Tamed By The Highlander (Kilts & Kisses 1)

Chapter 1

Una

“You’re doing it again.”

I blink, pulling my gaze from the grey cliffs and crashing misty waves of the ocean outside the carriage window. Wetting my lips, the lingering images of my daydream still hanging around my head, I turn my eyes to Cat.

“Doing what?”

She fixes me with a look, a brow as honeyed as her hair arching.

“Una,” she sighs, giving me a half smile as she shakes her head.

“You were daydreaming again,” Ailith adds, also giving me a look.

I scowl, shrugging my shoulders as turn to look back out at the highlands rolling past us. The clopping of the horses and the creaking wood of the wheels mingle with the sounds of the men talking amongst themselves outside—our guards as we make our way towards Dungow Castle.

“And?”

Catriona snickers to herself. “Which was it, dreaming of today or thinking about running.”

I groan, pouting as I glance back at my friends.

“I’m sure you know.”

Cat grins, her hand coming back to squeeze my arm reassuringly. “It’ll be okay.”

“Oh, will it?” I bite back, my frown deepening as I glance back at the ocean. “Please, Cat, tell us when me marrying a man I don’t know, who I’ve never met, who’s ten years older than me and lives a day’s ride away from anyone I know will be ‘okay.’”

“A Lord.”

My eyes drag to Rhona, sitting across from me in the carriage next to Ailith twirling her fingers through her long, pretty auburn hair.

“What?” I grumble.

She smiles. “I just mean, even with all that, you are marrying a Lord, not just any man.”

My lips purse, my frown deepening as I glare at her. I know she’s trying to help. I know they’re all trying to help—after all, the four of us have been the best of friends since we were small children. But, trust me, it’s not helping.

Cat giggles. “Oh, but don’t you remember? Una doesn’t care about things like that. All she needs is her books and a quiet place to read them.”

Rhona shrugs. “Well, I’m sure Lord Ballentyne will be fine with her reading books.” She frowns. “Won’t he?”

I pout and turn back to the window, staring out at the wild ocean as the coastal air blows through my long fiery red hair. The same hair my mother was beside herself at when I came out for the carriage ride this morning with it down and wild, like I always wear it, instead of done up like she asked.

Maybe most girls would put a little effort into things like their hair when they’re on their way to meet the man they’ll be marrying, for the first time.

…Maybe if I wasn’t being forced into this, I’d do the same.

“Oh, yeah, if big important Lords are known for one thing, Rhona, it’s letting women read,” Ailith mutters sarcastically.

My scowl only deepens.

“Well, if Lord Ballentyne thinks he can stop me from reading,” I mutter. “He’s got much to learn.”

Cat snickers, leaning her head on my shoulder as we all bump with the wheels on the rough muddy road.

“I’ve heard he’s quite handsome,” she says with a shrug.

I smile wryly. “You have not. You’ve heard the same as me, that he’s scary and mean.” I sigh. “Arranged marriages are horrible.”

I wince, making a face as I look up at Ailith and then Rhona—both of whom are also betrothed to Lords they’ve never met

“Sorry.”

Rhona smiles the same wry smile back at me as she shrugs. “It is what it is.”

“Well your views will be beautiful, least?” Ailith puts up a brave smile as she nods out the window at the spectacular views of the sea. Rhona makes a face, shivering, and Ailith gives her an odd look.

“What, you don’t like the ocean?”

Rhona shakes her head. “It might be pretty, but the coasts are where the Vikings come.” She shivers again. “Father says they’re not even really men. More like beasts.”

Cat gives me a side-long look, rolling her eyes before turning back to our friend.

“Rhona, I am sure you remember the marauder Lord Entwyne captured after the raid last year. The one they paraded through the town naked as the day he was born on the way to the stocks?”

Rhona blushes furiously, shaking her head. Okay, all of us blush a little, remembering the scene we all snuck out to watch when we’d been forbidden to witness it.

Catriona smirks, wagging her brows. “I’m quite sure that was all man I saw swinging between his legs.”

The four of us blush even deeper before Cat sighs and shakes her head.

“Well anyways, I’d like to see my father try and foist me off to some Lord I don’t know.”

Ailith and Rhona and I share a look, quietly rolling our eyes. The fact that Lord McDougall, Catriona’s father, hasn’t set up a husband for her is a mystery. But we all know it’s just a matter of time. It’s always just a matter of time when it comes to daughters of lower Lords or chieftains.