“Ye cannae ken that, lass!” Sinclair boomed. “What gives ye the right tae allow her tae leave the keep!?”
“Am I not to be her stepmother?” Ellie shocked herself at her truthful speak. It was unlike her, yet she could no longer keep the words inside. Ellie did her best to keep her voice even and of normal volume, hoping by example, Sinclair would follow suit. The clansmen and women were starting to stare. Ellie did not want to be seen fighting with their Laird, but nor did she want to be seen as backing down from a challenge.
“Aye, perhaps in name, but nay in any way that really matters. Ye need tae be kenning yer place.”
“And what exactly is my place, my laird? Am I to be naething more than a bonny face tae sit next tae ye at the head table, never tae speak my own mind or have a thought as tae how a young lady is tae go about finding her place in this world?”
“Aye,” Sinclair replied. His voice was not as loud as before but still dangerous in its tone. “Ye were brought here tae be me bride, tae service me as I see fit. Ye ain’t tae go around fillin’ me daughter’s head with lofty ideas. Ye sit by me side and be bonny. Leave the raisin’ of me daughter to me.”
“Ye’ve done a fine job of it so far,” Ellie replied, barely trying to keep her words under her breath. She was taught to respect the laird of the clan and to never speak out of turn. But she had had enough. She didn’t know from what deep well of hidden emotion her brazenness came from, but she was no longer willing to allow him to speak of Jemina as if her thoughts and feelings meant nothing.
If Sinclair had his way, he would keep his own daughter locked up, never to experience the world outside the walls of the keep. He would prevent the lass from knowing love or affection. He would continue to lead her to believe that she was not the powerful, beautiful force to be reckoned with that Ellie knew she could be.
And what was worse, if he treated his own daughter that way, how, then, would he treat Ellie should she be unsuccessful and forced to wed him? She was sorry for Jemina, as well as herself. Yet, she was not going to take the dismissive abuse any longer without fighting back. Why was it that women were stuck to be trapped by the will of men?
“What did ye say tae me, lass?” Sinclair growled. Ellie felt her newfound resolve falter at the gravel in his voice. She squared her shoulders and, taking a deep breath, looked him right in his bloodshot eyes.
“I said, ye’ve done a fine job of it so far, my laird,” she replied.
“Ye think so, do ye?”
“Lady Jemina is a young woman now. She deserves some small amount of freedom to discover herself. She has been kept prisoner here in this keep. I think having an evening with the MacGuire lad is a good start.” Ellie crossed her arms, satisfied with her explanation. Sinclair’s face grew a shade of red Ellie was sure she had not seen in nature. His breathing grew ragged, and Ellie slowly took a step back out of his reach. Perhaps she miscalculated her answer. She did not think Sinclair was the type of man to strike a woman, yet she was unwilling to take any chances.
“MacGuire ye say?” Sinclair replied. Ellie quickly realized her mistake. How could she have been so foolish as to reveal who Jemina was with? Seeing no way to back out now, she decided to be truthful.
“Aye, the youngest MacGuire lad, Colin,” she replied. “The two shared a dance and some pleasant conversation at our engagement ball. The lad wished to treat Jemina to a meal before heading back to his own keep.” She feigned confidence she didn’t feel, but she honestly did not think she had done anything wrong. Jemina was becoming her own woman, and besides, how was Ellie to know that Sinclair was planning an underhanded deal involving the lad’s father? “At the time, I was unaware ye were keen on making the MacGuire yer enemy.”
“My enemy,” Sinclair let out a cruel laugh. “Of course ye didnae ken, Lass. In this world, we’re all enemies in one way or another.” He spread his arms wide and spun around dramatically. Ellie noticed most of the great hall had cleared, and for that, she was thankful. Some of the clan at least did not wish to see their laird condemn her. Yet, she could not help but notice that Aidam had entered the hall and stood against the back wall, his arms folded as he watched his uncle make a fool of her.
“And now ye have me daughter running around the countryside doin’ God kens what with a lad that she will be forced tae marry. Ye shouldnae have put yer bonny nose intae business where it didnae belong!” Sinclair’s voice grew gradually louder as he continued to mock and chastise her. Ellie flinched again. She had never been treated so, and now she did not know what steps to take. Tears began to well behind her eyes, but she would be damned before she would let Sinclair see her cry.
“I was only trying to help,” she muttered.
“Well, ken ye’ve made a mess I will hae tae clean up!” Sinclair looked over at Duncan, his body man. He was one of the few who had remained at the second table, but any kindness Ellie had thought Duncan had spared for her was gone as he gave his full attention to his Laird. “Go find me daughter and bring her back tae th’ keep. Drag her by her hair if ye have to. I’ll nay have her spend another minute alone with the MacGuire lad and chance ruining her reputation further. And you…” he turned to Ellie. “Ye are nay the lass’s mother. Nor will ye ever be.”
“What do ye mean? Are we nay to be wed?” Had Ellie accidentally stumbled upon a solution to her troubles? She tried to push away her anger in order to make room in her heart for a shred of hopeful excitement. She would not abandon Jemina, of course not, but if she had made such a grievous error allowing the lass some quality time with Colin MacGuire that it forced Sinclair to call off their engagement, she could not help but be slightly overjoyed. Perhaps Jemina could come and live with her at the MacAskill keep. They could be companions, friends even. Sinclair’s sinister laughter broke her from her thoughts.
“Lass, we are to be wed, of that, ye can be sure,” he said, through another round of laughter before turning serious again. “But I cannae have ye roaming th’ keep and getting into business ye dae nae understand, and that is beyond what ye will ever understand. I want ye to stay in your chambers until the weddin’, lass. It’s not a request ‘tis an order.”
Ellie could scarcely believe what she was hearing. She allowed the anger to bubble back up. “Ye can’t mean to keep me prisoner? You ken I dae nae want to marry ye! Ye ken I meant no harm in giving Jemina leave to the village. Yet ye mean to keep me held hostage? And what of meals? My chores? Jemina? What will your clan think of me? How will they ever respect me?” The words came out in a solid rush. Ellie could barely hold in the tears that threatened to fall. They were no longer tears of weakness or fear but instead hot, salty tears filled with her rage.
“ENOUGH!” Sinclair bellowed. “Ye will do as I say! NOW!” He stood and pointed toward the door to the main keep.
In an effort to save what little bit of her dignity was left, Ellie swiped furiously at her wet cheeks. She turned and ran toward the doors that led from the great hall. Aidam looked at her as if she were a wounded baby bird. Had she imagined it, or had he almost reached for her yet held himself back?
It is no matter,she thought, hearing Sinclair’s laughter behind her as she left.Let Sinclair believe that he won this battle, but with the way he treated me this evening…Her thoughts stopped as she approached her bedchamber, and a new determination set it. Ellie knew her choice had been made.
