Page 14 of The Cruel Highlander's Bride
Settled in the carriage, Lana attempted to make conversation with her, but Ciara feigned sleepiness from their late night. Shewastired, but there was no way sleep would find her now. Turning away, she watched the landscape pass them by and let her mind wander.
Ciara was more well-traveled than most. She had traveled to other clans’ lands occasionally to spread her work, if they were allies. But she had obviously never been to the lands of their former enemies. Everything about this was brand new.
A new land, a new home, a new purpose…
She stole a quick glance at her sister, who was actually snoozing. Lana always had an uncanny ability to fall asleep within seconds.
Looking at her little sister, Ciara felt a rush of gratitude that she was here for her. At least she would have one ally when she arrived today.
Who knew what else they would find at MacLeon Castle. What would become of her relationship with the Laird? Might they find a way to be friends? Although, when she recalled Magnus’s dark stare and his possessive words, she envisioned something a lot more than a friendship.
Would Ciara be able to continue her work with Clan MacLeon? And how would his clanspeople feel about a Gunn in their midst, with their Laird?
Their clans had done unspeakable things to each other, over the many years of this feud. Would they see her as someone who brought an end to all of that, or would they see her as just a reminder of everything they had lost? And if it was the latter, would her new betrothed stand up for her… against his own people?
The further away the carriage rode from her home, the less confident Ciara felt in this decision. Of course, none of Magnus’s people would see her as a savior. Her father’s kind words had fooled her into thinking she was doing something noble.
But she’d been the enemy for years, she couldn’t expect everyone to just forget the feud. There were families who had lost everything at the hands of her clan… just as there were families at home who had lost everything at the hands of Clan MacLeon.
Would her former clanspeople see this as a betrayal as well? She imagined everyone she spent years cultivating relationships with turning their backs on her when they heard the news. People who she had considered friends, and she might never see again.
The carriage came to an abrupt stop, and Ciara looked around confusedly before she realized they had finally arrived at MacLeon Castle.
“Are ye ready for this?” Lana asked her, her voice groggy from sleep. Apparently, the sudden stop had awoken her.
Nay, definitely nae.
Her sister must have sensed this because neither of them had made any move to get out of the carriage just yet.
Ciara peered around her sister out the other small window of the carriage. She gulped. The imposing structure looked far more intimidating than she had expected.
“It doesnae look like Magnus is out there,” she commented, immediately feeling his absence.
Instead of the large imposing man, two women and a handful of servants stood outside the castle’s main entrance. One woman looked to be about their mother’s age, and the other was even younger than Lana.
“Good, maybe we dinnae even have to see him. We’re off to a great start,” Lana replied, but Ciara could not stop the roiling humiliation and anger she felt over her betrothed not even greeting her at her new home.
With a sharp inhale, Ciara said, “Well, we better get out there.”
Lana just hummed, but then motioned for the driver to open the door and let them out.
“Welcome to MacLeon Castle,” the older woman said as Ciara and Lana approached. Her smile was tight, and she reminded Ciara of a tutor she had growing up—a very no-nonsense type of woman. “I’m Elspeth, Magnus’s stepmaither, and this is Olivia. She’s me daughter,” she continued.
Ciara forced herself not to react to this news.
Stepmother? Where was Magnus’s biological mother? She studied the younger woman and found green eyes that matched the Laird’s. Magnus being a bastard would explain why her family had never heard of a son…
“Aye, thank ye. It’s lovely to meet ye both. I’m Ciara, and this is me younger sister Lana,” Ciara said.
She was stealing glances over the two women’s shoulders, expecting Magnus to make a grand entrance and apologize for his absence. Surely, he wouldn’t just pass her off to his family.
“Very well. I’m sure we’ll be seein’ a lot of each other, so I willnae subject ye to me company any longer than is necessary. I’ll just show ye to yer rooms and leave ye be,” Elspeth offered.
“Is Magnus away?” Ciara asked, in what she hoped was a polite tone.
“Nay, he’s here,” his stepmother replied. But there was a hint of unease in her gaze. Like she knew that Magnus should be here.
Who was she kidding? They all knew he should be here.
