Page 28 of Highlander’s Haunted Past
“News travels faster than men in the Highlands, I see. Florence, I have the pleasure of introducing ye to my wife, Kenna. Kenna, my younger sister, Florence.”
Kenna, whose eyes were as round and nervous as a deer caught in a clearing, gave a stiff curtsey. “A pleasure to meet—Woo!”
Florence rushed at Kenna and pulled her into a tight embrace. Kenna, her own arms pinned to her sides, shot Rob an alarmed look as Florence began to rock them back and forth while cooing, “The Lord has finally blessed me with another sister! I never thought this day would come!”
“Florence,” Rob said with an uncomfortable laugh, “ye ken ye already have a sister-in-law. Don’t make such a show.”
“Oh aye, I ken I have a sister-in-law,” Florence said with a grumble. She pulled out of the embrace ever so slightly and reached up to play with Kenna’s dark curls. “But now I have a second. And—do not speak of word of this to Ellen, of course—I hope you will be better company.”
“Florence—”
“Well, Rob, I am sure ye will not disagree with me. Ye’ll see, Kenna. Ellen is a fine lass, but she can be a bit of a bore. How a lass like that wandered into Hugh’s bed before being locked up in a marriage contract, I’ll never ken.”
Rob hissed. “Christ, watch what ye say.”
Florence gestured to the music and thunderous noise of gaiety around them.
“If I was ever to gossip, the hour is nigh. Anyway, I wonder where Ellen is. Ye ought to be introduced with due haste. Hugh must have dragged her off already. Rob, surely ye have something important ye must go and handle while Kenna and I take on the most pressing task of growing better acquainted.”
There were several things he could be off doing—gathering up the men and helping them take stock of their supplies; joining the rest of the lairds as they strategized their next move against the Earl of Huntly; tracking down a pair of clean clothes and a bath… But none of them was an impromptu celebration on a rare, beautiful fall afternoon with Kenna.
“Aye, but—”
“Then off ye go to do it!” Florence gave him a knowing smile as she linked arms with Kenna and spun her away. “Kenna, I must tell ye, my brother is naturally a bit of a lazy spirit. If ‘tis not hunting or fishing or fighting, then ye must give him a swift kick in the arse to get him moving. Do ye like wine? Ye must have some. The Queen loves French wine, so the Aberdeen merchants have ordered some excellent vintages and—”
Rob stood, dumbfounded, as the pair of women disappeared into the crowd of merrymakers, Florence’s words becoming too caught in the sounds of the party to be heard from where he stood.
