Page 30 of The Highlander's Fake Wife
Olivia’s smile stretched from ear to ear, chasing away the slight chill Arthur had begun to develop from the rain. She sat down and proudly took her serving into her lap, trying to tear a strip of seasoned meat off her still-steaming breast. A swear escaped her lips as she quickly popped it into her mouth, then pinched a cooked chanterelle and added it to the mix. Arthur couldn’t help but burst out laughing, earning a quizzical scowl from Olivia.
“It’s just–it’s hard to imagine ye lived a life o’ luxury.” Arthur grinned, wiping his face free of a mirthful tear that’d escaped his eye. “I cannae believe not one o’yer clan members enjoyed yer presence.”
“Och, now, I never said that!” Olivia corrected. “They enjoyed me plenty. They just…” she paused, as if working out exactly what she was trying to say. “They never got to ken all of me.”
“Have I, selkie?”
Olivia offered a cryptic smile in reply. She took another mushroom into her hand, licking her lips as meat juice ran down the length of her chin. Aye; she knew exactly what she was doing to him, and it drove Arthur crazy.
“I’ll make a deal with ye.”
Olivia’s brow rose, curiosity piqued.
“Spend the next few days learning how to fight wit me,” Arthur offered. “With a sword, yer bow, yer fists–let me give ye the tools to make yerself a force to be reckoned with.”
Olivia visibly rolled the proposal around in her head. “And, if ye succeed?”
“Then, ye have to let up on yer, ‘no touchin’ rule,” Arthur smirked. “Enough that I can kiss ye.”
She scowled slightly, but still appeared considerate. “No lips. Cheek or forehead. And I have to agree that ye succeeded.”
“Aye; I’ll agree to that.”
Olivia eyed him closely, trying to pick out any part of the deal he could abuse. When she found none, she offered her hand. “Then…ye have a deal, m’laird.”
16
It was the first time in quite a long time that Olivia looked forward to what tomorrow brought her. She chatted excitedly over dinner about her impromptu hunting trip, from her riding Airgiod to Arthur’s heartfelt promise (and wisely saying nothing about the pair’s bet).
Flora practically fell out of her seat with how much she leaned across it to listen. Meanwhile, Elspeth’s bright smile would occasionally darken with a scowl, flashing her eyes Arthur’s way when Olivia detailed his childish antics.
“Och, nay, Arthur!” Elspeth scolded. “Yer far too old to be ribbing girls like this, especially yer betrothed!”
“I’ll keep that in mind, Mam,” Arthur replied, though he gave his signature wink Olivia’s way. She couldn’t help but chuckle, having finally felt at peace for the first time in…the pause in thought was far too long in her mind. ‘Days’ was the correct answer, of course, but Olivia realized that, for a brief moment,the word, ‘months’ came first. The idea tied a knot of guilt in her chest, tightening further when she could barely remember a single time she’d spent a nice moment with her entire family present.
“So, Olivia!” Flora said. “Nathan told me one of our allies are havin’ a ceilidh fer their daughter. Got the missive last night.”
“O-Oh?” Olivia asked.
“He said I should let ye ken today,” Flora added. “Since he wouldnae see ye when ye got up.”
“Where’s he gone?”
Flora’s expression softened, and Olivia could have sworn she was holding back a worried sigh. “He wanted to join the others in finding yer maither. Said he wanted to do his part to makin’ ye feel welcome.”
The knot in Olivia's chest tightened further.
“What are ye scheming hens up to over there?” Elspeth inquired.
“Mam!” Flora gasped. “I would never do such a thing. I was simply telling Olivia of Rosie’s celebration.”
“Aye, did Nathan tell ye before he left?” Arthur asked.
“Mam an’ I were speaking of it while ye were out,” Flora explained.
“Aye, we were!” Elspeth agreed, excitedly clapping her hands together as she spoke. “I thought it a lovely idea to bring Olivia along! T’would be the perfect time fer introducing her to family outside our own bloodline.”
“And, before ye say anything,” Arthur added. “I willnae go meself ‘till yer maither is safely behind our walls. Ye have me word, selkie.”
