Page 80 of A Healer for the Ruthless Highlander
“Ye look well, Laird MacReid,” Peter noted affectionately.
“I must. If I fail me wife on our wedding day, she’ll kill me,” Kenneth joked.
“I daenae doubt it. Ye’ve found yerself a woman worthy of yer temperament.”
“Leana is probably the only person me braither is afraid of,” Hunter scoffed.
Peter ruffled the boy’s hair. “Well, I’ve brought a gift for the happy couple,” he announced.
He handed Kenneth a small chest which the latter did not hesitate to open.
Inside the box, wrapped in a velvet cloak, rested a precious crown studded with pearls, accompanied by a brooch made of mother-of-pearl and gold.
Smiling, Kenneth closed the chest and thanked his old friend “Leana will love it,” he assured.
The three of them slowly rode to the castle, and Hunter relayed to Peter everything that had happened in his absence.
It had been only three months since the Laird announced his betrothal to the healer, but, from Hunter’s chatter, it must have been an eternity.
Luckily, spring had given way to a pleasant summer, so the day chosen for the wedding was ideal. With bright sunshine streaking across the blue sky and beautiful white flowers peeking through the green grass. They could not have chosen a better day, or time, to say their vows.
Inside the castle, the hustle and bustle was evident. Partly for that reason, Kenneth and Hunter had decided to go out, as the ladies were restless. Three young ladies in particular.
Leana’s sisters, along with Valerie, had made sure that everything was perfect for the wedding day. The three of them moved back and forth, overseeing with Brenda the preparationsfor the dinner as well as the ceremony. Colorful arrangements were passed from hand to hand, orders were being tossed in the air, and suggestions were slipped in amid laughter.
This seemed to be a day they had all looked forward to amidst a secrecy laden with anticipation.
“Kenneth, there ye are!” Brenda gushed, as soon as she saw the men approaching. She kissed Hunter’s cheeks affectionately. “I’ve been lookin’ everywhere for ye. Do ye have any idea where Leana might be? I need to do some final alterations to her dress before the ceremony, but I’m afraid I cannae find her anywhere!”
The pirate’s eyes, Kenneth noticed, lingered for a long time on Brenda. Probably admiring her regal beauty and her kind smile.
“I havenae seen her,” Kenneth replied, with a slight frown. “At least, nae since the mornin’. Hunter and I have gone to fetch Peter.”
“Me da is goin’ to stay with us all summer, Ma. Is it nae excitin’?” Hunter clapped his hands in excitement.
“It is, indeed,” Brenda said, holding out a hand to the pirate, who bowed gallantly and placed a chaste kiss on her knuckles.
The little exchange did not escape Kenneth’s notice—nor Hunter’s notice, for that matter. The boy’s eyes seemed to sparkle as if a wonderful idea had suddenly occurred to him.
“Ye ken what? Ye two would make a great couple,” he remarked.
Kenneth nudged him forward. “Come on. Ye’ll help me look for Leana,” he ordered, noticing the blush creeping up his stepmother’s cheeks.
Brenda insisted on showing Peter to his chambers, so he had a good feeling.
It would be a while, perhaps, but with luck, the castle might see a second wedding before the year was out.
But for the moment, Kenneth had to concentrate on his own wedding. And of course, a wedding could not take place without the bride.
“Braither, have ye done anythin’ wrong lately?” Hunter asked.
Kenneth pursed his lips in thought. “Nae that I can remember. Why?”
“I just cannae find any other explanation for Leana runnin’ away on her wedding day.”
Kenneth preferred not to dwell on that possibility. Things had been going so well between him and Leana that not even the slightest doubt loomed in his head.
But of course, they scoured the castle… and didn’t find her.
