A Beauty at the Highland Court - Celeste Barclay Page 0,2

Arabella regretted the unkind thoughts she’d had about Cairstine once she discovered Cairstine’s painful past, which explained why she’d kept everyone at arms’ length. Cairstine and Eoin were as much a love match as Allyson and Ewan turned out to be. Arabella wished she could say the same for the start of her friend Cairren Kennedy’s marriage.

Cairren was soft-spoken and kind, but she’d always stuck out at court. Her Arab heritage was apparent in her olive skin, a stark contrast to the creamy Scottish complexions that the other ladies-in-waiting shared. Her appearance had immediately put her at odds with her new clan, the Munros, when King Robert and her father agreed on her marriage to Padraig Munro. Fortunately, he realized what a gem he’d been given and fell in love with his wife. Arabella was glad to know they were no longer enemies, but deeply in love.

Arabella’s thought’s returned to Lachlan. He had returned to Stirling when he accompanied Cairren and Padraig, who needed an audience with the king. Taxes had brought him back most recently. Arabella hadn’t seen him in more than a moon, and she tried to distract herself with the various events at court and the budding romance between Blair and Hardi. While she danced with one suitor after another, she resigned herself to the knowledge that her father was arranging her marriage to a stranger. She didn’t know who her father had in mind, but she was certain it was a Lowland laird who would make a powerful ally to her clan. While life at court wasn’t what Arabella wanted for her future, she didn’t look forward to moving home to the dangerous border territory. The supposed truce between the Scottish and English kings was yet to be seen. The English continued to cross the border and harass the Scots, then cried foul when the Scots retaliated.

“Are you ready?” Blair interrupted Arabella’s thoughts. “We shouldn’t keep the others waiting. Laurel will wonder where we are.” Blair grinned, knowing she was the one who delayed them.

Laurel Ross was the only other lady-in-waiting who had been at court as long as Arabella. She’d once been friends with Madeline MacLeod, Maude’s former nemesis and now sister-by-marriage. She had a razor-sharp tongue, but nowadays she used it to be a fiercely protective friend. Arabella hadn’t pried into why Laurel became friends with Madeline, but she suspected the latter held some influence over Laurel, and she had either bribed or threatened Laurel into following Madeline’s lead. Now that Madeline had been away from court for years, Laurel was much easier to get along with.

“I’m ready. Are we to meet her at her chamber or in the Great Hall?” Arabella asked.

“The Great Hall. She shall save us seats at our usual table. After my run-in with Henry and Daniel MacMillan, Laurel wants to be certain we sit closer to the king and queen,” Blair explained. It was a little-known secret that Blair, Maude, and Lachlan, along with their Sinclair cousins, were the godchildren of King Robert and Queen Elizabeth de Burgh. The royal couple never played favorites, and the Sutherland and Sinclair siblings never asked for favors. Laurel’s suggestion had been coincidental, but Arabella was privy to the secret and agreed with the wisdom of proximity.

The women thanked their maids and left their chamber, winding through the passageways until they entered the Great Hall. Arabella watched as Hardi and Blair exchanged private smiles, and Arabella was certain it was only a matter of a brief time before the couple saw what everyone else did: they were already in love. They took their seats beside Laurel just as the meal began.

“You’re fortunate that Laird Cameron arrived just as your brother left,” Laurel mused halfway through the meal. “You aren’t as glum as usual when your brother departs. I’m glad for you.”

Arabella caught Blair’s darting glance, and she knew her friend was aware that something existed between her and Lachlan, but it was nothing that either would ever act upon. It was by silent agreement that neither dared to make their relationship more than friendship. Arabella didn’t want to jeopardize her friendships with Blair and Maude, and she intuited Lachlan felt the same. It made it painful to watch him leave Stirling without acknowledging their connection, but Arabella resigned herself to it.

“Aye. It has been wonderful to have Laird Cameron here,” Blair agreed. “It was a surprise how easily we picked up our childhood friendship. It pains me to see his grief over losing