Page 13 of The Highlander's Fake Wife
There was no chance of betrayal from Olivia’s side, especially after how her own kin had treated her. Still, an air of caution lingered in the council room, even as they excitedly discussed plans for the ceremony and the future of their heirs.
“I think ye can slip out, now,” The laird whispered quietly into her ear. “They’re gonna be talkin’ in circles for hours.”
Olivia nodded, relieved she no longer had to put up an act. With a curtsy toward the council and her hand back in Elspeth’s, she excused herself and did her best to walk calmly toward the door. Once it closed behind the, she exhaled loudly, squeezing Elspeth’s hand for a bit of support.
“Aye, I know the feeling, love.” Elspeth sighed just as loudly as Olivia had, giving her hand a reassuring pat. “They seem rather intimidating, but they’re all nothing but chatter. It’s me son that usually has to take action.” She paused, giving Olivia a bemused look. “Ye really meant all o’that in there, then? Having feelings for me son, and all that?”
Ooh, but Olivia was going to give the laird such an earful for all the lies she had to tell today. “I…know it may seem rather quick, but we had a bit of time to really…talk, while we traveled back here.” She took in a gentle breath, unable to keep eye-contact with Elspeth for much longer. “An…truth be told, yer son has offered to help me find me own maither as well.”
“He did?”
Olivia nodded. “He’s done a great deal for me so far, and–and it’s hard not to feel something over that.”
Elspeth’s expression softened. “I can understand that. ‘Tis similar to how his faither charmed me–amazing how quick trouble can find ye in the highlands.”
“Aye?”
Elspeth nodded, chuckling light as she got a faraway look in her warm, brown eyes. “Aye. Though, he’s the one that got me in trouble, what with his huntin’ snare. Had me hangin’ upside down fer an’ hour, he did!” Her laughter turned more vibrant, filling Olivia’s chest with longing adoration. “Aye…I dinnae let him live that down. Not even on his death bed.”
Olivia’s heart fluttered in her chest. “I’m sorry.”
“Och, nay, sweetness. Was so long ago, now,” Elspeth insisted, though her eyes took on a somewhat misty appearance. She freed her hands and wiped her face, a wobbling laughter escaping her chest.
“Gracious me! I still get so sentimental…but, he died just how he wanted, love. Protectin’ his kin and land; ‘tis the sign of a great laird, being willing to lay yer life on the line like that.”
Same as Olivia’s own father.
“At least he was there for the birth of his children,” Elspeth went on. “I woulda boxed his ears if he werenae there! Havin’ twins, all on me own–och, the man woulda never lived it down.”
“Oh!” Olivia exclaimed, happy to finally have gotten confirmation. “Then, Flora and the laird…”
“Arthur, aye,” Elspeth beamed. “Born practically on the dot, though Arthur will never admit that his sweet sister came a few moments before him.”
“Aye; I’ll remember to remind him now and then,” Olivia giggled.
“Ye do, ye do!” Elspeth laughed, the pair starting down the halls and back to the dining room. “I think yer just what he needs, love, and I’m glad ye think so as well. He’s the pride an’ joy of me life–he an’ his sister, a’course–but that boy was an hellion when he were young. It’d be nice, having such a beautiful woman to keep him in line.”
Olivia couldn’t help but blush furiously. “I’ll do me best, m’lady.”
“I ken ye will. And it’s ‘Mam’ to ye--ladyship’s orders.” Elspeth glanced around the dining room, speaking almost to herself at this point. “I suppose Flora’s back at to library, what with her husband out on patrol–oh, Olivia!” She turned to face her, eyes alight with a brilliant idea. “You should go an’ find company with Flora. I’m sure she’d love to show ye round the keep.”
“Oh, I daenae want to impose–”
“Nay, she needs a wee bit o’ promtin’ to make new friends,” Elspeth insisted. “And I think to pair of yer’ll get along famously. Go on, now; it’s out that door over there and off to the left. Keep following to hall until ye pass a large, stained glass window overlookin’ the sea. There should be a large door just across the way from it.”
Not seeing much of a choice in the matter, Olivia simply nodded in agreement.
“Off with ye, then!” Elspeth gave her a reassuring pat on the back–and somewhat of a forceful shove forward–and Olivia stumbled across the dining room, left to navigate the castle at her own accord.
The instructions were simple enough, thankfully, and after a few minutes of walking, she came across the very stained glass window spoken of before. It was a beautiful depiction of the keep itself, mounted on a pile of glittering rocks while a myriad of blues and greens illustrated the tumbling sea.
Deep below the surface swam a number of creatures, one of which looked in particular like a pair of seals. In fact, a few more appeared to be sunbathing on the beaches, with a beautiful, red-haired woman lounging beside them, covered in nothing but a seal’s skin of her own.
“Well, I see where the nickname came about,” Olivia said to no one in particular.
“Nickname?”
Olivia bit back a startled yelp, spinning around to see a pair of doors cracked open across the way, Flora’s silhouette standing just beneath them. She held a number of tomes tucked beneath her arm, curiously staring at Olivia for further explanation. “A-Ah, Flora.” Olivia offered a polite curtsy, to which the laird’s sister quickly shook her head.
