The Lion (Clan Ross of the Hebrides Book 1) by Hildie McQueen (ereader for android .TXT) 📕

“My sister.”

“What about yer sister? I have barely had time to speak to her. Ye may be aware, I am quite busy and have absolutely no time for frivolity.”

“Laird, marriage is not frivolity. Quite the opposite, it is the most serious of matters.”

He drank from the goblet studying the woman, who sat back straight, with a most serious expression, and not touching the items before her. From the way she looked at him, she did not care for him in the least.

“Are ye here to dissuade me from marrying yer sister, Miss Isobel?”

Her brows rose just a bit. “I wish to get to know ye better, Laird, and then make up my mind one way or the other.”

He couldn’t stop the chuckle that erupted.

“Ye have absolutely no say in this matter, Miss Isobel. Ye are but a sister who traveled with yer family. By yer drab appearance, I take it yer parents have a good reason not to offer ye for marriage. I am curious, why is that?”

Her mouth fell open, and she seemed to struggle with what to say. “I did not come to speak to ye about myself. My sister wished me to find out more about ye. Ye see, she is very intimidated by ye…”

“But not by my brother Gideon, who I assume is why I have not seen him all day.”

Isobel jumped to her feet. “Sir, ye insult my sister and my family. Beatrice is not with yer brother, but in the sitting room with both our mothers.” She rounded the table and pushed a finger into his chest. “How dare ye.”

Fury blazed from her green eyes, the anger darkening them until they were almost black. Twisting her lips into an angry sneer, she looked him up and down. “I agree with my sister, ye are a beastly man.”

When she whirled around, he took her wrist, ensuring she did not leave.

“I apologize.” Darach stood, not releasing her. “Please accept my apologies. I should not have said any of those things.”

She looked up at him and Darach realized, that unlike her sister, she was tall coming past his shoulder. “Ye should not have said those things, in that, ye are correct sir, but ye thought them, and that is just as unkind.”

Put in his place, he wasn’t sure what to say in his own defense. He had been thinking that Gideon was prowling after Beatrice. However, despite his words, he did not consider Isobel unworthy or drab.

“I hold ye in high regard, Isobel. Ye were always kind and I enjoyed the times we visited together when we were young.”

She managed to hitch her chin and looked down her nose at him. “That ye are curious about why my parents do not wish to marry me to ye is not yer concern, it is a family matter that will remain private. Ye have no right to know why this decision was made.”

Her words only made him more curious.

At his silence, she spoke again. “Now Laird, I find that I cannot speak to ye right now.” She snatched her hand from his grasp and hurried away.

Chapter Six

Expecting an empty room, Isobel was surprised to find Beatrice.

“Ye will never marry him, I will not allow it,” Isobel exclaimed, storming into the bedchamber she shared with her sister. “Darach Ross has become not only an intolerable brute, but he insulted our family.”

Beatrice, who’d been combing her hair in the mirror, turned to her wide-eyed. “What did he say?”

“I will not worry ye with specifics, but enough to say that he is not who ye should marry.” Isobel went to her sister. “Why are ye combing yer hair again? Annis styled it nicely this morning.”

Beatrice met her gaze in the mirror. “I prefer it down, my head hurts with the tight braid about it.”

“It flatters ye to wear it loose,” Isobel confirmed, leaning forward to take the brush from her sister’s hand. “However, Mother will not like it.” She began combing Beatrice’s hair, loving the feeling of closeness it brought.

“Is it not silly that we should wear our hair a certain way just because society mandates it?” Beatrice grimace. “Not every style is suitable for every woman.”

It was hard to argue with the truth, so Isobel nodded. “What would ye like me to do?”

“Pull it back just at the temples. A simple braid with those strands, the rest I wish to leave unpinned.”

Just then the door opened; her mother hurried in with a wide smile. “Honestly girls, it is a beautiful day outdoors, and here ye both are sequestered in the house.” She went to the window and pushed the shutters further apart. “I have exciting news.”

Instantly Isobel’s stomach tumbled, and she closed her eyes. “Mother, I must tell ye something.”

“Not now darling,” her mother said. “Lady Ross, Ella, and both of ye. Oh, and me, of course, are to be included in something.”

The fact their mother dragged out whatever she was to say dramatically, was entertaining most days. However, today Isobel wanted to shake her. “What is it Mother?”

Beatrice sat up straighter with expectation, her hands up ready to clap upon the announcement.

“We are to help plan a huge celebration. A festival.” Clasping her hands in front of her chest, Lady Macdonald’s bright smile made Isobel grin in return. Despite everything that happened with the annoying laird, a celebration was always a good thing.

Her mother turned in a circle. “We must ensure both of ye look perfect. This may be the day the handsome laird declares his intention to marry…”

“No. He is not a good match for Beatrice,” Isobel said, interrupting her mother. “He is not a kind man, in the least.”

After a patient sigh, her mother closed the distance between them. “I adore yer sense of devotion to yer sister. Ye would probably find fault with any man that showed interest. It is time for Beatrice to marry.”

Isobel bit her back teeth as she pondered what to tell her mother. That Laird Ross had insinuated