Still, at his question Elayne stiffened once more, going perfectly still for a few moments. When she regained her wits, she said, “I dinnae think that is any o’ yer concern.”
As amusing as it was to watch her squirm, Dunn couldn’t help but fear she would end up falling off his horse, too, so he didn’t tease her any further. Instead, he made sure to ride at a steady, quick pace, so they could stay out of the storm and avoid getting drenched before arriving at the castle.
It struck him as odd, though, that she was so shy, so seemingly inexperienced. As odd as it was, it was also alluring. Elayne was so different from him, like no one he had ever met before, and that drew Dunn to her like a moth to a flame.
Perhaps by the end of this, he would be the one begging for a kiss.
Macgillivray Castle was just as Dunn had expected, large and imposing, the grey stones matching the color of the sky during the storm. They had managed to avoid the worst of the rain and they had also caught up with Elayne’s horse, so the two of them rode in separately through the gates, Dunn looking around at the unfamiliar place.
There weren’t many people in the courtyard save for the guards, the servants surely staying inside in preparation for the weather. There was a man, though, standing by the doors who didn’t look like a guard or a servant. He was older, in his mid-forties if Dunnhad to guess, with dark hair and blue eyes, bearing a passing resemblance to Elayne.
When the two of them dismounted, he expected Elayne to guide him to the servants’ quarters, but instead she took him to the doors, where she greeted the man.
“Where are yer guards?” asked the man in lieu of a greeting. “An’ who is this?”
Guards? Why would Elayne have guards? So I was right the first time I met her!
“They didnae come,” said Elayne. “I thought perhaps they were caught up in the storm an’ they didnae make it, so I left.”
“On yer own?”
“Well… with Dunn.” Elayne grabbed his arm and dragged him closer as if to present him to the man. “Faither, this is me husband.”
Faither? Who is this lass?
Dunn’s expression must have mirrored that of the man’s, he thought, the two of them looking at each other with the same kind of confusion. If there was one thing Dunn knew, it was that Elayne was no maid, no matter what she had led him to believe. Was this man one of Laird Macgillivray’s advisors? Had Dunn just agreed to help Elayne ruin an advantageous marriage?
Judging by the murderous rage in her father’s eyes, he could only guess that was indeed the case. In those few seconds, his face had been contorted with fury, eyes almost bulging out of his head as he looked at the two of them, as if he could hardly suppress his desire to kill them both.
“Ye fool,” her father said through gritted teeth as he reached for Elayne’s arm, his fingers wrapping like a vice around it. A whimper tumbled past Elayne’s lips, one that she managed to suppress, and Dunn couldn’t help but wonder how many times her father had grabbed her like this; how many times he had caused her pain.
He took a step forward, his palm itching to wrap around the hilt of his dagger. Elayne’s father was far from intimidated by the gesture, though, and he only scoffed at Dunn, scrutinizing him from head to toe.
“Did she tell ye she has a betrothed?” he asked. “Laird McCoy Rose is expectin’ her. It’s already been decided. Yer marriage is a sham.”
Laird McCoy Rose?
That was more than a simply advantageous union. Laird McCoy Rose was a powerful man, and he wasn’t going to agree to such a marriage unless he received something in return—something more than a beautiful bride. Dunn’s throat tightened as realization dawned on him, and he instinctively took a step back again, putting some distance between himself and the man.
This was not simply an advisor to the laird. Thiswasthe laird.
Elayne… what have ye done?
CHAPTER THREE
“How could ye dae this? Ye ken ye’re the only heir.”
Elayne swallowed around the knot in her throat. She had always known her father would be furious to know that she had married without his consent, which he would never give. She had known, and yet being faced with his wrath now was even more terrifying than she could have ever imagined, her heart beating fast, sending a rush of blood to her head.
She was instantly lightheaded, but forced herself to breathe slowly, to take control of the situation. From the corner of her eye, she could see the way Dunn’s eyes had narrowed as he looked at her and she couldn’t help but think that he was just as furious as her father for being deceived like that.
Was he going to back down from their deal? Was he going to leave Elayne to her fate, to her marriage with Laird McCoy?
Her father’s hand tightened around her arm, his fingers surely leaving bruises. It was nothing Elayne wasn’t used to, though, having grown up with his violence looming over her head. It was Dunn’s rage that was unpredictable, as she didn’t know him. Panic bubbled up inside her at the thought that he would leave her there to deal with this on her own, to save his own skin. It rendered her speechless, something her father was bound to take as a weakness.
“What use are ye tae me now?” her father said in a tone that sent a chill down her spine.
“We didnae mean tae ruin yer plans,” said Dunn calmly, though there was an edge to his voice Elayne hadn’t heard before. When she dared to meet his gaze, his anger was palpable, but then he reached for her, laying a warm hand on her shoulder. “This happened before Elayne received yer letter. She couldnae have kent of yer plans tae marry her tae Laird McCoy.”
