Free Hannah and the Highlander by Sabrina York

wondering if she should say something to Lana now or later. It was a conversation that needed to be had. But the decision was taken from her as Lana leaned forward to peer out the window and gasped. “There it is,” she said.
    Hannah followed her gaze and her heart stalled as the full force of Lochlannach Castle hit her.
    Dounreay was an attractive keep, but this was stunning. The castle rose, grand and glorious against the backdrop of a robin’s-egg-blue sky. Hewn of granite, the high walls gleamed a smoky silver. Tall turret towers flanked all four sides, connected by ramparts decorated with crenellated stone. While they had kept the ancient fortifications in place, there had also been modernizing work. The windows glittered with new glass. Bright banners, bearing the Wolf of Dunnet, flapped in the breeze.
    â€œOh, look!” Lana cried as they crossed a bridge over a picturesque lake, bespeckled with swans as it was. Lana had always had a fascination with swans, although why Hannah couldn’t say. Hannah found them irritable and fierce. More than once, she’d been chased by the cygnets roosting near Dounreay. She made a mental note to avoid strolling by this loch. “Isn’t it lovely?” Lana said.
    Hannah grunted an assent. Everything was a wondrous discovery to Lana—it was part of her charm—but at present Hannah wasn’t in the mood to be charmed. Her heart thudded and tension sizzled through her.
    She would see him again soon.
    Her breath caught as the carriage rolled beneath an ancient portcullis into an enormous bailey, large enough to house an entire village. Every stone was in place, every cobble swept. There was no doubt Lochlannach Castle was very well kept. Some lairds neglected their ancestral homes and let them fall to rack and ruin. Some tore them down. It was clear that generations of Lochlannachs had loved this place.
    As the carriage pulled to a stop, a trumpet sounded and servants flooded from the entrance and into the bailey.
    Hannah steeled her spine and peered out the window, searching the faces for her betrothed. When she didn’t see him, her mood plummeted.
    Where was he?
    This was one of the most important occurrences in her life, her welcome to her new home. The least he could have done was be here .
    A tall behemoth with blond hair bounded through the crowd and wrenched open the carriage door. His gaze landed on Lana, sitting there with Nerid on her lap, looking like a princess, and his face split in a too-charming grin. “Welcome, my lady,” he said with a little bow.
    Annoyance riffled through Hannah’s belly. Of course he would assume she was the laird’s betrothed. Next to her, Hannah looked like a dowdy companion. She cleared her throat. “I am Hannah.” She tried to keep the irritation from her voice but failed miserably.
    The ripple of glee at his dismay was probably beneath her, but she enjoyed it anyway.
    â€œMy apologies, my lady.” He affected yet another bow, this time in her direction, although his gaze lingered on Lana. It was far too ardent.
    Hannah frowned meaningfully at him, but he pretended not to notice. Instead he smiled again—at both of them—and said, “I’m Andrew Lochlannach, Dunnet’s brother. Welcome to Lochlannach Castle.” He held out his hand to help her down.
    â€œThank you,” she said as she stepped from the carriage onto the soil of her new home. “I’m Hannah Dounreay, and this is my sister Lana.”
    â€œAh.” Turning his back on her, he reached for Lana with far too much zeal. Displeasure flared; Hannah narrowed her eyes as he handed Lana from the carriage. She wasn’t a fool. She’d seen the way Andrew was ogling her sister and she didn’t like it. Not in the slightest. She resolved to keep a close watch on him while Lana was here. Not that she was being controlling. She was simply being prudent.
    Once they were both on terra