Finally, Gretna opened her mouth and Remy braced himself for her answer. “I donna know him, tis all.”
Remy narrowed his eyes, letting his true emotions bleed through the facade. “Tis not the answer I would have thought ye would have given.”
Her eyes flashed with fire and Remy felt it clear to his soul. “Wot do ye want from mah, Remy?”
What did he want from her? Remy wasn’t sure, but she felt right in his arms. He felt like she belonged to him and it terrified him. Could he stand aside and watch her take her vows with McCellan?
He would have to but, right now, she was in his arms and that was all that mattered. Remy pulled her closer to him, seeing the widening of her eyes. This wasn’t part of the dance, but he didn’t bloody care. “I donna wish tae fight with ye,” he told her, reaching out to tuck a stray curl behind her ear, his fingers brushing over the delicate shell. She shivered and a bolt of lust shot through him at what else he could get her to do under his touch.
She peered up at him. “Then wot do ye want, Remy Wallace?”
He couldn’t tell her. His throat suddenly went dry, the words stuck in his throat. He knew what he wanted and she was right in front of him, in his arms. He could easily sway her to his bed, but Gretna wasn’t an ordinary lass.
She was extraordinary and deserved far better than the likes of him in her bed, taking her innocence and ruining her chances at what she wanted in life, at finding the happiness and love she desperately craved for.
The song ended with a mournful sound and Remy pulled himself together, stepping back before they were seen as such.
“Wot I want,” he told her, “doesna matter, lass. Yer happiness is all that matters in this life.”
It was the truth. If she wasn’t happy here, he would take her away and face the wrath of the McCellan clan and Ian later. He knew that her brother would want her happiness as well. He would never force his sisters to wed anyone they didn’t wish to, which was why Gretna had still remained unwed.
Her lips parted. “Remy.”
“Gretna!”
They both turned to find James standing before them, his hands clasped behind his back. “There ye are. I’m glad ye decided tae rejoin the feast. It would have been lonely without ye.” He looked at Remy. “Ye are dismissed.”
Remy clenched his hands into fists and forced himself to step away from the couple, knowing that Gretna would be appalled if he started something on this night with her suitor. “Good evening.”
Gretna just dipped her head and Remy walked off, heading directly for some whiskey. He was going to need something strong to get through the rest of the evening.
It wasn’t long before he felt a touch on his shoulder, turning to find a buxom redhead standing next to him. “Yer with the Wallace lass, arena ye?”
He downed another whiskey before setting his glass on the table. “Aye.”
She gave him a saucy smile, her fingers brushing down the length of his arm. “I dinna know that ye were so handsome. Care tae dance?”
Remy looked out onto the dance floor, seeing Gretna in the arms of James, her attention on him. The old Remy would have suggested something more, like a visit to a shadowy alcove where he could draw out a husky laugh from his partner. He enjoyed pleasuring his partners, hearing their breathy sighs and his name on their lips.
“Aye,” he finally said, tearing his eyes away from Gretna and back to the lass. “A dance would be fine with mah.”
She held out her hand and led him out amongst the others, staking her claim on him as others watched.
Remy didn’t even bother to see if Gretna saw the dance or the ones thereafter.
9
Gretna woke the next morning with her head aching and her chest hurting. She dressed slowly, plaiting her hair into a simple braid and slipping on her shoes. James had informed her last evening that he would be tied up that morning in council sessions with his da, even offering to have someone show her around the estate, but Gretna had declined.
This morn, she wished for solace.
Pulling open her door, she made her way down to the great hall, snagging an apple from the table still laden with breakfast fare and headed outside. The sun was just starting to warm the day, taking the chill out of the air and Gretna took a bite of her apple as she walked through the arch, following a path that led away from the village and the keep. She wasn’t frightened that someone would attack her while she was alone, though her dagger was strapped to her thigh just in case. If she truly was going to be James’ wife, then his clan would have to get used to having her around.
Gretna snorted as she finished her apple and threw the core onto the ground, wiping her hands on her skirts. What startedout as such a hopeful journey here was now on the cusp of becoming exactly what she wanted.
So why didn’t she feel the excitement of becoming a wife, a future lady of the clan?
It was because of Remy, that was why. Their dance last night had been what she had dreamed about and not the one she had shared with James or the ones afterward. While James was a fine dancer as well, his touch didn’t enflame her. She didn’t feel the same giddiness as the conversation between them carried on, even after he led her back to the high table. It had been clear to Gretna that James was infatuated with her, but unfortunately, she didn’t feel the same and it bothered her.
