonely.”
