Page 35 of The Highland Heir

Who was he to think he could order her about?It had never worked for him in the past; she’d just get mule-headedand insist on having her way.

Mayhap he should have mentioned that trait toArran when he’d asked about Ella. Would her stubbornness keep theman at bay?

From the way Arran was staring at Ella asthey walked ahead of them, it seemed not.

“You’ve spent some time with the man. Do youknow of any reason why he is unsuitable for Ella?” Jenny asked.

He considered the question, wanting to bestowa list of the man’s shortcomings, but he let out a breath and shookhis head.

“Not a one. He’s honorable and has income tosupport a wife and a family.”

“He treats her with respect,” Jenny said,nodding to the couple in front of them.

“Aye.”

“That is all a friend could ask for anotherfriend, is it not?” Damn but the woman was picking at allhis wounds this night.

Kieran looked at Ella’s aunt, who seemed tosee right through him to the monster within.

“I want her to be happy, I do. Ijust . . .”

“Just what? Want her to be happy withyou?”

Yes! “Nay,” he answered. “I just don’twant her to leave Caithness.”

“You don’t want her to leave you.”

“Aye,” Kieran admitted quietly. “Yes. I thinkthat is what I’m struggling with. That if she marries, she willleave and I’ll not see her any longer.”

“Do you think that fate is worse than to becast aside while her best friend marries another and goes about hisduties, leaving her behind?”

“I don’t want that for her. I had hoped thatwouldn’t happen.”

He and Ella had held out hope that Kieran’snew wife would accept their friendship, perhaps even join theirgroup. But even if that happened, it would not be like it wasnow.

“I want her to be happy,” Kieran said simply.Even more fortunate was that he meant it. He’d thought he’dcompletely given over to becoming a selfish arse, but it seemedunder all his fear he was still Ella’s friend at heart.

“She looks to be happy at the moment.” Jennynodded to the two people laughing ahead of them.

“Then I will be happy for them as well.” Anddamn if he wouldn’t work to make that happen. Even if he feltmiserable at the moment.

“Trust me, for I know well about this. Theworst thing you could do to someone you care for is to sentencethem to having to watch someone they love leave them behind.”

“Aye. I’ll do my best not to be a selfishclod-head.”

“Ye do that.”

Chapter Thirteen

Ella looked back at Kieran as she entered thehall on Arran’s arm. She was often nervous when meeting new peopleor being the center of attention. She rather wished Kieran hadwalked beside her so he could tell her all was well.

“Is everything all right?” Arran asked whenshe stopped in the hall. “Besides the fact that everyone appears tobe looking at you.” He laughed and then patted her hand where itrested on his arm.

It should have been reassuring. It wasreassuring. Just not as reassuring as if Kieran had done it.

This time when she looked back at Kieran, hewinked and gave her a nod. And despite him being a few feet behindher, she calmed.

“I believe we should present you at the hightable first,” Arran suggested.