“And if I dinnae?”
His expression darkened, chilling her with the viciousness apparent in the lines of his face. “Then ye’ll nae like the consequences o’ yer failure.”
She scowled. “And ye think words like that will encourage me? Or that I’ll let ye touch me, husband or nae, until I’ve seen me braither safe with his wife and me faither?”
He laughed in her face, cruel glee in his expression. “Oh, ye’ll let me. More than that, ye’ll welcome me.” He rose again and stepped toward her, voice lowering. “And ye best think o’ how best tae please me, little girl, fer ye’re nae going tae see yer braither until the wedding’s been consummated and there’s an heir on the way.”
She glared at him, unwilling to be cowed or frightened. “Ye told me faither it would be directly after the wedding ceremony.”
“And why would I dae that?” He gripped her chin once more. “Nae, I’ll be keeping yer faither’s weakling o’ a son until after I’veensured I received everything I bargained fer. Including a proper virgin bride.”
She wrenched herself free, heedless of the pain it caused. “Ye would dare tae question me virtue, or me faither’s honor, when ye’re the one who kidnapped me braither tae force us tae yer will?” She spat at him. “’Tis nae wonder nae woman o’ any clan will wed ye voluntarily. Likely as nae, yer manhood is as twisted and ill-used as any sense o’ decency ye ever had! If there’s nae son out o’ this marriage, then I say the fault will be yers rather than mine!”
There was a gasp from one of the warriors behind her, but she’d no chance to guess which one before Oran stepped forward and whipped his hand across with blurring speed. The force of the blow numbed her cheek, split her lip and sent her staggering to the floor, her eyes watering.
Oran bent and dragged her head up. “I would have given ye the courtesy due tae a wife o’ the laird, but since ye’re determined tae act more like a foul-tongued fishwife, ye’ll be confined tae the tower until the wedding. Perhaps that will teach ye the manners yer own faither has failed tae.”
He released her and turned away. “Brutus, see her things are transferred tae the north tower, then stand guard over her. I’ll nae have the little harridan causing trouble or trying tae escape her duties or steal her braither away afore she’s properly wedded tae me.”
Then he walked away, leaving her on the ground nursing her throbbing cheek and bleeding mouth.
