Catriona MacVane was waiting for them in the solar as promised.
“Won’t you sit down?” Cationa said politely, and she waited while Ewan settled Maighread in a chair by the brazier and took his leave. Catriona’s eyes roamed over the red gown, but her expression was not so sharp now, and she looked quite pretty, Meggie thought.
Catriona blushed at her speculation. “Forgive my um—performance—in the hall. My brother is determined to be rid of me, and it appears the easiest way is to wed me to Charlie MacKay.”
“But you don’t want him,” Maighread said.
Catriona stuck her nose in the air. “He’s a drunkard and a rascal and I hate him.” She bit her lip. “He doesn’t want me any more than I want him. And now he’s stuck here because of the weather.”
She crossed to the window and pulled back the curtains that kept out the draft and the view of the storm. “It really is a dreadful storm.” She glanced at Maighread. “Did ye mean it when ye said it would last a week?”
“Give or take a few days,” Maighread said. “Old Cailleach has done herself proud with this storm. At least ye know Laird MacKay can’t carry ye off over his saddle in the snow.”
Catriona looked surprised. “Nay, I suppose not—but my brother could insist on a handfasting, and then—” She raised her chin. “My only hope is that Charlie will refuse, for my brother doesn’t take no for an answer from me. He’s a dreadful bully—when he can’t charm a person into doing as he wishes. I seem to be the only one able to resist his charm.”
Meggie felt her cheeks fill with hot blood. Magnus’s charm was indeed a dangerous thing. But Catriona needed advice and comfort, not a warning, since she apparently already knew to be wary of charming men.
“My father is also determined to have his say when it comes to the men his daughters wed,” she said. “He doesn’t always trust us to know our own hearts. When one of us falls in love with a man Papa doesn’t entirely approve of—well, he can be quite a bully too, though he’s usually charming.”
“What do you do?” Catriona asked.
“He truly only wants the best for us—men who’ll make us happy. He can usually be convinced it’s true love. So far, none of my sisters has fallen in love with the wrong man.” Only herself.
“Laird MacKay seems a fine man to me. He’s quite charming,” Maighread said.
Catriona shrugged. “He’s charming enough, but not to me. He’s cruel with his teasing because it makes Magnus laugh. I hate being laughed at.”
“What about Laird MacAulay? He seems pleasant,” Seanmhair suggested.
“I don’t know a thing about him,” Catriona said. “I’ve never met him before. I suppose he’s handsome, but he’s a stranger.”
Maighread MacLennan sighed. “A fine choice. Three handsome lairds, all tall, braw, and unwed . . .”
“Seanmhair . . .” Meggie warned.
Maighread’s eyes widened innocently. “What? I’m not matchmaking. I’m simply stating a fact. Laird MacVane is like a great bear—strong, bold, and rich. Laird MacKay is a fox, clever and quick-witted. And Laird MacAulay . . .” she shook her head. “A hard man to read, wouldn’t ye say, Meggie? He’s tall as an oak, looks slender as a reed next to Laird MacVane, yet he’s not. He’s got strong shoulders and legs. He’s soft-spoken, but I suspect he’s honest, too—which would be a nice change from the last two MacAulay lairds. When he says he’ll not reive from my lands, I believe him.” She smiled at Meggie and Catriona. “A man who listens more than he talks is worth his weight in gold, lassies. Just because he speaks softly doesn’t mean he’s soft in the head.” She looked into the glowing brazier. “Ye never know when the right man will come to ye. Ye might look at the same face for years, and then one day he looks a little different to ye. Then it happens in an instant, fast as a stroke of lightning, and ye know he’s the one. I knew my husband half my life and never realized I loved him. Then I looked at him, and he looked at me, and there was no looking away again.”
Meggie saw tears in her grandmother’s eyes, and she squeezed her hand. Maighread focused on her. “That’s the kind of love I wish for ye, Meggie—and for ye as well, Catriona. The kind that lasts forever.”
Meggie swallowed the lump in her throat. “We’re here to help Catriona not wed, Seanmhair.” But Catriona had tears in her eyes at Maighread’s speech.
Seanmhair smiled. “Och, ’tis the time of year for love and magic, lass. You never know what—or who—might come your way.” She cast a sideways glance at Meggie as well. “It’s been a long day, and I think it’s time for bed. Will ye summon Ewan for me?”
Meggie rose to do that.
When Meggie returned, Catriona smiled at her. “I thought I’d ride out and see how some of our clansmen are faring in this weather tomorrow. Euna used to do it when she was alive, and it would be a way to avoid Charlie. Would ye like to come with me? The village isn’t far, but there are a few cotts further out.”
Meggie smiled. Such an outing would help her avoid Magnus, too. “I’d love to. I’d be doing the very same thing with my sisters if I were at Glen Iolair.”