Page 58 of The Groom Wore Plaid
Owen gave nod. “You know me too well.”
Lady Aberfoyle came forward next, and Owen dutifully leaned down to kiss her cheek. As he did so, the countess studied Maggie. The disdain she’d originally offered Maggie seemed gone, so at least the visit to the McCallums had done some good. That would be a relief for Owen, whichever McCallum he married.
“Margaret!” her mother cried, throwing her arms about her daughter.
Maggie hugged her tightly back, and to her surprise, felt a sting of tears. It felt like ages since she’d had someone to confide in—Euphemia had briefly stood in for her mother, but since she’d been able to help so little, she hadn’t eased Maggie’s concerns. Her mother wouldn’t be able to either, but still . . .
As they parted, Maggie saw Brendan bow his head to Owen.
“Lord Aberfoyle, I like your castle,” Brendan said.
“Thank you,” Owen replied, smiling. “I hope you explore it as if it’s your own.”
“I may?” He shot a look at Maggie. “Oh, that’s right, my sister’ll be mistress here. I’ll be back.” And he ran outside.
Maggie gave Owen a grateful look.
“And who are our other guests?” Owen asked.
Maggie recognized the faintly sardonic tone of his voice as he regarded the lovely sisters. The two young women squealed as Maggie rushed forward to embrace them both at the same time.
“Oh, Maggie, ye were so kind to invite us,” Helen murmured, gazing around at the great hall with awe in her eyes. “Who would have thought we’d ever be dining in the Duff castle?”
Dorothy shook her head. “There’s been peace between our families for years, ye silly lass. ’Twas bound to happen.” And then she smiled at Maggie. “But truly, ye were gracious to think of us.”
I hope ye still believe that after the festival, Maggiethought. She turned, linked both her arms with her cousins, and presented them to Owen. “Lord Aberfoyle, may I present Dorothy and Helen McCallum, sisters to each other and cousins to me.” She cocked her head toward Dorothy. “’Tis our grandfathers who were first cousins, were they not?”
Dorothy nodded, and then said as an aside to Owen, “We might be distant cousins to the chief, but when Maggie was home, she made us feel close.”
Maggie felt a twinge of regret for being away so much and losing the close bond she’d once shared with her cousins. But with her father there, there was little else her mother could have done to keep her safe.
Owen bowed like the gentleman he was, and Helen’s face turned a becoming shade of pink as she blushed, though she said nothing. The sisters curtsied as if forgetting Maggie still held their arms, and she stumbled forward as they sank.
Hugh laughed aloud, and she shot him a sisterly frown, even as Riona elbowed him. Maggie had known the moment she met Riona that the woman was perfect for her brother. It had just taken some sacrifice on all their parts to make it happen.
A sacrifice Maggie couldn’t continue with, and her guilt threatened to swamp her. She reminded herself that she had other options, then gently pushed her cousins forward a step. “Owen, would ye show Dorothy and Helen to their room? I’ll guide the rest of myfamily.” She grinned at Cat and Lady Aberfoyle. “You ladies already know your own way.”
To her surprise, Lady Aberfoyle went to Lady McCallum. “I promised to show you our home, Sheila. Come see what we’ve done.”
“I’ve been looking forward to it, Edith,” said Lady McCallum.
Maggie gaped as the two older women set off together, disappearing down a corridor. While Dorothy and Helen began discussing the tapestry as the two knowledgeable weavers they were, Maggie turned wide eyes on her brother, and Owen regarded his sister curiously.
Hugh spread his hands. “We don’t know how it happened, but they’ve become friends in but a sennight. When first they met, they eyed each other like rival cats about to hiss and claw.”
“Hugh,” Riona scolded mildly. “The women aren’t animals.”
“But Hugh’s right,” Cat conceded as if with regret. She glanced at her brother. “Owen, I spent the entire journey there reminding Mother that your happiness was more important than the hatred her parents had taught her, that a new day of peace was upon us. When we arrived, she was polite and distant with everyone until she met up with Lady McCallum. I don’t know what they sensed about each other—”
“A kindred spirit?” Riona interrupted with a smile.
Cat chuckled. “Perhaps that’s as good an explanation as any. They apparently hadn’t expected it and insisted on resisting for many days of sarcasm and biting comments.”
Hugh exhaled a deep sigh. “’Twas exhausting. I wanted to enjoy my new bride, not judge every dispute between two old—”
“Hugh!” Maggie said, glancing apologetically at Owen and Cat. “So how did they realize they could be friends?”
“You mean besides the reminder that their children would be marrying each other?” Cat said.
