Page 47 of The Devil in Plaid
“Esme appears to have gained the attention of a young man as well,” Jamie said, pointedly.
Fiona shifted her gaze. Sure enough, Esme was speaking with a handsome MacLeod clansman.
Jamie leaned close. “His name is Sebastian. He is the son of a cottar and a fine warrior.”
Fiona could hardly sit still. “I do hope his interest is more than just friendly. Esme is twenty and fears she will never marry.”
Jamie seemed to consider the couple. “Sebastian is the right age and a good man. I believe he would make her a fine husband.”
Fiona smiled. She would be overjoyed to see her dear friend happily matched. She sucked in a sharp breath and turned, grabbing her husband’s forearm. “We should match the unmarried MacDonnells to the unmarried MacLeods.”
He chuckled. “That is certainly one way to ensure lasting peace, at least among our clans,” he added.
His words were an unwelcome but necessary reminder of the greater threat to both clans, a reminder of the reason why she and Jamie married to begin with—Ranulf MacKenzie.
“Where do we stand?” she asked.
“I have sent a messenger to my kin on the Isles of Harris and Raasay. They have agreed to join our number if we made a fortuitous alliance, which we have done,” he said, gesturing to their kin feasting together. “Their ranks combined with ours will make an army mighty enough to stand in front of the MacKenzie with courage in our hearts.”
She squeezed his hand to show her support. “What’s more, right will be on our side, which I know will aid our men.”
He nodded. “Indeed, the man who fights for freedom and to protect his kin, is always stronger than the man fighting for selfish gain.”
She raised her cup. “To our alliance.”
His face softened. “To friendship.”
Her breath quickened. She needed to leap—“To love.”
He leaned close. “To love,” he whispered, and stole her breath with his kiss.
