often for freshly brewed ale and delicious meat,” Alaric recalled, smiling as he remembered the good old times.
“You won't find better game preparation anywhere else,” Duncan added.
“You praise the local cuisine so much that I can’t wait to try everything,” Megan laughed.
Ordering various dishes of wild boar, venison, duck, hare, they drank ale and enjoyed the food. The conversation throughout the evening revolved around the factories; they also discussed the latest local news. Megan didn't wait for the planned family meeting to announce her decision and share her plans, which she had previously discussed with Warren.
Alaric was pleased with this turn of events, saying, “I think you made the right decision. It's quite hard to split your time between two cities and manage two enterprises. Warren is a worthy candidate and will handle the business well. You are a member of our family. This is your home, and you are welcome here anytime. We will always be happy to see you.”
“I completely agree,” Duncan chimed in approvingly.
At that moment, a man in his thirties approached their table: tall, broad-shouldered, with light hair and green eyes. The McKenzie men warmly greeted him – he turned out to be an old friend of Warren's. Without much thought, Alaric invited him to join them at the table.
“Craig, I'd like to introduce you to my cousin Megan. She's Malcolm's granddaughter. She came to take care of her inheritance and decide its fate,” Warren explained.
“Nice to meet you,” Craig said, looking at her with an admiring smile, extending his strong firm arm for a handshake.
Megan found the highlander quite attractive. It seemed that the feeling was mutual because throughout the evening, almost all his attention was directed at her. Craig clearly wanted to learn as much about the girl as possible, and she happily engaged in conversation, enjoying the company of the young man and her family members.
“Craig, what do you do for a living?” she inquired.
“I work for one of the local shipping companies.”
“Tomorrow we're using one of your ferries to get to the island,” Warren said.
“Really? What are you heading there for?”
“We're going to sacrifice Megan on the altar of the druids,” joked the younger cousin.
“Thanks, Duncan. At least I know the real purpose of our journey now,” Megan laughed.
“If you don't mind, I’d like to come along,” the young man said, looking hopefully at the girl.
“Of course, you’re welcome to join us. Megan, you don't mind, do you?” Duncan asked.
“Of course not.”
“What time will you be at the dock tomorrow morning?” he asked Warren.
“I think we'll arrive by eleven thirty.”
“Well, Megan, prepare yourself! You're in for an unforgettable experience, since it will be conducted by true local highlanders,” Craig said with a proud smile.
“I’m looking forward to it,” she replied cheerfully.
After dinner, everyone said their goodbyes, and went their separate ways. On the drive home, Warren said, “Megan, in just one evening, you've charmed my friend. I've known him for a long time, and he's already smitten with you.”
“Is he always so quick to fall in love?” she laughed.
“No, quite the opposite! I can't remember the last time he was so enchanted by a woman. Since Craig decided to join us tomorrow, it means he wants to get to know you better.”
“Did you like him? He's quite interesting and handsome, isn't he?” Glenn chattered.
“Glenn!” Warren protested.
“What did I say? I just asked if she liked him. I would be really happy if she found her love here and stayed with us.”
“I understand you'd be happy, but it's tactless to ask such questions. They've known each other for a few hours, and you’re probably already imagining a wedding and a bunch of kids in your romantic fantasies. Let people get to know each other better and then we'll see.”
“Don't worry, Warren. We're women and it's normal for us to ask such questions. Craig is certainly a charismatic and handsome young man, in my opinion. But it's too soon to say anything more. We barely know each other to draw any conclusions.”
As they arrived at the castle, Megan checked the time; it was already 11:10. Her heart beat faster. Was he waiting for her tonight? What if he came, saw no light in her window, and left?
She eagerly anticipated their next meeting and feared it might not happen anytime soon.
After wishing Warren and Glenn goodnight, Megan rushed to her room and ran to the window. He was there, on the hill, waiting for her. Her hands trembled, butterflies fluttered in her stomach, and a joyful smile lit up her face. Without a second thought, she quickly left the castle.
Coming close to Derek, she said, “I'm glad you came; I was waiting for you.”
He smiled, brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, and kissed her.
“I'm glad to see you too,” he whispered softly in her ear.
“Derek, I don't understand why all the mystery? These meetings under my window, without any warning… It's as if we're living in the Middle Ages and there's no other way to meet. Can't we do it differently?”
“You don’t like this?” he asked with a barely noticeable smile.
“Well, it's a bit strange.”
“I work late every day.”
“Don't you have any days off?” Megan asked surprised.
“Not at the moment. I'm currently working on a secret project, and I’m only free in the evenings.”
“There are secret projects in city administration? I never thought that was a thing,” she said dubiously.
“I can't explain everything to you yet. It's not just about the city administration. I've signed nondisclosure agreements regarding my current mission. So, please don't ask me about my work for now. I'll definitely tell you everything when the time comes. This… mystery, as you call it, is temporary.”
“Alright, I understand. Non-disclosure means nondisclosure. You’re probably a 007 agent,” she joked.
Derek just smiled, “How was your evening?” he said, changing the subject.
“Very good, I wasn't as bored today as I was on the other days.”
"Who entertained you?" he inquired.
In his question, Megan sensed strange notes, as if he knew about her new acquaintance.
“We had a family dinner,” she shared without going into details.
“I'm glad you had a good time. Would you mind taking a walk with me? We could go down to the sea or up the hill.”
“I'd love to,” she responded, happy for the opportunity to spend more time together.
Derek wrapped his arm around her waist, and they headed towards the beach. Megan was dressed warmly, so the light breeze blowing from the sea didn't bother her. Large boulders were scattered across the sand. The young man sat down on one of them and pulled her close. They sat there for a long time, talking about various topics. The conversation flowed easily and naturally. Megan noted to herself that Derek was intelligent, well-educated, and knowledgeable on many issues; with his wisdom and tact she felt they could discuss anything and everything. He seemed perfect. For the first time in her life, she felt truly happy, spending almost the entire night in his strong embrace.
“You know, Derek, I find myself liking you more and more,” she said with a smile, gazing into his eyes.
“Thank you, I'm flattered. And what did I do to earn such affection today?” he asked, cocking his right eyebrow.
“You're