She dropped her head in her hands, exhausted after releasing so much emotion.
Silence fell over the hall, and then Elsie spoke up.
“The lady’s distressed, Arran. It’s yer duty to see to her well-being and keep her safe, ye ken?”
Arran and Skye both turned to look at her.
“Or maybe ye dinnae ken, ye daft man,” Elsie muttered under her breath.
Arran sat back in his chair, looking troubled. But then he broke into a smile.
Skye looked at him like he’d grown an extra head. She looked at Elsie and saw the old woman was eating the rest of her potatoes, smiling as she lifted the spoon to her mouth.
“What, Arran? What are ye thinking?” Skye asked cautiously, not sure she wanted to hear the answer.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Arran’s gut twisted when he heard Skye’s distress and fear pour out of the depths of her soul. He wanted to pummel Grayson into the dirt, and he didn’t care about the consequences. His mind raced to find a solution to both their problems.
Skye needed freedom and safety for herself and her mother. He needed the deeds. And then it hit him.
“Brilliant!” He clapped his hands together. “That’s it.”
“What, Arran? What is it?” Skye asked again, looking confused.
“Skye, think. What is one way that we can each get what we want? Or at least have the best chance at getting the lands and ensuring that ye and yer maither can live in safety?”
Skye thought for a moment, and he could see that she was once again going over all the possibilities in her mind. But then her mouth dropped open.
“Do ye mean… Ye cannae possibly think… Are ye thinking of…?”
She fell back in her chair, her eyes wide.
Arran wondered for a moment if she was dazed, but then her eyes narrowed into slits.
“Ye’re right. If we are married, Blackwell will nay longer be able to threaten me or Maither. And as me husband, ye will be able to force Blackwell to transfer the lands back to Clan MacArthur,” Skye mused, but her voice was devoid of emotion.
“We both win, Skye. It’s a good plan,” he stated.
She shook her head. The side-to-side motion was barely discernible at first, but then it was too obvious to miss.
“Nay!” she exclaimed as she stood up and stepped back from the table.
She looked frantically around the room and then darted out the doors she entered through minutes ago.
Arran and his two men looked at each other in confusion. Elsie picked up a flask from the table, poured herself a large measure of whiskey, and lifted her glass in the air.
“A toast for the new bride and groom!”
Arran looked at her and then reached across the table. He poured himself a dram, downed it in one gulp, and then rose from his chair to follow after Skye.
Skye fled. She didn’t know where she was going, but when she got to the main hall, she rushed up the stairs, taking two steps at a time. Up and up she went until there were no more steps to take and at the top, a hallway stretched left and right.
She turned right and searched for a quiet place.
I want to disappear.
And she felt ashamed. She learned early in life that lying down and giving up never solved anything. But at this moment, she didn’t have the energy or the will.
