Page 68 of Laird of Wrath

But she would find no such thing. Rhea was happy, and even if she hadn’t quite understood it herself until that very moment, it didn’t make it any less true.

I am happy. I am happy here, with Callum by me side. I couldnae have asked for a better partner. As far as such marriages are concerned, it could have been far worse. Me father picked well, even if he didnae ken it at the moment.

And it willnae be the same for Mabel. She will pick the man she loves. She still has time.

Slowly, a smile curved Mabel’s lips. “All right,” she said. “That’s all I need to ken. That ye’re happy here.”

“Iamhappy,” Rhea repeated firmly. “I never want ye to think of me as… as unhappy or as in need of rescue, Mabel. Daenae concern yerself with such things. Ye already have so much on yer mind.”

“But how can I nae concern meself with ye?” Mabel pouted. “Ye’re me sister. I love ye, Rhea. I never want to see ye unhappy. And if… if ye were unhappy here, I would do anythin’ in me power, nay matter how small, to get ye out.”

Rhea laughed, the sound bright and sudden, surprising her sister. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe her. Quite the opposite, in fact. She was certain that Mabel would do just that—whisking her away in the middle of the night to bring her back home or hide her from Callum the moment she expressed any displeasure.

Mabel was quick like that. She may have been a shy, quiet girl, but she was also sharp as a razor, her mind running circles around everyone else. If there was anyone who could come up with an escape plan, it would be her.

“Then it’s a good thing that I daenae need ye to do that for me,” Rhea said. “Come now, enjoy the feast. Ye’re a young lass, go dance with a handsome lad.”

Mabel gave her a scandalized look. “Rhea! I cannae do that!”

“And why nae?”

“Because… people will talk!”

“So? Let them talk.”

“Absolutely nae,” Mabel said firmly, shaking her head. “I willnae risk yer reputation or mine.”

“It’s only a dance, Mabel,” Rhea coaxed. “Ye’re a young, bonnie lass, and there are plenty of handsome lads out there lookin’ for a dance partner. Go, enjoy yerself.”

“I will do nay such thing.”

Stubborn wee thing.

“Hudson!” Rhea called over her shoulder, gesturing to him to come closer. Hudson rose from his chair and approached, and the look on Mabel’s face was almost enough to make Rhea burst out laughing. “Will ye show me sister how to enjoy herself, please? She doesnae wish to dance with a stranger.”

“He’s a stranger!” Mabel protested.

But Hudson was entirely unaffected by her protest. He gave her a charming smile and offered her his hand, and Rhea saw her sister turn five different colors in rapid succession.

“Lady Mabel,” he said in the honeyed voice he reserved for young women. “May I have this dance?”

Mabel glanced back and forth between the two of them for a long time before finally giving in with a smile. She took his hand and let him help her up, but before they disappeared into the crowd, Rhea grabbed Hudson’s arm tightly, her fingers digging into his flesh through his sleeve.

“I said a dance,” she said, her voice low and threatening. “Do ye understand? Anythin’ else, and I’ll have yer head on a stake.”

Hudson blanched, looking over his shoulder at Callum, but Callum was absorbed in another conversation already.

“Of course, Rhea. What do ye take me for?” he asked with a chuckle.

“A rake,” she scoffed. “Daenae make me regret this.”

“I’ll treat her like a precious jewel,” Hudson promised.

With that, the two of them disappeared into the crowd, Hudson leading and Mabel trailing after him.

It wasn’t long after when one of the councilmen, Reggie, approached her and offered her his hand.

“Me Lady, it’s a shame for ye to sit here all alone,” he said. “Would ye like to dance?”