Page 15 of The Laird's Secret Bairn

“That tells me nothing.”

“It tells ye enough.” He reached for his cloak and fastened it at the shoulder. “As I said, ye will see soon enough what it’s about.”

Kenna’s frown deepened. “Ye’re being deliberately mysterious.”

“Aye, I am.”

Kenna huffed. “Dougal Grant, I am yer maither. I birthed ye. I think I’ve earned more than three words.”

“Ye’ve earned plenty, Maither. I enjoy keeping ye in suspense.”

“Ye enjoy nothing of the sort. “Ye enjoy being insufferable.”

He chuckled. “That as well.”

He glanced at his mother, who watched him with suspicion. Fortunately, she knew never to toy with the boundaries. She respected his position, something that was never in question.

“This has something to do with last night, does it nae? Whatever happened at that cèilidh?”

“Perhaps.”

“Perhaps,” she huffed, exasperated, though there was a note of amusement beneath it. “I daenae like the sound of that. Ye are doing little to quell me worries, Dougal.”

He nodded. “I’ll see ye soon, Maither.”

She waved him off, clearly disappointed with not knowing where he was going, but she wasn’t the type to push too much.

Dougal meant what he had said. She was going to find out once he got Skye’s brother to agree. Then he would tell her that Skye would be staying here for a month.

It would come as a shock to her; he did not doubt it.

He stood there for longer than he had intended, holding Skye’s gaze. She blushed even more furiously than she had had the other night. In the light of day, he could see it more readily. It was quite a sight, an intoxicating one he couldn’t look away from.

There were two other women there with her, and one of them was looking at him with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty. The other eyed him as if she wanted to strike him from where she stood. He concluded that it was Freya, Skye’s elder sister. Skye must have told her the truth.

Soon, he was led to Kaden’s study, waving off the maid’s offer of tea just as he stepped inside.

Kaden looked up from his ledgers. He seemed to already suspect why Dougal was there. No point in making the man wait for him to say what he had to say then.

“I willnae take much of yer time,” Dougal began. “I’m here for yer sister.”

Kaden straightened in his chair, regarding him carefully. “I daenae believe Freya…”

Dougal thought of Freya, of the cold look in her eyes. Amusedly, he thought he might not have survived the encounter if she had her way. She wanted to protect her sister; that much was clear. He could not fault her for that one bit.

“It’s nae Freya. It’s Skye.”

Kaden’s expression changed instantly. His confusion turned into anger, his eyes narrowing at the mere mention that Dougal was there for his younger sister.

Dougal wasn’t surprised. He would’ve been concerned had Kaden reacted otherwise.

Kaden set down his quill slowly. “Absolutely nae. I willnae even entertain the idea. Best ye leave right now.”

The words landed hard, and Dougal felt his jaw tighten before he’d even decided to be angry.

A month. That was all he wanted. Skye as his betrothed, then they would both go their separate ways. Simple. Kaden saying no didn’t kill the want in him. It only sharpened it.

“Ye havenae heard the proposal yet,” he pointed out. “Should ye nae hear what I have to say first? It’s only proper.”