Read Online Susana and the Scot by Sabrina York - Free Book Online

“Aye. That’s what they say.” He’d been in Perth when his uncle had met his maker. He could not grieve for the man. With Dermid’s death, his exile had ended. It had been a joy to return home. And with Mairi gone, there had been nothing in Perth to hold him.
    â€œOch, well, Alexander is a fine laird.”
    â€œAye, sir. He is.”
    Magnus squinted and speared him with a one-eyed stare. “And how is he as a husband?”
    Andrew blinked. “I, ah, wouldna know.”
    The old man snorted and leaned closer. “Ye know what I’m asking. Is my Hannah happy there?”
    â€œI believe so, sir.” When last he’d seen her, she’d been gazing into Alexander’s eyes, and he, gazing back, besotted, the both of them. Aye. He would wager she was happy. He pressed down the flare of envy the memory ignited. Alexander deserved any happiness he found. That Andrew might never find the same did not signify. “They seem to be a good fit together.”
    â€œAch. Aye. I thought as much.” Magnus tapped his cheek with a gnarly finger. “I have a sense for these things.”
    â€œDo you?”
    â€œIt comes with my years, I suppose.” He stared out the window for a moment and then sighed heavily. “It is my dream to see all my daughters wed before I die.” This he said softly, but with a passion that could not be ignored.
    â€œI’m certain you will, sir.”
    â€œWill I?” Again he studied Andrew with a curious intensity, and then he blew out another sigh. “I’m not so sure. They are a stubborn lot.”
    â€œWomen often are.” This from Hamish, who had obviously had too much to drink as well. He tipped a little to the side in his chair.
    â€œNot as stubborn as the Dounreay woman, I’ll warrant,” Magnus said. “I have four of them now.” He glanced at Andrew and stroked his lip.
    â€œFour?” Andrew blinked. “I thought you had three daughters.” He’d met Hannah and her younger sister, Lana, when they’d come to Dunnet for Alexander’s wedding … and Susana here.
    â€œThey’re all verra lovely,” Hamish offered, his eyes aglint.
    â€œAye. They are lovely,” Magnus said. “But stubborn. And aye. I have three daughters. The fourth is my granddaughter, Isobel.” The way he said her name made clear his adoration and pride. “She’s probably the most stubborn of them all.”
    â€œMore stubborn than Susana?” He wasn’t sure what made him ask, some imp deep within his soul.
    Magnus rolled his eyes. “My boy, you have no idea.”
    â€œDoes she take after her mother, or was her father stubborn as well?” Andrew wasn’t sure what drove him to ask the question. Surely not the desire to discover more about the man who had conquered Susana Dounreay.
    Magnus’s brow rumpled. “Gilley?”
    â€œGilley?”
    â€œGilley MacBean. Her husband, God rest him. I couldna say he was stubborn. Nae. Not an obstreperous bone in his body. He was a … pleasant man.”
    Andrew bit his lip to hold back his retort. Susana with a pleasant man? He couldn’t visualize it.
    â€œPleasant and quiet. A simple man. He wasn’t the kind of man I would have chosen for her. He wasn’t the kind of man I would ever expect her to fall in love with, but they were verra happy. And he loved Isobel greatly. It was a damn shame he died the way he did.”
    Andrew stilled. “How … how did he die?”
    â€œDrowned in the loch, a year or so back.” Magnus shook his head. “He’d gone out fishing … one of his favorite things to do. Apparently his boat overturned and, well, there you have it.”
    â€œThat is a shame.”
    â€œSusana was beside herself. She loved him verra much.”
    Andrew tried to silence the howl in his soul. “I’m sure she did.”
    Magnus took another