Two months earlier…

“She will be arriving any time now, and James is naewhere tae be found,” Laird MacGregor huffed, pacing back and forth in front of the fire in his study.

Edward had listened to his father ranting in great anxiety for the last hour. While he sounded frustrated, the old man was deeply worried. That concern had trickled throughout the entire castle, and now, there was a grave sense that James might not return at all.

Edward wished he could offer some words of reassurance to his father, but he too was worried. His older brother had now been missing for more than three weeks. He had heard word that James had been killed on his travels. He had not shared it with his father. No doubt, the men were too terrified of what his reaction might be. But Edward was certain the same thought had crossed the laird’s mind several times by now.

It was possible that James had met a dreadful fate, but Edward did not believe it to be true. He didn’t know how he knew his brother was alive. He just knew. There was a deep feeling in his gut. A sense of knowing that he couldn’t explain.

The brothers were close and always had been. James, being the older at eight and twenty, had always looked out for Edward when they were younger. But now, as grown men, they were also best friends.

Three weeks before, James had left the castle on a pilgrimage. It was a family tradition for the MacGregor men to travel from Port Mallaig to the island of Rùm. There, they received a blessing before getting betrothed. Baird and Kathryn MacGregor, their mother and father, were eager to see James wed so that the seat of the family would remain secure.

The Campbell Clan had been long-time allies. To strengthen that alliance, Laird Alistair Campbell and Baird had arranged a marriage between James and Alistair’s niece, Lady Evelyn Campbell in the weeks since James had left.

The night before his departure, the brother’s had spent a quiet evening together in James’ bedchamber.

Looking over the rim of his glass, Edward said, “Are ye nervous?”

They spent another hour talking about the journey, about how different things might be once James was wed. As the night came to a close, Edward stood and returned his glass to the dresser. The brothers hugged each other warmly, bid each other goodnight, and then Edward retired to his own bedchamber.

The next morning, he had waved his brother off in the knowledge that he would see him again soon. But James had not returned when he was supposed to, and since then, there had been scouts searching glen and forest to try to find him.

“What am I supposed tae tell the lass?” his father said, still pacing back and forth. Every now and then, he stopped, gazed out of the window in a contemplative moment, and then began pacing again. “She is expecting tae meet her betrothed.”

“Faither,” Edward said, making certain his tone was calm.

The laird stopped pacing again and turned to look at Edward, his expression betraying his surprise at his presence. It was as though he had forgotten his other son was sitting in the room. Perhaps he had thought he was talking to himself all this time.

“There is little ye can dae,” Edward continued. “Besides, Lady Evelyn daesnae need tae ken the truth just yet.”

His father considered that alternative for a moment. Then his brow furrowed deeply, the same deep brown eyes Edward shared with him looking even darker than usual. “Ye mean, I should lie tae her?”

Edward shook his head. “Nae exactly. Ye can tell her the truth. James did leave on a pilgrimage. Only, he has nae yet returned. She needs nae ken anything more fer now.”

Again, his father took a moment to think it through. Edward watched him expectantly, noticing that all this worry had made his father look a little older in the last few days. Light gray already threaded through his thick black hair, but it was the lines on his face, and dark shadows under his eyes that betrayed his distress.

“But the entire castle is in a panic, Edward. She is bound tae hear something sooner or later.”

Edward nodded. “I ken that. But fer now, we can appease her with the notion that James is on his way back. Just fer now, Faither. When James returns, all this will be over.”

The laird gave Edward a sympathetic look, as though he felt sorry for him.

“If yer braither returns, Edward. And I ken ye have kept yer faith that he will. But ye should ready yersel’ fer the possibility that he might nae.”

Shaking his head firmly, Edward replied, “I cannae entertain that notion, Faither.” Pressing his hand to his stomach, he continued. “I ken he is alive. I can feel it.”

His father’s expression did not change. Clearly, he did not want to thwart Edward’s hope, but it was also obvious that he did not share his son’s conviction.

“Let’s hope that yer gut is right, me son.”

Edward was about to reply that he knew it was, when a knock came on the study door.

“Enter,” his father bellowed.

The door opened, and a servant quickly made his way across the room. “A carriage is on its way, me laird. It is Lady Evelyn. Ye ordered that ye were tae be informed as soon as we kent o’ her arrival.”

“God’s teeth,” the laird spat.

Twenty minutes later, Edward was standing at the entrance of the castle, waiting for the carriage to trundle through the gates. While he leaned against the stone wall, his mother and father stood side by side, murmuring to each other. Edward didn’t need to guess the subject of their conversation. No doubt, they were fretting on how they were going to handle the situation.

Another five minutes passed and the gates of the castle yawned open. A few seconds after that, a carriage entered carrying the future Lady of clan MacGregor. The carriage finally came to a standstill outside the entrance, and a servant hurriedly stepped forward to open the carriage door.

Edward’s father and mother also stepped forward, while Edward remained where he was. He was only really there for moral support. After all, this was not his wife-to-be.

A second later, however, he found himself pushing his body off the wall and pulling at his clothes to straighten them, for the vision who exited the carriage was more than he could ever have expected.

She was draped in a velvet cloak of green. A green that highlighted her eyes, for they were the same color and seemed to sparkle as Edward’s father and mother greeted her. Her skin was the color of alabaster. It looked soft, and smooth, though there was a light blush on her cheeks. Her features were small and delicate, framed with long, golden blonde hair that caught the rays of the sun, for it fairly glistened, as though she wore a halo around her head.

Edward found himself entranced as she approached, flanked by his parents on either side of her.

“And this is me younger son, Edward,” his father said.

Suddenly, Edward blinked, pulling himself free from his mesmerized state, while at the same time, trying to look as nonchalant as possible.

“Edward,” his father continued, “I would like tae introduce ye tae Lady Evelyn Campbell.”

Seeing her even more clearly did nothing to help his growing desire, for he eyed her slender figure, bound in the corset beneath her cloak. But trying to still his thumping heart, and failing miserably, he bent reverentially toward her.

“It is a pleasure tae meet ye, me lady,” he said. His voice surprised him for it was far deeper than usual.

Thank the gods she isnae likely tae notice, given we have never met ‘afore.

“Thank ye,” she replied. “It is nice tae meet ye, too.”

Even her voice sounded light and angelic. It was as though the gods had created her with their own hands.

“Let’s go inside,” the laird suggested, gesturing ahead. “I’m sure ye are quite exhausted from yer travels, me lady. But perhaps, some refreshments ‘afore ye rest.”

Lady Evelyn entered the castle with his parents and her maid, while Edward followed behind. He had initially imagined, once he had done his duty of meeting her, that he would leave his father and mother to entertain the lass, while also informing her of the situation regarding the absence of James. But he found himself pulled in her wake, almost unable to stop himself from being carried along by her presence.

Once in the drawing room, and after Lady Kathryn, Edward’s mother, had sent for refreshments to be brought, everyone seated themselves. Everyone but Edward, who chose to move across to the window, where he could observe the new arrival without her noticing.

“Will yer eldest son be joining us?” Lady Evelyn asked.

Edward cast a glance at his father, who immediately cleared his throat. “About that,” he began. “James is currently on a pilgrimage. It is a family tradition that the MacGregor men travel tae receive a blessing ‘afore their bride is chosen and they are wed. We are actually expecting him tae return any day now.”

Edward watched his mother fidget a little, but Lady Evelyn did not seem to notice.

“I see,” the beautiful lass replied.

“Ye dinnae have tae worry though,” his mother said in a reassuring tone. “We will tak’ good care o’ ye until he returns.”

Indeed, Edward would have loved to be the one taking care of her. In fact, at that very moment, he felt envy growing in him. Never before had he felt jealous of his brother. There had never been any circumstance that had the capability of eliciting such a feeling.

Not until now.

His brother’s bride was the most beautiful creature he had ever laid his eyes on. A woman, if she were his, that he would worship, care for, and love.

But she wasn’t his bride.

Instead, he would have to watch as his brother wed this lass. It may well be an arranged marriage, but in that moment, Edward concluded that James was going to be the luckiest man alive.

Enjoyed this bonus chapter? Dive back into the adventure and continue the journey on your e-reader. Happy reading!