The Highlander's Choice by Callie Hutton

at the canopy over the bed. Laird Liam MacBride wanted to marry her. If she said yes, she would remain in the Highlands of Scotland for the rest of her life, except for the occasional visits to her family home. Any children she birthed would be clan members, and raised in the Scottish tradition.
    All of her close family members—sisters, brother, sister-in-law, mother, and nieces and nephews, would be in England. Yet none of that would matter if she loved Liam and he loved her. It was what she’d wanted and expected to have in a marriage her entire life. The one thing she’d been holding out for since her first Season.
    Liam had admitted to having strong feelings for her, but not love. Was that admission enough to keep her from packing up and returning to England in another day or so, as her family expected? And what of her feelings toward him? There was no question that her initial feelings had changed. Time spent with him had disproven her bias against him because of his heritage.
    The man hadn’t been charming the ladies into his bed, had not gotten into one fight, and drank very little. Indeed, much less than his counterparts, who right now were probably suffering from the effects of their revelry last night.
    She tossed off the blankets just as Bessie arrived to prepare her for the day. “Please get my breeches out, I feel the need for a brisk ride this morning.”
    “Yes, milady.”
    With very little in the way of preparation, Sybil was striding to the stable in less than a half hour after she rose from bed. She chatted with one of the stable boys as they prepared her horse for a ride. “The Laird just left a bit ago for a ride, too,” he shared with her.
    “The McKinnon?” Newlyweds were not known for rising early the day after their wedding.
    “Nay, my lady. The MacBride.” Devil take it, she didn’t want to run into the man until she’d decided what she was going to do about his suggestion to visit his home. At this point, she had no intention of accepting his marriage proposal. With her feelings so uncertain, that would be foolhardy.
    With the stable hand’s assistance, she mounted her horse and took off across the meadow, giving the mare her head. The wind whipped her long braid, chilling her cheeks, and took her breath away. The freedom of the ride would clear her head, help her with the decision she needed to make, and indeed, she had promised Liam an answer this day.
    But for now, all decisions that had her in knots were pushed to the back of her mind as she enjoyed the ride. She inhaled deeply of the fresh air. There was a lot to be said of the Highland air. Sweet and clean, with a hint of salt from the nearby sea.
    After about ten minutes, Sybil slowed the horse to a canter, then a trot and a walk. With both rider and horse breathing heavily, she stopped and gazed out over the beautiful landscape. Deep green, almost hard for the eyes to look at. A beautiful place, Scotland. At the sound of hoof beats, she turned to see Liam coming toward her.
    His hair was loose and fell around his shoulders as he reined in alongside her. Flushed cheeks and the panting of his stallion told her he’d been racing as well. Perhaps they both needed to clear their heads.
    “Good morning to ye, lass. I dinna expect ye to rise so early. ’Twas a long day yesterday.”
    “It seems my body is ready to rise once the sun does the same.” She shrugged. “Not very refined for an English lady, I’m afraid.”
    “Ach, darlin’ ye’ve naught the ways of the Sassenachs. Ye would be a fine Scottish lass, a pleasing Laird’s wife.”
    She shook her head. “I’m afraid I cannot make that decision yet. I don’t feel as though I know you after only a few weeks.”
    “’Twould be a lie to say I agree ’tis too soon. I ken we would be verra good together. But what of my request that you come with me to Bedlay Castle?”
    “My family is expecting me to return soon. They trusted Lord and Lady Somerville to see me here