Ailsa held her breath. This was the moment where it was all decided, when Laird Buchanan decided if helping her and her sisters was too great a risk.
“There is only one thing to be done,” he went on, after a pause that felt like a year. “If we wish to stop this monster’s plans, you and Ewan must be wed. As soon as possible.”
Ewan watched as Ailsa smiled. It was a polite smile, a distant smile. One that held no emotion.
“Of course, My Laird,” she said demurely. “I look forward to making good on the long-standing accord between our families.”
Ewan scoffed.
“Really?” he asked her before he could think better of it. “That’s all ye have to say?”
She licked her lips briefly, glanced down, then up again. “That is all there is to say, Ewan,” she said levelly. He hated that even tone as much as he liked hearing her say his name. “This union was arranged more than a decade ago. It is what both our parents wanted.”
He caught the flicker of pain in her expression when she saidparents, but he couldn’t quite quell his temper, even with that.
“Oh, aye?” he said, surging to his feet. “Did our parents nae want this ten years ago?”
“Ewan,” his mother scolded mildly.
Ewan didn’t mind her, either. No doubt he’d pay for that later.
“Because this,” he scoffed again, “this obedient miss is nae the woman I knew back then. Back then, it wasyewho refused our union. Refused it outright, Ailsa. I believe yer precise words werenever, not ever.”
And there it was. The lashing out of his wounded pride.
Rationally, he knew he wasn’t being fair. Ten years could change anyone, let alone a woman who had gone from girlhood to adulthood, a woman who had just suffered a terrible loss. He only had to look at her to see that she’d changed.
But he could still hear those words.Never. Not ever.
And now, here she was, perfectly content to submit in marriage to him.
She lowered her gaze, and Ewan immediately felt like an arse for his words. They would no doubt have to discuss their pastseventually, but he didn’t need to press it. The past was past; it would wait.
“I know,” she said quietly. “I… apologize.”
And, Lord, if that didn’t make him feel even worse.
“Ailsa,” he said.
She didn’t look back. Instead, she turned to his father. “I understand if… my past actions make things difficult,” she said. “And if too much time has passed, if the contract between us cannot come to pass, I will accept it. I only ask that you give us some time to make a plan before we leave here. A few days, if you can spare the room.”
Ewan hated the idea of her leaving far more than he hated the idea of her staying. He wanted to voice this objection, but he recognized that he hadn’t precisely helped the last time he’d spoken up.
“No.” This was his father, firm and implacable. “No, you will not leave. The contractwillgo forth.”
Phileas spared his son a single glance. Ewan did not voice any objection.
If he was telling the truth, if he dug deeper than his wounded pride, he did want Ailsa. He always had. She was bonny, brave—and knew she was stubborn, too, well. He liked that as well.
He wanted her, but he could not trust her. He did not know if wanting her was worth what it would bring down on his people.
He did want her, though. And so he did not breathe a word.
“Here is what will happen,” Phileas continued. “You and Ewan will be married as soon as we can make the arrangements. Once that is settled, you will have the full power of the Buchanan Clan behind you.”
“And you will help us regain our home?” This was Vaila, speaking for the first time.
“Aye,” Phileas confirmed. “We shall make a plan to unseat the usurper, I assure you.”
