The Highlander Without a Bride

The bride was beautiful. But it was her sister Marie who stood before all proclaiming her love and devotion and not Kaye. It had nothing to do with Marie's intended, for she knew that they were perfect for one another, it was that Marie was marrying prior to Kaye. But Kaye, who had now reached her twenty-first year and the eldest of the three daughters, was now the only one that remained unwed with no prospects in sight. And that cut her deeply, for no one had ever claimed her! Is she that dreadful? That unlovable? During her sister's wedding reception she is suddenly thrown together with a proper English gentleman and one that is old enough to be her father! He is not outwardly handsome and could never stir her emotions but he has promised to marry her. Kaye did find him cordial and kind and if she put her mind to it she was certain she could love him, could she not? Was that not enough? For the fear of being alone had her quite frightened and she would stop at nothing to prevent those lonely ends! But what of the very powerful and intimidating Scottish Highlander that was just across the room from her? He is so very different than his composed English counterparts and his ways so completely strange and quite unsettling. Kaye could feel the heat of warrior's gaze burning into her, once again sending unfamiliar shivers up her spine for she silently acknowledged he was exceptionally nice to look upon at a distance, but one that thoroughly and truly frightened her when he was near. Her heart skipped a beat, but was that for the fear and trepidation that he exhumed about him when he was near? It must be, for what else could it be?