“Faither,” Ava shuddered. “Ye cannae make such a declaration.”
“I can, and I will.” Finley reached out and took her arm. “Ye forget something, Ava. I have watched Kai grow up. I have seen him go from a confident lad tae a rake, a cad, a man who would seduce any woman intae her bed just tae ruin her.”
“That isnae who I am!” Kai tried to run after them as Finley dragged Ava toward a horse. “Me laird, I am nae that man.”
Domhnall was there again. Whatever he said to Kai, he hissed it under his breath so quietly that Ava could not hear it. It had an effect though, making Kai fall limp and still.
“I ken exactly what sort of man ye are.” Finley turned to face him. “I willnae let me daughter be ruined by ye, nae when so much depends on her.”
“Laird MacKinnon.” Domhnall was serious as he stepped in front of Kai to face Finley. “We can talk about this a little more. Let us dae that at least.”
“There is nothing tae talk about. When yer child is grown, Laird MacLeod, then ye will understand the sense of responsibility one feels, how sometimes… one’s hands are tied. Our lives are bound.” He nodded firmly, his own expression sour. “I may have little liking fer giving Ava tae Laird Grant, but her word has been given, as has me own. We have nay other choice.” With these final words, he urged Ava onto her horse with a flick of his fingers.
“Faither –”
“Nae another word,” he spat.
A horn was blasted. It was the call to the soldiers to depart. Ava wanted to argue some more, to point out the unfairness of it all, but what would that serve when this was all her doing? Already her horse was trotting away, following the soldiers. Her father rode alongside her, taking hold of her reins to make sure she could not turn back.
“He is a man nae nearly so bad as ye think,” she hissed, turning back to look at Kai who stood like stone with Domhnall whispering madly in his ear.
“I ken who Kai is, Ava. He’s nae a bad man, but he’s nae an honorable one either. I will protect ye from any man who cannae give ye what ye deserve.”
Her eyes closed as tears prickled. She knew deep down what her father was referring to.
Laird Grant could give their whole family what theyneeded.It was not about what shedeserved.
We need money, and me marriage tae Laird Grant is the only way we can get it.
Lyla stood in the open gateway of the castle as Ava approached. She could see her sister had been crying as she stood in the fresh snow fall, dithering as she pulled furs tighter around her body.
Ava could only guess how her father had managed to break Lyla’s resolve not to tell where she had gone. Finley may have been a loving father, but he was also a laird. He knew how to shout well enough and Lyla felt things keenly.
“What did ye say tae her?” Ava asked her father as they both stepped down from their horses. Finley stretched his back, looking sore after the long ride. He wiped the snow from his face as he turned to her.
“I reminded her of duty. Of family honor. That ye are me daughter tae protect, Ava. As she also is. I can only dae that when I ken where ye two are.” With these final words, he walked into the castle. Lyla stepped out of his way gingerly, beckoning Ava toward her.
Ava left the horse in the care of a stable boy and ran toward her sister. They met under the portcullis and embraced tightly.
“I’m so sorry,” Lyla rushed to say in her ear. “I didnae mean tae tell, I didnae even say the words, but father guessed when I was evasive with his questions –”
“It doesnae matter, Lyla. Please, dinnae worry. Come, let us get inside. It is freezing out here.” She took Lyla’s hand and drew her back across the castle courtyard, heading to the keep. The snow now was coming down in a blizzard, whirling around them, so that the world had turned white.
By the time they reached the keep, they were both shivering, pulling their furs tight around themselves. They went to the sitting room where a warm fire had been made up. Lyla sat nervously in a chair nearby as Ava knelt in front of the flames, holding her hands out to be warmed by that heat.
“I can well imagine how father figured it out,” Ava whispered.
“He just asked me if ye had gone there. If ye had gone tae the MacLeod castle, and when I hesitated… he kenned.”
“It doesnae matter.” Ava urged once again, shaking her head. “I’m sorry, Lyla, I didnae want tae get ye involved in this. What must ye think of me?”
“Think of ye? Whatever dae ye mean?”
Ava felt the guilt swell in her body.
Shame. That is what I feel now.
“If I marry Laird Grant, then ye are safe. Father will have access tae Laird Grant’s fortune. We’ll have him as an ally, and ye’ll be safe. That’s what all of this was about in the first place, wasnae it?” Ava hung her head. “I’m so sorry, Lyla. I should be thinking of ye. I shouldnae be acting selfish.”
