in her every feature and couldn’t see a difference. What kind of madness is this?
Evan walked her toward them, and Ben noted the strong determination in the woman’s gaze, which was identical to what Aline’s had been. “This is my sister, Athol Grant, the much younger sister of Aline.” Evan met Athol’s gaze. “This is the Laird of Ross, or Black Ben, as a lot of the Highlanders know him as. He was Aline’s husband.”
“I understand the mechanics of family, Evan. I do not need ye to teach me, thank ye very much.” Athol curtsied and met Ben’s gaze, ice blue eyes staring back at him, and he couldn’t quite catch his breath.
“May I call you Ben, too? Or would ye prefer brother, or my liege?” The flirtatious glance made Ben pause.
“Ben will do well enough.” He gestured them toward the castle gates. “Open the gates and allow them enter,” he yelled out to his men. The creaking of the wooden doors sounded loud in the quiet afternoon.
He walked them into the yard and toward the castle itself. “I’ll have rooms prepared for ye, and if ye wish, you can go upstairs and refresh yourselves before dinner this evening.” He walked them toward the great hall, and seeing Kenzie sitting before the fire brought a smile to his mouth.
She looked pensive, and when she glanced at him, a small frown line marred her brow. He went to her, not caring if the party who’d just arrived followed him or not. “I’ll explain everything as soon as we’re alone,” he said, before the others came to stand with them.
“And who is this?” Athol said, smiling at Kenzie with genuine kindness. Mayhap the lass wasn’t similar to Aline in that sense. His wife, God rest her soul, had been quick to judge, disliked anyone she met, and took some time to warm up to them. Athol may have been cut from the same tartan, but perhaps wasn’t so quick to dislike and distrust. He mayhap had judged her too quickly.
“This is my guest, Kenzie, from Sir Braxton and Gwendolyn Macleod. She’s a distant relative to Laird Macleod and Gwendolyn, his sister.”
Evan narrowed his eyes on Kenzie and Ben watched him, not about to let the Scot insult her in any way. Not when both of them were guests under his roof.
“A Macleod. What are ye doing here, lass? Did ye travel here with other Macleods or are ye on your own?”
Kenzie’s face turned a delightful pink, and Ben clasped the hilt of his sword, an action that he was pleased Evan noted. Good. He wanted him to take heed. “I invited her to stay after we met at Sir Braxton and Gwendolyn’s estate. I hope ye don’t have a problem with that.” Not that Ben cared what the Grant thought or said, but he wouldn’t have him treating Kenzie with anything other than respect.
“None at all, ’tis your home. You may do as ye like.” Evan smiled a little at Kenzie and it looked more like a snarl. “Are ye married, lass? You look of an age that ye should be.”
Kenzie laughed and covered it with a cough. “No, I’m not, my lord. And I’m not looking to be anytime soon.”
Athol stepped forward, kissing one of Kenzie’s cheeks. “’Tis lovely to meet ye, Kenzie. Our family have long been allies of Clan Macleod and it’s very nice to meet one at last. I couldn’t attend the Highland games, alas, with Aline, where she met the Laird Ross. I was too young, ye see. Not of age.”
“And what brings you to Castle Ross?” Kenzie asked.
“Our father was very distraught, as Ben knows only too well, after Aline passed away. He held Ben to blame, ye see,” Athol said, coming over to Ben and taking his arm. “But he wishes to wrong that right, and so, here ye find us today.”
He looked down at the dark-haired lass and across to Kenzie whose gaze was fixated on where Athol’s hand sat against his arm.
“Father has come to his senses about the whole situation. And as I’m Aline’s sister, ’tis only right that I came to Castle Ross to look after the wee babe. For as long as Laird Ross will have me, I’m willing to stay and help him raise his boy, just as I know my sister would want me to had she had the choice.”
“So, you’re going to be staying for months, years even?” Kenzie threw Ben an alarmed glance, and he frowned,