Page 5 of The Veiled Wish of a Highland Bride

"And what if ye dinnae discuss it? Will it go away? It’s enough that ye have chosen never to love again and instead spend yer youthful days making merry with all sorts of lasses. Ye should nae grant him yer lairdship, yerpride, as well."

"Ye underestimate me, Lennox. What do ye think I will be doing in my old age if nae making merry with younger lasses?"

"Archie, ye try yet again to change the subject and—"

"Pardon me, sirs."

A slim man he didn't recognize approached them. Like most Highlanders, he had long hair, but Archie could tell he was a nobleman as well. He took a close look at the two men.

"Och, aye I kent it was ye,” the man said. “The war chief and the great Laird. Come, come, tell me o’ the battle at Culloden. I hear it was bloody."

Archie was disgusted at this man's brazen question, but he would give him points for his bravery. If anyone wanted to know about the battle in Culloden, they should have been loyal enough to fight it themselves.

As he was about to bite back, he heard a scream from the hallway. "Did ye hear that?" Archie asked, turning around to try to determine where the sound had come from.

"’Tis probably some maiden too deep in her cups," the other Laird replied.

Archie heard the scream again. "Excuse me, gentlemen. I'll be right back," he said hurriedly, snaking his way through the dancing toward the hallway.

* * *

"I believe it is tight enough, my lady," the maid said, worry etched on her face.

Mia had insisted that her waist be cinched to the very slimmest, ignoring how much it hurt. She wanted to look as elegant and beautiful as possible for the ball. If she could not endure a simple corset, how could she claim to be a lady fit for her post?

Her hair had been coiffed, her blonde waves piled high and pinned back with shining clips. Her slippers were sparkling and tight. Mia doubted she would be able to breathe or talk, let alone dance at the feast, but she was determined to turn Bram's head that evening.

"All right, I think we are all set," she said through gritted teeth. "Ye may leave me, girls. I will see myself to the great hall."

As her maids left, Mia stepped away from the chair she had been using to steady herself. She walked slowly towards the mirror and took one last look at herself before exiting the room. She was about to enter the great hall, trying her hardest to keep her back straight as she got closer to the entrance, when something caught her attention.

Mia could hear the din of voices in the hall. She could see the colorful clothing that their guests had donned for the evening. They were having their fills of the finest wines and ales. However, it was the squeaking sound coming from the store cupboard just to her right that piqued her curiosity the most.

It is probably some maid and a laird enjoying each other in the dark, she thought, but then fear coiled around her.Could it be my husband?

Choosing to face her fear head-on, she opened the door to the small pantry and walked in, coughing away the dust that rose to her face. Instead of a couple of partygoers, two mice scampered out from one of the buckets. She shrieked as they hurried behind a few barrels of mead and turned for the door again.

In her daze, she hadn’t noticed the door close behind her. Not justclose—it had locked itself shut. She pulled on the doorknob, twisting it every which way. It took her a minute to realize that she was trapped. Panicking, she slammed on the door, pushing against it, but it did not yield. Terrified, Mia screamed again, hoping that someone who was passing by would hear her over the loud conversation and musicians.

As her breath began to come out in panicked gasps, the knob turned suddenly from the outside. The door was pulled open to reveal the most imposing man she had ever seen. He wore a kilt, a light linen shirt and polished boots that did him no justice. The room seemed even smaller now, despite the door that hung open behind them.

She was mesmerized. This man that stood before her made her feel hot and small and cornered. Mia stared into his eyes, realizing that she had never seen a gaze so brightly green. She could see how strong he was beneath the thin fabric of his shirt, with his blonde hair falling over his broad shoulders.

Another squeak from the mice snapped her back to her attention. She tried to run past the man and get out of the storeroom. However, he stopped her, holding her by the shoulders and opening his mouth to say something.

Mia watched in horror as the door slammed shut behind them.

* * *

Archie stood there in amazement at the young woman in front of him. She was stunning, one of the fairest women he had ever seen. Her eyes were almond-shaped, gorgeous, colored by her anger. He didn't fail to notice her perfectly smooth skin and her rosy cheeks, and she had the most tempting cheekbones he had ever seen on a Highland woman. He felt his body come to life as he held onto her, needing to say something.

Is she up to something in here? I dinnae think they can hear us from the hall if we whisper. Perhaps just a peck before I leave…

“Argh, get off me!” the lass cried out like a Highland warrior as she snapped him out of the trance her beauty had held him in.

A few strands of light hair danced around her face. She pushed him aside and banged on the door. His attention was drawn to her rump, then back up to her shoulders and neck. He could see her pulse throbbing from what he assumed was panic. His heart beat just as quickly in desire.

“Och, come now, darling. There is no need for that. Ye look piqued… Are ye all right, my lady?” Archie said.

---