“Ye shouldnae force yerself tae eat what ye cannae stand.”
Grace nodded, briefly catching Duncan’s eyes. They were tilted at the corners. Mischievous and bright. He had the guts to laugh. Grace opened her mouth to jab him with a witty comeback, then remembered where they were. She lowered her gaze to the broth Emily passed, grateful for their kindness.
It was ingrained in their blood, after all.
Emily leaned to the Lady Fiona, “Was she nae supposed tae be assigned chores?”
Grace’s mouth dropped. Her face filled with rage, which she transferred to the meat, jabbing it mercilessly with her fork.
Lady Fiona gave a light laugh, “She has been through a lot dear, she should rest.”
At the lady’s words, a part of Grace’s anger diluted. By then, her meat was a pitiful mess.
“Aye, but I dinnae understand why it has tae be at this table.”
“She is me guest,” Duncan intoned from across the table, eliciting surprised glances from those around him. Grace turned into a warm puddle, fighting back her smile. She straightened her back and focused on her food.
She ate, for she was famished, but she couldn’t help thinking about her father and the fact that she was sharing food with those who killed him made her feel sick.
Although there was no further comment from Emily, she had not eaten one morsel. Grace, however, finished her broth, took a few morsels of the chicken and had some fruit. She found that once she tasted the broth Sheena had given her, it was hard to resist the rest. And shewasstarving.
Just as the meal ended, the two lairds rose, Fergus with effort. Laird Ian watched him patiently. Then he raised his glass, clinking his spoon on it for attention. The hall went silent. Laird Ian placed a hand on his daughter’s back.
Expectation sparkled in Emily gaze, causing all the food Grace ate to swirl dangerously in her gut. Duncan’s expression was blank, but he would not look at her.
What is happening?
Ian spoke first, “We are glad Duncan has returned in victory. Once more, congratulations, warriors.” The hall exploded with cheers.
“Hear! Hear!”
“To commemorate such a happy day,” he continued once it died down, “we would like to announce the marriage alliance between Emily and Duncan! A marriage that will strengthen our clans an’ draw our families closer. To the couple!” he raised his glass and clinked with Laird Fergus, who nodded approvingly at his words. “I have kenned Fergus since we were bairns, as Bryce and Duncan and our fathers before us. We have shared peaceful borders and now, with the threats of battle and separation, this marriage will create the perfect alliance that will guarantee none of us have to fear the loss of our lands.”
Grace’s vision darkened as her heart dropped. Another thunderous cheer but it came from a distance. She cursed herself and him, over and over and over again. Under the table, she allowed her nails to bite into her palms. Lowering her heard, she blinked fast against the tears prickling behind her eyes.
She could not.Absolutely not.
Her stupid heart. She’d expected this right? It was her own stupid fault for trusting him. It was like a double blow in one day. Grace hurt in places she would never heal. Knowing what she did, she could not even run.
As she berated herself, Emily’s chair scratched back. She went around the table. Most of the people in the room had stood to congratulate them. She raised her head once, to see Emily standing beside him. Her chest bled, because those two made the perfect image. A cold beauty next to a fiery one. However, she did not look directly at him.
When the torturous dinner came to an end, Grace mumbled something about a headache due to her injury. No one was paying attention to her anyway, so she slipped out. It was not even a lie. Her head throbbed like it was on the verge of splitting open.
She almost ran to the door. Out in the hall, her chest caved in and out as she sought a release from pain in her heart.
A maid saw her standing there and asked if she was alright, her face was extremely pale. “I am. Nae, thank ye.”
“Are ye certain? Should I bring up tea fer ye?”
She was being too obvious. Grace stood to her full height and managed to make it to the door of the chamber she had been assigned when someone grabbed her hand. She knew who it was without even turning. The callous digits and her reaction to them were distinctive.
“Let me go,” she said quietly, without turning. She held the doorknob with her other hand.
Duncan tightened his hold. “Wait, this wasnae me plan.”
His words made it worse. She wrung her wrist from him and wheeled around. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? All that time, ye flirted with me, seduced and even…” she swallowed and jabbed a finger into his chest. “Ye kenned. Ye were tae be married, why did ye have tae… tae…”
Take me heart.She would not give him the satisfaction of knowing that. She bit back her words.
