Highland Intrigue - A Prequel

Bliss and Elysia could not help but laugh.

“I believe there are many women who would agree with you,” Bliss said.

“I would not mind hearing his voice. I believe it would be gentle and not booming or commanding like many men,” Elysia said, a soft dreamy smile on her face.

“Be careful, Elysia,” Annis warned. “Not everyone is who they first seem. I thought Duff was a friend, but he quickly discarded me rather than defend me.”

“I truly am sorry for you, Annis,” Elysia said. “I will tell the chieftain that I will teach you how to stitch.”

“He will laugh at you, as will others,” Annis said. “And no one will bring their stitching to you, for fear I will have a hand in it.”

“Who then will they bring it to that does such as fine of a job as I do?” Elysia asked with pride in her work.

“You are right about that,” Annis agreed.

“It does not matter. It will be nothing more than a ruse for you to have time to see what else may fit you better.”

“That is a good idea, Elysia,” Bliss said, Elysia usually being too honest and kind to suggest a ruse, though it seemed not when it came to helping her sister.

“I truly appreciate that, Elysia. It chases some of my worry away,” Annis said.

“It also gives you a reason to remain in the cottage, at least until Lord Brogan takes his leave,” Bliss said with some relief.

“I hope he leaves soon,” Annis complained. “I will not be able to remain cooped up in the cottage for long or I will go mad.”

“We can always take a wander in the woods to search for animal bones to make more needles,” Elysia suggested.

“That I will gladly do, since I do enjoy making your needles,” Annis said.

“Then things are settled for now and we should enjoy supper, freshly baked bannock and cabbage soup,” Bliss said.

“Sit,” Elysia ordered gently. “I made it and I will serve it.”

A knock sounded at the door and it opened before Bliss could question who was there.

Lawler rushed in and looked to Bliss. “A dispute at the keep, you are needed to tend someone.”

Bliss nodded, not saying another word, eager to hurry and fetch her healing basket.

“Annis will come too,” Lawler ordered.

“Why?” Bliss demanded more strongly than she intended.

“You do not question me, woman. You do as you are told,” Lawler commanded.

“Annis faints at the sight of blood,” Elysia said in an effort to protect her sister. “I can help Bliss.”

“I will not repeat myself. Bliss and Annis will do as they are told,” Lawler said, leaving no room to argue.

Bliss kept her voice to a whisper as she and Annis followed behind Lawler to the keep. “You will say nothing—not a word. Heed me on this, Annis. And heed your temper, for it may cost you if you do not.”

Annis nodded, clamping her lips tightly shut in preparation and fighting to tamp down the annoyance that repeatedly poked at her. She recalled her mum telling her more often than not that she should have been born into royalty since she obeyed no one and did as she pleased.

Bliss and Annis both came to an abrupt halt when they entered the Great Hall. Food lay scattered about from an overturned table, and Chieftain Emory stood between Lord Brogan and Cadell as servants scurried around the two men to clean up the mess.

“You make no decisions for me, Cadell,” Brogan yelled, shaking his fist at the man.

“I take orders from your father, not you,” Cadell shot back.

Brogan caught sight of Annis and Bliss and fury sparked in his eyes. “What is she doing here?” Cadell went to turn and Brogan hurried in front of him. He was quick to look to Bliss. “Cadell is bleeding badly.”

Bliss hurried to stand in front of her sister.

Brogan shook his fist at Lawler. “You had no right to bring Annis here.”

“Your father’s orders take precedent,” Lawler said.

“There is nothing I favor about Annis, nothing. She is annoying, pays no mind to my word, and I have no desire to bed her and never will. Even worse, she faints at the sight of too much blood, something that can often be found on me. And must I remind you again that I want no wife?”

“And must I remind you that your father has instructed that you will wed,” Lawler said as if tired of reminding him. “Would it not be better that you favor the woman you wed, rather than be stuck with one you have no like for at all?”

Brogan ignored Lawler and called out, “Annis, you will return home now.”

Bliss stepped aside ready to hurry her sister out, but Cadell was quicker. He stepped around Brogan and caught Annis’s eye.

Annis caught one look of the blood running down his nose and from his lip, covering a good portion of his chin, and paled. Try as she might she could not fight it.