His Highland Rose (His Highland Heart Book 1) by Willa Blair

Author:Willa Blair [Blair, Willa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oliver Heber Books
Published: 2020-11-03T00:00:00+00:00

Iain noticed the air of celebration the moment he and Kenneth entered the great hall. The hunt had gone well, and he’d made progress with James Rose in his suit for Annie, so he felt he had something to celebrate, too. Perhaps his mood colored how he perceived the gathering. But Kenneth seemed to feel it, as well. A broad grin lit his face as he surveyed the people sitting at the long tables filling the hall. They were excited about something.

Then James entered from his solar. Behind him came Annie and Catherine. But one more lass followed and as she entered the room, the crowd broke out in cheers.

James took his accustomed place at the high table and arrayed the lasses all on one side, then beckoned to Iain and Kenneth to take seats on his other side. The new lass smiled at the people greeting her, then sat closest to the laird. She looked so much like the other two lasses, Iain guessed this had to be the missing Mary, returned from Inverness.

James confirmed that moments later as they reached their seats. He stood and introduced his eldest daughter.

Mary nodded to each of them as Iain and Kenneth welcomed her home. She gave Iain a long, searching look that had him wondering what was going through her mind. Had Annie already confided to her what they’d done at the spring?

Before he sat, he tried to catch Annie’s eye, but she refused to look at him. Her pinched expression told him either she was still angry with him, or something else had upset her. Wasn’t she happy her sister was home? Or had her father spoken to her?

The sisters glanced at each other, then down at the table as Iain took his seat.

James gave each a quelling look.

Then Kenneth leaned back in his chair.

Iain noticed Catherine doing the same, and she and Kenneth exchanged a longing look behind her father’s back.

Iain elbowed Kenneth in a way that looked like an accident. “The whole hall can see ye,” he hissed in a whisper aimed at Kenneth’s ear. James appeared not to have noticed or heard, much to Iain’s relief.

The meal progressed oddly, James engaging Iain in conversation, and drawing Mary in as well. She seemed friendly enough, but subdued. Iain chafed at having Annie so near, yet too far away to talk to…or touch. Annie kept her gaze forward, occasionally turning her head completely away from him to speak with Catherine. With two other people between them, he could barely hear the sound of her voice.

He caught Mary studying him several times, but when she saw him look at her, she turned away. Annie must have told her what happened at the spring.

Something was going on. Whatever it was, Iain got the impression he would not like it.

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