“Is that how ye feel? Inferior to men and superior to women?”
“I have the decency to respect both.”
“When ye bundle me up like a thief and throw me in the back of yer carriage, was that ye showing me respect? Would ye nae have reasoned with me if I were a man? I dare say ye would have evenrespected me wishes. Ye daenae respect women; yer ego willnae let ye.”
He went still. It was as if she threw a bucket of cold water at his face. But instead of snapping at her, he sighed.
“I admit, I should have been more gentle with ye.” His voice was as sedate as his walk back to his chair. His legs seemed to give way beneath him, and he fell heavily, the upholstery hissing. “If ye are willing, I am willing to find a compromise.”
“Ah, what alternative can ye offer me, other than marriage?” She laughed incredulously. “We can find nay common ground when ye only have to lose what was never yers or gain everything. I lose either way. So tell me, what can ye offer me that I daenae already have, that ye didnae take from me?” she sighed. “I willnae continue this conversation, but ken that I will nay longer be docile. I am nae yer ward, and ye arenae me guardian. I will leave McGhee Castle the first chance I get, and that is final.”
“I willnae let ye do that.”
“How do ye intend to stop me? Will ye tie weights to me feet and lock me in me chambers? Even if ye do, how will I attend to me precious suitors?”
“I could always hold the marriage in proxy. I will find a good stand-in for ye.”
“Yer greed kens nay bounds.”
“I am nae greedy. I am doin’ this for us, why daenae ye understand?”
“Ye’ve stuffed yer ears with cotton! I daenae want this. Ye daenae ken what is best for me more than I do. I daenae need the money. I daenae care for it, and neither should ye. So tell me how wanting something ye daenae need isnae greed.”
“Ye daenae ken anything! Ye must have lived such a privileged life to be unable to understand that the world doesnae work the way ye want it to! Open yer eyes and look around?—”
He gesticulated widely, but she did not know what she was supposed to see.
“I am nae doing this for meself.” He let out a deep, exasperated breath and dragged his palm across his face. “Me faither was—the clan is barely surviving. The previous Laird mismanaged everything and left me to handle the mess. The clan needs the money to survive.”
“I am nae responsible for the clan’s well-being. I will never have sympathy for yer people.”
He cast a furtive glance at the door, dismissing her.
She scoffed and headed to the door, turning to shoot one last glare at him before she stormed out, slamming the door behind her in hopes of rattling his bones.
8
The next morning, Talia entered the Great Hall hours after breakfast, which she had opted to take in her room, where she would be safe from any embarrassment. She was half expecting it to be empty, but she found Darragh sitting at the head table, looking as grim as she felt.
She almost pitied him. There were dark circles under his eyes and stubble around his chin, as if he hadn’t bothered with his usual grooming. She wondered if perhaps her words had caused his disheveled state. He hadn’t even noticed her come in. That was how deep in thought he was.
She called to a footman and requested that tea be brought before she went to him, tray in hand.
“Did ye nae sleep well, me Laird?” she asked, drawing his attention.
She flushed as his eyes roamed over her face and then her body before returning to her face.
“I see ye at least put some effort into yer appearance today,” he commented. “‘Tis good, because I have arranged for a few more suitors to arrive today.”
She scoffed and rolled her eyes at his flippancy.
She had taken great care with her appearance that morning to hide the circles that had formed beneath her eyes from the lack of sleep, but rather than say anything kind, he insisted on infuriating her.
To think she had pitied him.
She set the tea tray down on the table with more force than she had intended and turned to leave.
“Since ye have nothing kind to say to me, I will leave,” she huffed, turning away from him.
