"Laird McNeil,"Caiden said with a bow as he paused before Aaron. Aaron's eyes weren't on him but on Melina, who seemed far too occupied by Izzy. "I never thought I'd see the day."
"Oh, I'm sure,"Aaron answered with an arched eyebrow. "And how have ye faired these few months?"
"I cannae complain.Ye remember me daughter, Melina, aye? She was the one to tell me of yer engagement to the English woman," Caiden said as he eyed Izzy.
"Isabella,"Aaron said, pulling Izzy's attention away from Melina's gushing complements over her dress.
"Aye, and is she nae English?"Caiden asked. "I must say we were all very intrigued with the King's decree. I'm certain had ye protested, ye wouldnae have had to go through with it."
"I think ye underestimate royalty.When they want somethin', they usually get it, and what the King wanted was for me to marry Isabella."
"Well,yer bride certainly is a lovely creature," Caiden said as he snatched Izzy's hand and drew her hand to his lips. Aaron pursed his lips into a tight line and glared at the man before him. It seemed as if every word that came out of the man's mouth grated on Aaron's nerves. He had hoped once he married, Caiden's tone would have changed, but it seemed to only draw out further ire.
"Aye, that she is,"Aaron said as he tried to keep his wits about him. Caiden seemed to linger with Izzy's hand to the point Aaron stepped forward, snatching her hand from Caiden and drawing Izzy back to him. "And she's mine."
"Of course, she is,"Caiden said with a smirk that vexed Aaron even further. "And I'm sure ye have the rest of the clan vyin' to meet her."
Caiden stepped to the side,grabbing Melina by the arm to pull her to the side. "May the sun never set on yer marriage. Come along Melina, the Laird has others waitin' to greet him and meet their new Lady."
"I do hopeto see ye again," Melina said to Izzy. "And yer dress is truly one of a kind."
Aaron kepthis gaze locked on Caiden and Melina as they wove through the crowd like smoke. Only when he was certain there would be no issue did he relax the tension building in his shoulders.
"Areyou going to tell me what that was all about?" Izzy asked, pulling Aaron from the mire of his thoughts. He glanced over at her and let out a heavy sigh.
"I daenae think it's important."Aaron kept his eyes on the crowd as the music started. The merriment felt forced as if everyone in the room was expecting some sort of catastrophe.
"Please letus be at least honest with each other. Your entire body tensed the second you saw them. And don't think I couldn't hear that man's condescending tone. To be honest, I was surprised you didn't smack him right then and there."
Shock shotthrough Aaron as he studied Izzy. She had seemed preoccupied by the celebration and the music to pick up the seriousness of the situation. Yet, somehow, she kept her wits which was far more than Aaron would have expected.
"That wasCaiden and his daughter Melina," Aaron whispered as he turned his attention to the open courtyard behind him. The doors to the terrace were wide open, allowing a cool eastern breeze to cut through the thick air.
"But that still doesn't explain thetension and sharp tongues. Or why he glared at me as if I were nothing but an obstacle to him."
"Caiden had expectedme to marry his daughter," Aaron answered as he kept the expression off his face. "And yet here we are."
"Oh"was all that came out of Izzy. It drove Aaron mad wishing to have the ability to read her facial expressions. Anyone else in the clan, Aaron could read like a book. Yet, Izzy was unlike any woman he'd met before, and if he was going to be a halfway decent husband, he was going to have to learn how to read her.
"Forgive me for asking,but why didn't you? You're both Scottish and in the same clan. It would be a smart match.""
"I had nay intention of marryin'anyone, let alone her. Or did ye nae think to consider how this has upended me life? I was content with it just bein' me and Chloe . She could be the one to bring heirs if that's what she wanted. Had it nae been for the King's orders, I'd still be single and ye'd be in England."
"And we wouldn't be havinga conversation about how we won't have a future," Izzy mumbled. Her voice broke as she tried to hold back her emotions.
"I wouldnae say that."
"Do you want a family?"
"Nay,"Aaron answered without hesitation. "Was nae somethin' I ever thought about. When ye have someone ye've already looked over, suppose ye daenae want that later in life."
"I see,"Izzy said.
In the cornerof Aaron's eye, he thought he noticed Izzy's shoulders dropping slightly. As much as Aaron wished he could take back his words, it was far too late. The words had slipped out without any regard to her feelings. If he was going to get her to bed him, he was going to have to be more sensitive to her needs.
"I'm sorry, truly,"he said in hushed tones. "But we both ken this was nae what we had planned out for our lives. Can ye truly tell me that ye dreamed of marryin' a savage Scot? Because I'll be honest with ye —"
"Oh,now you're going to be honest with me? Do tell, I'm dying to know," Izzy interjected as she folded her arms over her chest. Aaron arched his eyebrow as his gaze flashed her a warning.
