Scotland, 1716
Fiona
felt heat on her face and a fluttery, empty feeling in her stomach as villagers
walked their cattle between two bonfires to ward off bad spirits. She didna
fear the spirits, just her vision of the future. Auntie Matilda had confirmed
long ago this was the night her life would change.
William
MacLeod smirked as he sauntered over, parting a sea of envious village girls
eager for the young laird’s attentions. “Tisk tisk! A bonny lass standing alone
on Samhain? Witches are wandering.”
“I’ve
no fear of witches,” she said.
“I
suppose Ewan will protect you,” he offered, glancing toward Ewan standing with
her brother, Malcolm. She noted more than a wee hint of jealousy in his voice.
“If
Malcolm likes him so much, he can marry him.”
A
confident grin tugged at William’s lips, making a dimple in his left cheek.
“Would you like a slice of Hallowe’en cake, Fiona?”
She
nodded. Ushering her to the harvest table decorated with carved, candlelit
turnips, a stout matron gave them a knowing smile and two slices of barmbrack. They
made their way to sit on large stones.
“Are
you sure your very proper English grandfather would approve of you sitting with
your lowly Scottish tenants, my laird?”
“Considering
he’s dead, he hasna much say in the matter. Honestly, he didna approve of my
father in Skye, but in fairness my relatives there didna like that my mam was
English and French. My family has always been at war with each other.”
“You’re
Scottish, English and French? Why, Mr. MacLeod, you’re a walking
contradiction,” she said, shivering.
“I
huvnae mentioned that before? I thought I told you everything.” He draped his
tartan over her shoulders and a flooding sensation of warmth came over her not
remotely related to the plaid. After taking a bite of sweetbread, he started
laughing, pulling a silver threepenny bit from his mouth.
“You’re
going to be rich.” Fiona pricked the sweetbread, hoping desperately for a ring
and not a thimble. A ring meant first to be wed, a thimble meant you’d be a
spinster. Most slices held nothing.
“I
ken that without the coin, but validation’s nice,” he said, thrusting out his
chest as though he needed to. William MacLeod looked like a giant among men.
“Such
humility,” she said, rolling her eyes. Tracing her finger over his open hand,
she began to study its textures.
“Perhaps
with a proper wife, I’d behave better. Do you see your name in the lines of my
palm?”
Yes,
she wanted to scream. Fiona frowned, dropping his hand. “Stop teasing me, Mr.
MacLeod.”
“Call
me William,” he said in a low voice, inching ever closer beside her.
“You
have crumbs on your beard, William.”
A
blush came to his cheeks, and he rushed to clean it, missing the mark. “Well,
come Monday my beard winnae be a problem. One of the stipulations of my
inheritance is that I attend Oxford to get my law degree. My grandfather
desired I get a ‘proper English education.’ On Monday, it’s a clean-shaven face
and breeches for me.”
“You’re
leaving me?” Fiona wiped the crumbs for him, their eyes connecting. Perhaps she
let her fingers linger over his lips a wee bit too long. “I mean, you’re
leaving the village? When will you return?”
“When
it’s time to collect the rents, I suppose. Unless you’d like me to come home
earlier for a proper church wedding? My brother, Cam, will be thrilled to meet
you. He was convinced I’d pursue a rich English widow.”
Fiona
didna want to love him. Auntie Matilda warned her a rich man from Skye would
try to take her magic away. Aching to touch William’s face, she forced herself
to break her gaze. “Ambitious men dinna marry crofters’ daughters. Just because
we’ve had a few interesting conversations since you’ve arrived dinna mean we
should wed. You’d grow bored. Marry an English duchess. That’s the life you
crave. I cannae even read.”
The
skirl of bagpipes rang through the evening air and villagers began to dance.
William glanced between his new tenants enjoying the festivities and his
grandfather’s mansion high on the hill above the castle ruins.
“First
to wed!” called a petite blonde lifting a ring from her slice of cake to
cheers.
“Aye.
I suppose you’re right. I winnae marry someone who cannae
read. My grandfather would roll in his grave.”
A
sour taste filled her mouth. My vision was just a magical fantasy all along.
I’ll never marry a rich lad from the Isle of Skye. Auntie Matilda was wrong to
think I had her gift of second sight, too.
“So,
I’ll have to teach you to read before we wed,” he whispered. “If you’ll have
me.”
Fiona’s
mind raced, searching his face to see if he was serious. His finger lifted her
chin and her breath quickened.
“You’re
witty, bonny and you dabble in magic. That’s a lass who can hold a man’s
attention. To hell with my grandfather’s notions. I love you, Fiona, and no
brute will keep me from you.”
When
did it get so warm outside? Her hands shook as she cut into the barmbrack
to give her time to process what he had said. A ring dangled from her fork.
“But the other lass found the wedding ring in her slice.”
William
shrugged. “I had my own ring snuck in. I dinna take chances with important
matters.”
Throwing
her head back, she laughed, and he kissed her, right there for the whole
village to witness. Her brother, Malcolm, crossed his arms over his chest, with
Ewan scowling next to him. “Let’s take a jaunter,” she said, slinging her
satchel over her shoulder.
“Come. Let me show you my castle ruins.”
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