Kilts and Kisses by Victoria Roberts

tales. Your sister has asked me to take her before, but I’m nae foolish enough to travel onto the MacKay’s lands.”
    Ceana squeezed her fingers over the bridge of her nose. “I was hoping to hear ye say that ye arenae foolish enough to believe the tales, but the fact that ye and my sister are even thinking about marriage frightens me. I’m letting ye court my sister. Give me your word that ye will nae tell anyone what ye saw, especially Anna.” Ceana shifted from foot to foot. “What did ye see anyway?”
    His eyes grew amused. “I didnae witness ye lock lips with the MacKay man, if that’s what ye’re asking.” When he winked at her, she slapped him playfully on the arm.
    “Samuel...”
    “Ye can trust me.”
    She hoped that was true. Needing to change the subject, she displayed an ease that she didn’t necessarily feel. After all, she wasn’t overjoyed to be speaking about such a private matter with Samuel. “Do ye know what my uncle wanted?”
    “He asked to see ye and Anna after a messenger arrived this morn.”
    A deep voice spoke from behind her. “Is my brother troubling ye?”
    She whipped her head around to find Raonull standing there with observant eyes and his hands placed on his lean hips. This was just what she needed—the loosest tongue and the biggest rogue of the castle involved in her private matters.
    He was tall, rawboned, and beardless, with an ingenuously appealing face. His hair was the color of field oats, and his skin was pulled taut over the elegant ridge of his cheekbones. She could almost see why women flaunted themselves at him in a discomfiting way. Almost. The way he stood there told everyone that he knew he was handsome, and that irked her even more. No one should be that beautiful. Thankfully, she and Anna were not among the many foolish women who had shared Raonull’s bed. Although the rogue was indeed a rougher version of Samuel, he lacked Samuel’s kindness and compassion.
    “Your brother hasnae been troubling me at all.”
    “Mmm...I’ll take certain precautions and make sure that he doesnae.” Raonull slapped his hand on Samuel’s shoulder. “Come along, Brother.”
    When the men walked away, Ceana released the breath that she didn’t know she held. If she could start the day over, she would, especially its beginning with Luthais at the loch. She brought her fingers to her lips, smiling because she knew she’d always remember her first kiss. A part of her was glad the moment was with Luthais, even though he was a MacKay. He’d made her feel special, something she didn’t experience often enough. She turned as Anna was coming out of the great hall.
    “Anna!”
    “Where have ye been? Uncle John has been looking for ye because he wants to meet with us. I donna think my nerves can handle whatever ‘tis he wants to speak with us about. He ne’er wants to talk with us privately behind the closed doors of his study. Do ye think this has something to do with our mother and father? Mayhap they finally found the vagrants who left them for dead on the—”
    “Anna, it’s been two years. Uncle John couldnae find the men responsible then, and I doubt he’s found them now.”
    They walked into the great hall and stopped dead in their tracks. Three wooden basins were placed in a line on the hearth as Aunt Marta blindfolded Sorcha.
    “What are they doing now?” asked Ceana.
    “I’ve seen Aunt Marta do this before,” whispered Anna. “One of the bowls is filled with clean water from the well, another with muddy water from the stream, and the last one is empty.” Aunt Marta handed Sorcha a stick, and Sorcha pointed to one of the basins. “After each time Sorcha chooses, Aunt Marta will change the position of the bowls. Sorcha has to choose the same one twice before she can stop.”
    “And what is that supposed to do or tell, or should I even ask?”
    “Aunt Marta told me that if Sorcha chooses the basin with the pure water, she’ll have an honorable