Ava rolled her eyes. “I daenae need rescuing, me Laird. Thank ye for yer chivalry anyway, but I can handle meself.”
The fire popped louder, as if spurred on by their conversation.
“Sure, ye can. Ye just dislocated yer ankle and couldnae tell me fool of a braither exactly why ye daenae wish to speak.” Caden picked at his kilt, seemingly uninterested.
“Again, ye are mistaken. I daenae need yer intervention, Caden. I can do just fine on me own.” She sat up straighter in her chair.
“Nay, ye cannae. If ye did ye wouldnae be needing a marriage of convenience with me brother of all people.” He pursed his lips.
“I beg yer pardon?” Ava wanted to slap him as well.
Where do these men get the nerve?
“Listen, I’ve got a proposition for ye.” Caden rested his elbows on his knees. His legs were the size of tree trunks. Ava tried not to notice. “We can have the same marriage ye’d have with me brother.”
“We were going to have a white marriage,” she replied, eyeing him suspiciously.
“Och. Well, that willnae be happening. But the rest of it can be pretty much the same. We will lead different lives.”
Trying really hard not to imagine what a non-white marriage to Caden would be like, she focused on a question she had not dared to ask. Why had Caden agreed to take Finlay’s place to begin with? Surely he would not marry just to do right by her.
“What’s the catch?” she asked finally.
“Ye must raise me nephew as yer own.”
CHAPTER 4
The whole castleseemed to have fallen quiet, save for the crackle of the fire. Ava tried to make sense of what she just heard. Finlay never mentioned a child in the family.
“Nephew? Is it…” notThe words refused to come out.
Ava knew that Finlay had siblings, but he had never mentioned a nephew besides the one who had died in the fire. Still, it would not surprise her to learn that he had a secret son.
“Ah, me braither never said anythin’. Of course, he didnae. Maybe that’s the one thing he’s done right…” Caden trailed off.
Ava had no idea what he was talking about.
“The lad’s name is Nathan. He’s a sweet little boy. His maither—me sister—died in a terrible fire.” Caden shook his head.
Ava’s mind was reeling. How could Finlay not have told her about his nephew being alive?
“Would ye mind elaborating? I thought the child died in the fire with yer sister.”
“Aye, we wanted everyone to believe he had. We needed him to be safe while our clan was still at war.”
“I see. So ye want me to become a second maither to him?” Ava was growing impatient. She had had enough surprises for one day.
“Among other things.” Caden chewed on his cheek. “Frankly, ye must follow all of me rules.”
“I will hear them out first and then decide. I may have a few to add meself.” Ava pressed her fingers to her temples to ward off the coming headache.
Caden smirked and lifted a finger. “First, ye must help the little lad speak.”
“Speak?” Ava was quite confused.
Caden leaned over and pressed his finger against her lips. “Second, ye must never interrupt me.”
Ava felt the fury rise in her chest, but motioned for him to continue.
