A Love Without Limits (Loving in the Highlands 1)

I want to be present when Lady Kaithria MacTravis arrives at the castle. I want to see the look in Sloan's eyes – I do not want to miss that part. I do not know why, but I want to see his reaction when he sees her. Deep inside my heart I hope that he is not in love with her. I will know for sure when I look into his eyes during her arrival. If he is in love with her, I will know it, but if he is not in love, I will be sad. I want him to be happy, be it with me or with her. Of course, I want him to be happy with me more than with her, but it is the other side of the coin.

I run out of my room and turn towards Elsie’s bedroom. It turns out she is still asleep.

‘Elsie, wake up!’ I say as I enter, closing the door.

‘Why?’ her sleepy voice is heard from under the covers.

‘Sloan’s fiancée is arriving today, have you forgotten? I want to be present and see her when she arrives,’ I say. Even as I say those words, I feel a small amount of pain in my heart.

‘Ah, right,’ Elsie mumbles and gets up. ‘I remember they were talking yesterday that she is arriving this morning with her mother.’

‘Yes, in the morning, and that is why I am in such a hurry,’ I reply. I do not know exactly when she is arriving, but if they said she is arriving in the morning, they we had better be ready earlier than later.

While Elsie is getting ready, I walk to the window and look towards the horizon, wondering how I will feel if I see her. Not that I am in love with Sloan, but still, I find him charming and attractive. And once again, I think to myself, ‘too bad that he is already engaged to someone else.’

Elsie and I leave her bedroom and hurry along the silent and empty hallway, our footsteps echoing loudly. My heart beats faster and faster by each step that I take. By the time we reach the main doors, I seem to be breathless.

I try to contain myself, when I see that Sloan and most of his clan are already outside, waiting for the visitors.

‘Good morning, everyone,’ I say cheerfully and wave to everyone. They smile and wave back, some shielding their eyes from the sunrays. Sloan looks at me, and our eyes meet. I do not know what I see in them – regret? Pain? Disappointment? Or something else?

Finally I just look into his eyes, probably for the last time until he is with his fiancée. Maybe he thinks the same thing, as he is not looking away.

I turn my eyes away. I do not want anyone to think that I am trying to steal him from his Lady Kaithria MacTravis. I am not that type of girl.

Everyone is waiting for the carriage to arrive. I am glad that I woke up early this morning and will not miss the moment.

At last, the gates are opened, and a beautiful carriage enters the big yard. This is it. They have arrived. The harmonious clatter of the four white horses' hooves stops when the carriage reaches the middle of the yard.

The coachman gets out from the front part of the carriage, opens the door, and a young lady with an expensive-looking green earasaid gets out of the carriage. She stand on the ground, looks around herself, as if estimating the property, and then looks at all the people standing by the doors of the castle, greeting her. She smiles a bit and waves her hand for a second, before looking into the carriage.

After her, another lady, a bit older, gets out and straightens her grey dress and shawl. I guess the girl with the green earasaid is Kaithria, adn the older lady is her mother. They both stand on the ground next to their carriage and look up at us, as if waiting for someone to go to them.

Sloan goes forward and greets the visitors. I turn and walk into the castle with the others, as Sloan leads his fiancée and her mother after us.

We all gather in the large hall, in order to get acquainted with the fiancée and her mother. I am standing with Elsie, with Kam and Frasier by my other side. Greer and Jaimee, Sloan's other cousins are standing by Elsie's side. We all are impatient to see the newcomers.

Sloan enters, followed by Kaithria and her mother. Kaithria looks pretty, with black eyes and black long locks of shiny hair that reach her waist. Her mother, Lady Lorna MacTravis looks a bit older, with a stern face and clever green eyes. Her grey hair is made beautifully up.