Page 60 of A Virgin for the Icy Highlander
“Was it a success?” Hunter asked, letting his appreciative gaze sweep over her from head to toe as she emerged from the back room.
Grace nodded, a flush rising to her cheeks. “It was, but the gown won’t be ready for two days. I trust you can wait that long?”
“It’s nae me ye should be askin’,” he replied, holding out his hand to her. “It’s Ailis who’ll explode if she cannae wait that long. As for me, I already told ye—patience.I have plenty of it.”
And it likely willnae matter by tonight, anyway.
He kept the thought off his face as she came to him, slipping her hand into his. Meanwhile, Lilian moved forward to take Ellie’s hand, though her condition was rather alarming.
“Is the gown that bad, Lady Lilian?” he asked, softening his voice as best he could.
Lilian waved a handkerchief at him, shaking her head. But as she tried to speak, a guttural sob shuddered out. She pressed the square of fabric to her mouth and shook her head more effusively as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Is she all right?” Hunter asked Grace quietly.
She grinned. “She is more than all right. When she is happy, she cries.”
“YeSassenachlasses are an odd sort,” Hunter muttered, shaking his head. “Dinnae be teachin’ me daughter anythin’ like that.”
Ellie whipped around. “Teach me what?”
“Nothin’,” Hunter replied, unable to resist a small smile.
Frowning, Ellie turned her attention to Grace. “Can I come and see the dress in two days? I promise I willnae make the dress lady cross next time.”
“Of course you can,” Grace replied without hesitation. She cupped a hand around her mouth as she added in a whisper, “Personally, I thought your ideas were marvelous. I just don’t think the dressmaker is as creative as you are. Maybe after the wedding, we could get some old fabric and make some gowns of our own?”
The little girl brightened, for shehadbeen rather upset that she hadn’t been allowed into the back room. She had not shown her disappointment by shedding tears or saying as much in so many words, but the constant repetition of “I dinnae even want to go in that room” had been enough of a hint.
“Can we do a second weddin’?” Ellie asked. “Just us, with a dress I make for ye?”
Grace glanced at Hunter, smiling. “I don’t see why not.”
Ellie cheered and began to pull Lilian out of the shop, all of her previous chagrin forgotten.
Keeping Grace close, Hunter followed his sprightly daughter out onto the street, wondering how it was possible for his heart to be so light and so heavy at the same time.
Amidst the bustle and chatter of the village, they sauntered past stalls selling baked goods and trinkets, roasted meats and freshly shucked oysters, pies and cups of hot apple cider. The scent was mouthwatering. Hunter’s growling stomach reminded him that he hadn’t eaten since his hasty breakfast.
“Would ye like somethin’ to eat, Ellie?” he asked, so he would have an excuse to partake.
The little girl halted, putting a pensive finger on her lips as her eyes traveled down the line of stalls. All at once, the sellers began shouting out their wares. They called to her, trying to convince her to purchase something from them, offering things for free if she chose them.
Above the din, a different kind of shout cut through like a spear. “Ellie Belly, is that ye?”
What?
Hunter’s head snapped toward the voice as Ellie suddenly shrieked and took off down the street, running straight into the arms of someone who shouldnothave been there.
“Uncle!” the child cried excitedly as Trevor Payne, the new Laird MacRannock, scooped her up into his embrace and spun her around as ifhewere her father.
Hunter strode toward the enemy before he could stop to think, tugging Grace along with him. Ayrford wasn’t the least bit close to MacRannock lands, which begged the question of why the scoundrel was there at all. Had he received the message Hunter left with one of his men in the woods, and decided to come and face him?
“Faither, it’s Uncle!” Ellie crowed, perched on Trevor’s hip, as happy as could be. “He’s the one who said the nice things! He wanted me to get to ken ye! Remember?”
Hunter clenched his jaw, determined not to undo all his good work by frightening his daughter now. “Would ye go with Grace and buy somethin’ delicious for us?” he asked evenly. “Me and yer uncle have some ‘nice things’ to say to each other. Alone.”
“Nay need,” Trevor said, his smile cold. “I received yer message. Ye dinnae need to say more than that. I apologize.”
