Page 20 of The Beast

Orla pointed to the ceiling. “Guards saw them arriving, several men and a carriage were immediately dispatched. It was just announced to the household. It is quite mad downstairs; everyone is ensuring the home is perfect for their entrance.”

Beatrice looked down at her dress. It was nice and looked to be in good order. She lowered to a stool in front of a mirror. “Would ye please brush out my hair and braid it?”

As the maid began doing her hair, Beatrice formulated what to say to her sister. No doubt as soon as Darach arrived, he, Caelan, and Duncan would steal away to the study to discuss clan matters.

She and Ella would greet the women with food and something to drink.

Moments later, she hurried to the kitchen where she found Ella directing that food be taken to the family dining room and also to the study.

“Ye must have heard the news.” Ella barely spared her a glance before turning to a maid. “Hurry go out and find some flowers for the dining table.”

Ella returned her attention to Beatrice. “We should go to the front and wait. They will be arriving within moments.

Together they went through the great hall to the front entrance.

“Where is Caelan?” Beatrice asked looking around.

“I am sure he rode off to greet Darach and ensure protection was provided if it was needed.”

It was not much longer before the first of the guards rode through the gates, followed by a carriage and then finally the Ross men on horseback.

As soon as the carriage stopped, the door was opened by a guardsman. Isobel, followed by Lady Mariel and lastly Annis, Isobel’s maid, exited.

Beatrice rushed to her sister genuinely excited to see her. “I am so happy ye are back,” she exclaimed and hugged Isobel who grinned widely.

“I am glad to find ye well, sister,” Isobel replied looking her over. “I was afraid of harm befalling ye and having to explain to Mother that I left ye alone.”

A reassuring smile took effort, but Beatrice managed it, and once again hugged her sister as it wavered. “Ye look well. I expected to find ye tired.”

“Nonsense,” Lady Mariel said. “We slept most of the trip here. The only thing we are right now is very hungry.”

As they went inside, Beatrice looked over her shoulder to find that the Ross men were not talking to each other, but each of them doing other things. Darach was instructing servants to see about the luggage, Caelan spoke to a man who’d hurried to him as if seeking some sort of information, while Duncan, who’d obviously turned around, stood with his arms crossed watching his brothers.

He glanced over at her and met her gaze with his own unwavering one. The message seemed clear to her. She was not to worry.

Easy for him to say.

“What?” Isobel asked and Beatrice realized she’d muttered out loud.

“Nothing important. Food should be set out. Ye will enjoy what cook made. It smelled delicious when I was in the kitchen just moments ago.”

Once they were settled in the dining room, Isobel ate with gusto, oblivious to the suddenly heavy air.

Lady Mariel ate but kept looking at Ella with a curious expression.

“What happened?” Lady Mariel asked, looking from Beatrice to Ella. “Caelan and Duncan seemed to find interest in every surrounding, not meeting my gaze. I know when they are hiding something.”

“Nothing horrible,” Ella said and looked at Beatrice who sat across the table from her. “Ye should tell them.”

“What did ye do?” Isobel asked, her eyes wide. “If ye got into trouble while I was gone, Mother and Father will be even more displeased than they are now. Ye were supposed to have returned home by now.”

The best way to formulate it would be to point out the good things first. “I went to Duncan and Caelan’s home to speak to Duncan about that very subject. I wished to ascertain how Mother was after receiving my letter asking to remain here for an additional time.”

Isobel lifted an eyebrow but remained silent.

Lady Mariel was not as patient. “Please continue, lass.”

“The storm hit when I was heading back. I had to find refuge from it and was gone until this very morning. But as ye can see, I am uninjured and have not sneezed once.”