Page 25 of Sinbound to the Highlander
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Watching Freya leave without him by her side was hard, but he had to stay back and speak with Elspeth. Her parents, Laird and Lady Lobhdain, were overjoyed with Freya’s appearance, but he needed to know how Elspeth felt about it. Evan would hate himself if Freya came to a place he meant to make her happy only to have it become a burden.
They wandered out to the garden with her on his arm. He followed the path where unlit torches stood sentinel until they came upon the center of the garden. A wooden bench rested beneath a large oak tree, and there they sat.
“I’d imagine the events of the day were nay the ones ye had imagined when it was announced that I was comin’,” he said diplomatically.
“They certainly werenae,” Elspeth said as she fixed her skirts. “I never kent I’d see me sister again, as the very notion that she might be alive was absurd.”
Her words were halting, and her tone was vague. Evan could not tell if she was pleased or detested the appearance of her sister, so he prodded a little more.
“When I first saw her, I dinnae believe it meself,” Evan replied.
“Ye said she touched ye, tryin’ to find if ye were alive?” Elspeth asked, and Evan sensed jealousy in her tone.
“Aye, the stream nearby lulled me to sleep,” Evan replied, trying—and failing—to prod what he wanted from her. “She was ready to call for help if I was dead. I kent that was very thoughtful or her.”
What exactly does she feel about Freya?
“If she’s going to stay with us, I have a few things I’d love to help her with,” Elspeth said, “Like those horrid spots on her face. I have more than enough dresses for her to take as well. I want her to look the part of a Laird’s daughter.”
She was coming closer to what he was aiming to get from her, but all she was saying was that Freya’s appearance was lacking. Was she happy her sister was alive and going to live with them?
“I did,” Elspeth said. “Ye werenae there, but she expressed a need to learn more. I’m sure I can take some time out of our courtship to assist her in her lessons.”
So, in light of her sister comin’ back, all she is concerned about is our courtship.
Evan did not want to believe that Elspeth was that shallow, but it was getting harder and harder to brush the belief off. She did not care much for her servants, but to not care about her family?
“Freya is a lovely girl, a bit naïve, but she will get seasoned in castle life, and the machinations people do to swindle their way into getting what they want,” Elspeth said, “I’ve seen Maither and Faither have to deal with it and she’ll have to learn nae to trust everyone.”
Evan was stunned. Where was this wisdom coming from, as opposed to the vanity he knew she lived in? Did this mean that she cared for Freya, in her removed way?
“It is difficult to live how we do, and nae be taken advantage of. I’m glad you will help Miss Crushom to understand how things work,” Evan said, rather pleased with Elspeth's words. If she did live up to her promises, and showed him that she could change mayhap, this marriage could work after all.
They spoke lightly about her parents and the effort they would be putting in to make Freya feel at ease. The conversation strayed to the war hovering on the edges of their homes, but it quickly shifted to the wedding Elspeth wanted to have.
“I ken swans are the most magnificent creatures,” Elspeth sighed dreamily. “I’d want them behind us while we get married at the edges of the loch. I’d rather have the guests wear the same color and take a bath first. I hate people who smell. And I daenae want any of that hootin’ and hollerin’ the guests make for the days before the weddin’. It’s rather uncivilized. On the eve, where they wash me feet, I’d rather nay have ye or your men folk makin’ jests and attemptin’ to watch who of me maids will find the ring. And if ye choose to have yer feet washed, I’d rather be out of the room. The smell of ashes, soot, and cinders are vile to me.”
His eyebrows nearly disappeared into his hair. In one fell swoop, Elspeth had just written off every tradition they had, as if they were barbarians haggling for the last piece of meat. He could insist on a few things, traditions that he felt dear to his heart, but ultimately, she was the one who had more stake in what the wedding was going to be than he did.
A servant came to them with a message from her parents that a meal was prepared for them, and with that, Evan escorted Elspeth back into the castle. The time had slipped away without his notice, and it was nearly the afternoon when they went back into the castle. They went to wash their hands before going to the main hall.
People were around the trestle tables, with loaded trenchers and filled goblets. Helping Elspeth to the high table to sit near her mother, Evan sat closer to her father. Servants came and laid trenchers before them, cups, and trays of mouth-watering foods, and he thanked the ones who placed them there. They put food before Elspeth, but she did not even look at them.
Laird Lobhdain started telling the plans he had for Freya, with schooling and other training. “The tutors are the same ones who taught Elspeth. They’ll do right by her.”
“That’s only fair,” Evan agreed, “she deserves it.”
Elspeth was quiet during the meal, and halfway through it, she excused herself, and, after saying her goodbyes to her parents, and farewells to him, she left the hall to her room. Evan was concerned about her sudden departure, but her mother assured him, it was something they were used to.
“She has a delicate stomach,” Lady Lobhdain said while calling a servant and ordering some ginger root tea to be sent up to Elspeth. “After she drinks the tea, she’ll be fine. Thanks for yer concern, Laird Ruthven.”
The Lady reached over and grasped his hand, “Thank ye again. I would have never kent me daughter was alive if ye hadnae carried her here for us. I’d like it for ye to be here as much as ye can so Freya can see a familiar face, while ye court Elspeth.”
“Speaking of,” Evan cleared his throat and began to tell her what Elspeth wished for her wedding. He kept his dismay in, while her mother did not look surprised in the least at Elspeth’s demands.
The Lady sipped her drink, “I can see her wantin’ those, aye.”
