Free Ian's Rose: Book One of The Mackintoshes and McLarens by Suzan Tisdale

Aggie waited patiently in the hallway, Rose and Ian hurried to dress. “What does he want?” Rose asked as she pulled her chemise over her head.
    “I do no’ ken, but it sounds verra important.” Admittedly, his curiosity was piqued. But when he caught sight of his wife’s bare thigh as she pulled on woolens, his thoughts turned away from his brother’s important news to Rose’s soft, creamy flesh.
    It had better be important, he mused with a curse. Knowing the pleasures he could find with Rose, he was reluctant to let anyone interfere. Still, were it not for Frederick’s interference, they would never have been married. He owed his older brother a great deal at the moment. Giving Frederick a wee bit of his time seemed wise.
    Once they were dressed, Ian opened the door to let his brother and sister-in-law inside. With a wide flourish, he said, “Welcome to our castle, brother. What is mine is yers. Though I dare say that be no’ much at the moment.” Smiling broadly, he went on to add, “We’ve made piece with the mice. What they lack in might, they make up for in food. ’Twas a peace accord made out of necessity.”
    Rose laughed at his jest. “They’ve far better food stores than we, the little buggers.”
    Aggie found their light humor infectious and could not help but laugh as Ian offered her a seat. A wobbly, three-legged stool. “Ye may take me throne, me Queen.”
    Aggie giggled and rolled her eyes. “I see marriage has yet to rid ye of that boyish sense of humor,” she said as she sat down.
    Ian leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Did ye expect it to?”
    Frederick let loose with a short, frustrated sigh. Crossing his arms over his chest, he said, “Ian, we need to talk and it be a verra serious matter.”
    Ian’s smile faded as his brow furrowed. His first thought was that the Camerons were on the offensive and preparing to lay siege once again to the Mackintosh keep. Dread began to displace his good humor.
    Sensing his unease, Rose came to stand next to him. “What be the matter?”
    Frederick went to stand next to his wife. He placed a hand on her shoulder. Aggie smiled wanly as she patted it. Something unspoken passed between them. ’Twas a language Ian had witnessed countless times before but could never understand.
    “We’ve a proposition fer ye both,” Frederick said.
    “While it was an easy decision to come to, it be no’ made lightly,” Aggie added.
    Ian and Rose were equally intrigued but remained silent.
    “As ye ken, Aggie’s father-by-blood is here. He be quite fond of her.” He gave his wife’s shoulder another gentle squeeze before adding, “As I knew he would be.”
    Aggie smiled ever so slightly. Rose sensed something was wrong. “Aggie? Why do ye no’ seem happy?”
    “I am happy that he is fond of me,” Aggie replied. “He is a good man. I fear I was no’ quite prepared to like him as much as I do. But there is more to it than just the two of us bein’ fond of each other.”
    “Such as?” Rose asked.
    “’Tis a verra long story,” Aggie said in a low tone. “But apparently, I have just inherited a grand keep with much land. It be a three-day ride from McLaren lands.”
    “That is wonderful news!” Rose exclaimed. “I be so verra happy fer ye.”
    Frederick and Aggie stared at one another for a long moment as silence filled the room. If either Ian or Rose had just been gifted a grand keep and lands, Ian imagined they’d be dancing around like fools. He found their reaction quite odd.
    Frederick was the first to speak. “Aggie has grown quite fond of Mackintosh lands.”
    “And her people,” Aggie added.
    Frederick smiled at her fondly. “And her people,” he said. “But this is an opportunity neither of us feel we should ignore or walk away from.”
    “And ye’d like us to go with ye?” Ian asked with a broad smile. He was never one to back down from an adventure.
    “Nay,” Frederick said. “Ye’ll no’ be goin’ with us.”
    It took