His father glared at him. “I gave me word, lad. Accepted her on one condition—that she would know the seriousness of her transgressions against her laird and father. He banished her to the farthest reaches of the Highlands for a reason. Not to reward her. For what man in his right mind would lock away such a comely daughter? Men would ride from the four corners of the Highlands to offer for her. Aye?”
Adam glanced at her and shook his head. “I willna answer that, Father.”
“Well, I am no’ blind.”
“Would ye accept the word of me sisters?” she asked, wanting to be heard.
The laird folded his arms. “Nay. I will keep me promise, lass. Ye are to be taken to the old tower where ye will stay during the day. I doona mind if ye walk along the old gardens behind it, but ye are forbidden to enter the great hall or interact with my maids or guards. However, at night, once the innocents are abed, ye may come here to warm yerself by the hearth or to eat.”
“Father!” Adam interceded. “She is not a criminal.”
“Nay? I hold in me hand a missive that claims she practices dark magic. Something I willna expose the women and children to. If she is pure, the Almighty will help her. But until then…”
“I doona understand. What chance will she have with our people if ye isolate her and treat her as a condemned witch?”Has my father really lost all sense of humanity? Charity? Kindness?Adam didn’t know the man who sat before him, the once beloved laird of Clan MacKay. No, this was a bitter old man, hell-bent on spreading his bitter suffering to others. Suffering of his own making. Well, Adam would be damned if he allowed Kali to be his latest target! “This is unheard of, Father.”
The MacKay took a deep breath. “I have given me orders, Adam. Take her to the tower. The maids have prepared a comfortable chamber with everything she requires.”
Kali didn’t waste any time and turned to open the door.
Adam frowned at his sire.
“Wait,” the laird said, “have ye nothing else to say, lass?”
She licked her lips and gazed at him. “Only this. Why go to all the trouble to bring me here if ye were going to lock me away? My father could have done the same to me at home.”
Adam cast his father another disapproving look before he followed Kali out of the solar and down the passageway. Before they reached an open area where people would see her, he touched her arm to stop her.
“Lass, let us speak privately.”
She halted with her back to him. “Did we not just do that?”
Adam closed his eyes and swallowed down the resentment he felt for his sire. Kali didn’t need to hear about the ever-growing discontent that plagued the MacKays. However, he would not remain completely silent about it. She deserved to know he cared enough to make her comfortable in his home. “My father is unreasonable. To be honest, I’ve never seen him act like this.” He scratched his head and sighed. “I am ashamed.”
“I am never surprised by what fathers do to their children. ’Tis said they are to act on our behalf, to protect us from the evil in this world, but all I have ever experienced are patriarchs who are selfish.”
His heart hurt as he thought about what kind of life she must have had. Did her sire beat her? Abuse her sisters? He could only guess at this point, for what right did he have to question her? He didn’t know the lass. And though his father had rushed to judgment, Adam refused to do the same. Let her actions speak. Eventually, she’d drop her guard, and her true nature would show. No one could maintain a false character for long. And as much as he wanted her to be a real witch, for it would be easier to despise Kali than admire her, Adam knew in the deepest recesses of his heart that the woman standing before him was everything right and beautiful about the world.
So he would be kind and patient.
“I believe yer trunk has already been delivered to yer chamber,” he offered.
“Thank ye.”
“I will visit when I can.”
There was a flash of hurt in her eyes, but then it disappeared, replaced by emptiness. “I doona need yer pity.”
“I doona pity ye, Kali. I am offering friendship, someone ye can talk to when ye are lonely.” He closed the distance between them and risked lifting her chin with his fingers. “’Tis a genuine offer.” And an excuse to have an opportunity to gaze upon her rare beauty again. He felt drawn to her. She took in everything, not missing the slightest detail.
Adam swallowed his desire to hold her in his arms and offer comfort. Instead, he raised his hand in a gentle welcome gesture.
She stepped back and considered his hand. For a brief moment, her fingers touched his and she drew a deep breath—obviously affected by their connection. “There is nothing for us to talk about. Me father retaliated against me because I refused to marry Lord Nelson. Imagine forcing yer Scottish child to wed yer greatest enemy! ’Tis nothing short of the greatest insult a father could give his daughter. Now I am here, hundreds of miles from home, away from me sisters, and away from everything I know and love.”
Adam forced down his disappointment. She had every reason to distrust him, even to despise him and his father. He couldn’t forget the look on her pretty face when he’d found her in the village market, her smile and carefree manner, as if she was experiencing life for the first time. He’d like to see her smile that way again. He’d like to be the reason for her smiles.
“Adam?” she said, interrupting his thoughts.
“Aye, lass?”
