Page 66 of A Scot's Pride
“Me too.” Freya sighed into her sister’s embrace.
“Ah-ha!” Lady Daven shouted, unearthing another book with a carved-out space. This time, it had several pieces of chocolate. “I think we deserve these.”
“Indeed, we do.”
They were finishing the chocolates when Bryson and Papa returned to the drawing room.
“Freya,” Papa said, a genuine grin on his face, which made her smile too. It seemed there was something to be happy for in the midst of all the chaos, and she was glad that she could give him that. “Lord Lovat has asked for your hand in marriage, and I have given him permission as long as you’ll have him.”
Freya jumped up from her seat. “Oh, Papa, I will, I will.”
Riley squealed, and Lady Daven clapped and stomped her feet.
Freya rushed to Bryson, taking his hand in hers and wishing she could toss herself into his arms, but settled for letting her arm brush against his.
“I do love him, Papa.”
“And I love her,” Bryson said, looking into her eyes, the gray intense like a storm.
“Then I will have the banns read for three of my daughters tomorrow.”
“What about me, Papa?”
Everyone turned in shock to see Leila standing in the entryway. Her eyes were red-rimmed and puffy from actual tears, or so it seemed. “Have the banns read for me as well. Campbell and I have… We are…”
“Don’t say another word,” Papa growled, then marched out of the house.
They all rushed to the window to watch as Papa, quicker in step than Freya had ever seen him, trooped up to the carriage where Campbell still sat, yanked him to the ground, and punched him in the jaw.
“Ah, good, he punched him on the other side so he can have matching bruises,” Bryson said.
Leila gasped, her hands to her face in horror.
Papa was gesticulating wildly, his voice lost on the wind, and Campbell was nodding, nodding, nodding.
When he finished, he gave Campbell a kick in the ribs, then marched back inside to the drawing room.
“You made your bed, girl, and you’ll live with it. Banns will be read for you, but heed my words, that man will not be allowed in this house. Not after holding your sister up at gunpoint.”
“But Papa—”
“Not another word, Leila, or my banishment will also extend to you.”
Freya wasn’t sure if she were more surprised at her father allowing the two of them to wed or that he would allow Leila to come back.
For her part, Leila rushed outside to Campbell’s side, and whatever he said to her must have made her mad, for she, too, kicked him in the ribs. She came back inside and rushed to their father’s study where he was hiding.
“I’m guessing the miscreant said he’d not marry her,” Bryson said. “Can’t say I’m surprised.”
“None of us are,” Lady Daven said, continuing her search through the books.
“What are you doing?” Bryson asked.
The older woman snickered. “Hunting for treasure.”
“We’d best be getting home. I will come by tomorrow if that pleases,” Bryson said, squeezing Freya’s fingers.
“That pleases me very, very much,” Freya said. She couldn’t wait for them to be alone so that she could kiss him again.
