Page 41 of A Virgin for the Icy Highlander
“Nay need, lass. I’m already here,” a booming voice interrupted as a man with a tall, broad figure strode into the hall.
He certainly had a commanding presence, looking as if he’d just wandered straight off a victorious battlefield and into the room. He walked with a swagger, wearing a loose shirt and a kilt. The collar of his shirt was undone until it served practically no purpose whatsoever, and left his chest mostly exposed. Across his sun-browned skin, there were silvery slashes of scars, adding a somewhat dangerous edge to his presence.
There were a few scars on his face, too. One cut down from the line of his long, dark hair before stopping just above his right eyebrow. It was as if whatever blade had struck him hadn’t dared to slice any further.
He strolled over and clapped Hunter on the back. “Welcome home, ye mad bastard!”
“What are ye doin’ here?” Hunter asked grimly.
But Laird Muir ignored him, turning his grey gaze on the ladies sitting opposite.
“I wasnae expectin’ ye to be servin’ beauties for dinner, MacLogan.” He smirked. “What a feast for the eyes, eh?”
Lilian turned purple until it was clear that she had completely forgotten how to breathe. Meanwhile, Maddie offered up her most withering stare for him to choke on, unimpressed by whatever he deemed charm. She also gave Lilian a slight jab in the ribs to remind her to breathe.
Grace, however, looked back at Laird Muir with a pleasant enough smile, knowing divine intervention when she saw it.
“What a pity you shall have to starve, Laird Muir,” Maddie said, returning her attention to her dinner.
The man chuckled darkly. “Such severe words, and I havenae even introduced meself yet. That must be a record for me.” He let his gaze wander down the trio of women before resting on Lilian. “Oscar Blaine, Laird of Clan Muir.”
Lilian could not speak, as she was frozen for the second time that day.
“This is Lady Lilian Ashwood,” Grace threw in to spare her friend. “I am Lady Grace Bolton, and that is Lady Madeleine Huxley.”
“And I am Lady Elspeth Barr! These are my best friends!” Ellie chirped as she clambered back up into her seat, holding the wooden cat, the real kitten, and the fluffy mouse.
Grace’s heart swelled at the declaration and the precious manner in which the child held her beloved things. Ellie had certainlybecome one of their group over the past couple of days. And now Grace would have no choice but to factor this point into her decision.
How could she possibly leave a child who was so sweet and was slowly starting to rely on her?
Soft laughter broke the tension. Oscar strode around to the other end of the table to make his introduction to Ellie. He crouched beside her chair, chuckling as the kitten hissed at him.
“Who is this?” he asked, reaching out to stroke the kitten.
It batted him with its paw, hissing harder.
“This is Snowflake,” Ellie replied. “He’s me protector.”
“And a very good one, too,” Oscar said, smirking. “Do I look scary, do ye think? Is that why he’s hissin’ at me?”
Ellie eyed him curiously before shaking her head. “Nay. He just likes to hiss at new people.”
“Is that so? Well, I’m pleased to hear it’s nae just me,” Oscar said, glancing between father and daughter. “Now,yelook just like yer faither.”
Ellie’s eyebrows shot up, and she chewed on her lip in consternation. “Do I?” She paused. “Does that meanIlook scary?”
Another ripple of laughter made its way around the table.
Grace glanced at Hunter out of the corner of her eye to see his reaction. He sat stony-faced and not amused in the slightest. But whether that had more to do with Oscar’s arrival or Ellie’s remark, she couldn’t tell.
“I’m sure that’s not what the gentleman meant, little one,” Grace said, putting an arm around the girl to comfort her as she trembled. “Do you remember when we spoke of how Lilian’s hair is blonde and her eyes are a light blue, like her mother’s, while Maddie has red hair like her father and hazel eyes like her mother?”
Ellie nodded.
“I thinkthatis what Laird Muir meant,” Grace continued. “You have dark hair and blue eyes like your father.”
Oscar reached across the little girl and took Grace’s hand. He pressed his lips to her knuckles and raised his gaze to hers as he did so.
