Page 76 of The Highlander's Auctioned Virgin
A smirk crept onto his lips as he looked back up at Thomas.
Thomas narrowed his eyes, and Ciaran watched as the realization dawned on him.
“That was a test, was it nae?”
Ciaran didn’t respond. He only unfolded the scroll. It was a letter. He read through it quickly, absorbing each word.
“‘Tis from me people,” he revealed. “They’re settling in the village I had picked for them.”
“Oh.” Thomas’s eyebrows rose. “That is great, is it nae?”
“Aye,” Ciaran muttered and refolded the scroll. “Thank ye for delivering this, Thomas.”
“Oh well.” Thomas shrugged, a grin stretching his lips. “The maid who was supposed to deliver it had an urgent matter to attend to, and I thought I could do her a favor.”
Ciaran narrowed his eyes at him. “This wouldnae be the same maid I caught ye with last night by the library, would it?”
Thomas’s widening grin told him all he needed to know.
“Alright, thank ye. Ye can leave.”
“Aye, M’Laird. She also wanted me to inform ye that breakfast will be served in a few minutes, if ye would like to join the lady in the hall.”
Ciaran nodded and watched him leave the room, the door clicking shut behind him.
He was left alone once again, his hand wrapped around the scroll. He had sent a message immediately to his people after picking the village the other night with Elinor. Now, they were making their way there.
There was only one more thing left to do.
He grabbed a white shirt and slipped into it as quickly as possible, then fastened a dagger to his waist and headed out of the room.
Breakfast in the hall wasn’t necessarily a grand affair. At least, not since Murdock’s death. But with her family visiting, Elinor had decided to make it one. The smell of toast, coffee, and turkey filled her nostrils as the maids began to serve the food.
“Murdock might have been a right bastard,” Jackson, who was sitting beside Anna, started, sucking the tip of his index finger. “But he kenned how to get proper honey.”
“I agree,” Anna spoke up. “Elinor, ye must tell me who supplies him.”
Elinor laughed. “Well, he willnae be hard to find in the marketplace. And I am afraid ye may nae get honey of this quality from him anymore. Murdock had him brought to the castle every time his honey was unsatisfactory. Then, he would order the guards to strike him.”
Anna held her breath.
“Aye. Twenty lashes. The poor man must have come here at least six times,” Elinor continued.
Jackson shook his head. “Did yer husband just torture people to get whatever he wanted? That is such a cruel way to live.”
“‘Tis why nay one truly cared about his death,” Elinor explained, her voice low but laced with satisfaction.
Before Anna could open her mouth to speak, the door swung open and Ciaran stepped in.
Anna furrowed her brow and gave her sister a surprised look. Elinor only shrugged in response.
“Laird MacTraigh.” Jackson’s voice carried across the hall as Ciaran drew closer. “I didnae ken ye would be joining us for breakfast this morning. I would have worn me good kilt.”
“I hope that is nae a problem.”
“Unless ye can see the fading tartan from above the table, I daenae see why it should be,” Jackson responded.
Ciaran laughed and finally settled into the chair across from Elinor.
