Page 30 of The Highlander's Inconvenient Wife
“That’s a lovely name.” Martha smiled from across the table as she held her steaming cup of tea between her hands. “I always liked the name Eilidh if I ever had a girl, but God saw fit to bless me with a son instead,” she said with a hint of sadness in her voice. “Are ye an’ yer sister close?”
“A little too close,” Joan laughed. “My mother always said that some time apart would do us good.” Her heart suddenly grew sad as she realized that her mother’s words had come true, albeit not in the way that she had hoped. “She said that the separation of marriage would come as less of a shock if we stopped relying on each other so much.”
“Och, I dinnae think that sisters can be too close.” Martha’s laughter matched hers as they fell into a comfortable conversation. “It’s such a blessing when one has another woman she can talk to.” She shook her head and laughed. “I can talk to Jasper, but he doesnae care to talk about flowers just like I dinnae care to talk about battles an’ grumpiness.”
Joan laughed despite the anger she felt toward Jasper, Martha was a lovely woman, one that was very quickly crawling her way into her heart. She had to admit that she would miss their little conversations when she eventually left.
“Has yer sister nae found a man she wants to marry yet?” Martha continued the conversation. “Nae that I think she should get married yet — a lass should be fully mature ’afore she ties herself to any man.”
“I guess we all spoilt her a bit; there isn’t anything we wouldn’t do for her,” Joan bit on her lower lip as she thought of Nora; as completely spoilt as she was, she was still the only one in their family that Joan would entrust with her whereabouts.
Nora would go to the ends of the earth to protect her sister and the connection they shared. “Our mother has allowed her to be picky with the men that have asked for her hand in marriage.”
“There’s nothing wrong with a little spoiling when it comes to the ones we love,” Martha winked at her. “Family that loves each other is a blessing.”
“I beg yer pardon, me lady,” a fair-haired maid with freckles stepped forward.
Joan surveyed the shy looking girl with mop of curls that had been stuffed beneath the cap she was wearing. The girl was short and naturally pretty with symmetrical features and a wispish nose.
Joan couldn’t help but wonder if Jasper hadn’t noticed how pretty she was as well. The familiar feeling of inexplicable jealousy reared its ugly head again as the anger seeped back in.
“We are done, Isla,” Martha spoke kindly to the girl who seemed very shy and demure. “Ye can tell the cook that the breakfast was scrumptious.” She dabbed at the corners of her mouth with a napkin before pushing her chair back and standing.
“There was one other thing, me lady,” Isla said as she began to remove the empty plates and trays. “Me laird has said that he will nae be joining for supper.”
Joan felt herself bristling at the mention of Jasper.
Of course, the girl speaks to him; she is his maid!
She found herself admonishing herself for the ridiculous direction her thoughts were going in.
“An’ where exactly did the laird say he would be getting’ his supper?” Martha asked sharply, placing her hands on her hips as she narrowed her eyes. “First, he stays away from breakfast, an’ says that he willnae be joinin’ us for lunch, an’ now, it’s supper too. Does the laird wish to remain a hermit for the rest of his days?” The sarcasm practically dripped from her voice as she asked the rhetorical question.
Fire filled the girl’s cheeks as a bright red blush crept over her face, enhancing the spray of freckles over her nose. “He dinnae say, me lady.”
“Never mind, I wasnae mad at ye, Isla; carry on with yer work,” Martha sighed and shook her head.
Joan felt her anger boiling to the surface again. The absolute nerve of the man if he thought he could avoid her after kissing her once and nearly kissing her two more times after that.
Does the great lummox think he can just avoid me for the remainder of my stay?
She waited for Martha to leave before storming from the room with a plan in mind. The Beastly Laird was about to see just how difficult it was to avoid Joan Moore.
* * *
Jasper sat back in his chair as his man-at-arms discussed what had happened with the men they had been following at the border of their lands. His mind was filled with thoughts of Joan and what had taken place the evening before in the mist. The woman had cast a spell over him that made him react in a way that defied his common sense.
Why do I want to kiss her so badly?
He clenched his jaw as thoughts of her warm body against his drew him away from the conversation at hand. He’d definitely made the right decision to avoid her; there was no telling what would happen if they were left alone once again. His thoughts soured as he thought of his father and the way he’d treated his mother in their marriage. What was stopping him from beating Joan when things weren’t going his way? He was his father’s son after all.
No.
He pushed the thoughts aside; there was no chance that Joan would want to marry a man like him in any case, so there was no use in dwelling on fictitious scenarios.
“So, her advice worked.” Hamish’s sudden referral to Joan brought him back to the study.
“How did it work?” He sat up straight and ran his hand over his chin thoughtfully, suddenly intrigued by the conversation.
