Page 38 of Laird of Wrath

That alone was enough for Rhea.

“And what does that mean?” she asked.

“It means good fortune, of course,” Lara replied. “That’s what me mother says.”

“Well, if yer mother says it, then it must be true,” Rhea said. “Let me write this letter to me sister, and then ye can tell me all about it.”

“So the Laird agreed to let her come?” Lara asked.

She had been rather anxious about it ever since Rhea had expressed her desire to have her sister there for the feast.

Not even Rhea herself had been so anxious about Callum’s decision, but that was only natural. Lara was so empathetic, so concerned about everyone around her that she ended up worrying about everyone and everything else but herself.

And that’s why I must make sure she’s all right. If she doesnae take care of herself, then I’ll do it for her.

“Aye, he did.” Rhea nodded. “Did ye think he wouldnae?”

“I… I…” Lara stuttered, clearly taken aback by her teasing.

Rhea smiled warmly at her as she reached for her hand. “It’s all right,” she soothed. “I was certain he would say nay too.”

Immediately, Lara’s face turned a bright shade of red. “But that isnae very nice, me Lady!” she gasped, scandalized. “It’s nae nice of me, and it’s nae nice of ye. The Laird never had any intention to forbid it, did he?”

“Well, nay,” Rhea said. “But how were we to ken that? He’s so grumpy all the time, surely we are forgiven for thinkin’ like this!”

“But it’s nae fair to him!” Lara protested.

Rhea couldn’t help but laugh, her shoulders shaking with mirth. Only Lara could be concerned about the very man she feared, and only she could berate herself for ever thinking that the very man she feared could be less than agreeable.

Sometimes, Rhea couldn’t make sense of the girl, but that was only part of her charm. She was too pure to hold a grudge against anyone, even Callum.

“I’m sure he’ll survive,” Rhea assured her. “Besides, he willnae listen to me, and he makes me worry all the time. Daenae ye think he deserves some of our ire?”

“I think everyone deserves understandin’,” Lara stated soberly, all her humor gone and replaced by a heavy seriousness. “I ken ye fash because of him, but perhaps he kens better, me Lady.He’s the laird of this clan. He kens what must be done, and it’s admirable that he wants to do it, nay matter the cost.”

“But the cost could be his life,” Rhea pointed out. “He could very well die, Lara.”

“Aye, I ken that,” Lara murmured. “And so does he.”

Itwastrue.

Rhea shifted her gaze to the window, staring out at the landscape beyond. The treetops swayed in the wind, their movement hypnotic, and the sky was clear for the first time in months. Soon, she would take Lara out to spend the day outside, but before, she had to write this letter. Only, she found it difficult to write.

What was she supposed to tell her sister, whom she hadn’t seen in so long?

Ye’re overthinkin’ it. She’s yer sister. Ye can simply invite her to the feast.

Rhea had the irrational fear that the months they had spent apart had created such a chasm between them that it would be impossible to bridge. But they were sisters, and they were close, and it had only been a year since they had last seen each other. How could her sister have forgotten her?

She certainly hadn’t forgotten about Mabel. She thought about her every single day, and she wished they were together every single day. But now that the time had come for her to visit, she couldn’t find the words to invite her.

“Ye seem troubled,” Lara remarked, and Rhea couldn’t even deny it. “What is it?”

“Would ye believe me if I said it’s the Laird?”

“Aye and nay. I’m sure it is, but I think it’s somethin’ else too.”

Lara had always been too perceptive for her own good.