"Papa, I?—"
"Anna, you must," he said, eyes serious. "People have seen him; they know there's a Scotsman here. We've yet to rescind your story. You… you must accept his proposal lest you'll be a ruined woman."
The truth of the words made her shift uncomfortably in her seat. He was right. If the engagement had simply been broken off, everyone would assume she was the problem. Any chance of finding another husband would be snatched away.
It's Laird McDonald or nothing… and even worse social stigmatization.
"What if he's not a good man, Papa?" she said, afraid of what may happen if she were to marry this stranger. "I… Would that truly be better?"
Her father's expression softened a bit. "He may be rough around the edges, but I don't think he's a bad man. If I thought he was,I'd send him away and help you cover up the scandal. But I think we can avoid that if you accept his proposal."
"I suppose you're right," she said, looking at a spot on the wall. "I suppose I'll be Lady McDonald."
CHAPTER SIX
After getting the affirmative that he would, in fact, be marrying Anna, Hugh returned to his chambers. The room had an ornate carpet that dampened the sound of his footsteps as he paced, and the fireplace roared against the far wall. It was warmer than his castle, though he found that he preferred the comfort that the Highlands provided.
His stomach growled as if to say that it too missed the Highlands. Since he wasn't invited to dine, Hugh assumed that he'd arrived after dinner. That, or Lord Windham was still unhappy about his showing up unannounced.
While he wasn't afraid of summoning his escort or calling for the butler to bring him something, Hugh wasn't a fool. He knew that his wild hair and kilt, along with his demeanor, scared his hosts' staff.
After his meeting with Anna and her father, Hugh was surprised to see that he was the one to encourage the wedding. He'dmentioned something about his daughter's reputation several times. Hugh knew about how meticulous one must be in looking after one's public image.
Life was so much simpler before me reputation mattered. Though I cannae say I miss the constant battle for survival.
It had been difficult for him to grow up without his father. After he died when Hugh was five, Hugh had appointed himself the protector of his family. Money had been scarce, and some days they had barely enough. Tending to his image was preferable to worrying about whether or not his mother and siblings had enough to eat.
The hunger he felt now was nothing like the hunger that haunted him through childhood. It was easy to ignore, though it brought back memories of starvation. The things it did to the body were not easily forgotten.
He knew, without a doubt, that his experiences with starvation were why he found Anna so irresistible. The curves of her body spoke of a well-fed life. When he looked at her, he could only think of comfort. If she were tiny, he was sure he'd only see starving bodies in her.
It wasn't just her figure that Hugh found attractive. The features of her face were soft, making his hands ache to touch. And the way she spoke, the raw honesty she'd given him, was intoxicating.
He'd never done much by way of courting women, but that didn't mean he wasn't aware of the strangeness of the territory. His own brother had fallen for a woman whom his family knew to be dishonest. The men who served under him at Castle McDonald all had their own stories of their lovers being anything but forthright. Still, it seemed that all of them were enchanted by these ladies.
While they'd met because of Anna's attempted deception, it had been clear that she regretted her actions. To Hugh, that spoke more to her character than anything else. A woman who was able to admit her mistakes meant more to him than looks, though it wasn't as if Anna was lacking there either.
In this situation, the arrangement he'd proposed seemed only to get better and better with each passing revelation. From the looks of this home, Anna's dowry would be sizable as he'd initially assumed, though he still needed to consult with her father about the details. Marrying for looks and love was an idea that he'd thrown aside when he'd accepted the Lairdship, but now he could see that he was getting that anyway.
She doesnae want me, though. That might take a wee bit of convincin'.
Eventually, night settled firmly over the manor. Candlelight cast warm, flickering shadows into the corners of his chambers, while the fire in the hearth bathed the room in a golden glow. Outside, he heard nothing—not even the staff. At last, it seemed the right moment to venture out and seek dinner in the kitchens.
Ach, but first I have to find me way there.
Anna searched through the pantry, looking for something small to snack on. Dinner had been light, delivered to her in her room. And, while it had been delicious, it was far from filling. Her attempts to sleep had been thwarted by a low-level hunger.
"Just a little something," she murmured, frowning at the dry ingredients. "Perhaps some plain bread, then."
"Bread?" Hugh's voice replied, making her jump at being caught here.
"You frightened me," she said as she spun around, her hand clutched to her breast. "I was not expecting anyone else to be in the kitchens so late."
"Aye, nor did I," he said, amusement dancing across his handsome face. "Though I cannae say that I'm complainin' about the company."
His words made Anna blush, which she covered by fetching a loaf of bread. Then, she procured butter and cheese from the cold slab in the pantry. By the time she'd spread the food between them, her face felt less hot, though still warm.
"Here," she murmured, clearing her throat. "We can share."
