She was sure that everyone in attendance tonight would have plenty to say about the choice she had made, but she couldn’t find it in her to care much. Let them think what they wanted. If doing this meant that her brother could finally have the life she knew he so deserved, then she would do it.
Isobel stood just outside the alcove she and her brother had been talking in. She could not see Arthur, who had no doubt taken off so that he would not have to witness his sister riding out with a man like Lachlan Fraser.
She eyed Innes for a moment, poised as she was poisonous, a cup of wine dangling from between her slender fingers. Innescould not help but wonder, though she knew Isobel had been the one to reject Laird Fraser, if she was rather jealous knowing that his attentions seemed to have turned to someone else, however briefly.
“I suppose he’ll be taking my leftovers home now,” Isobel remarked.
She brushed past Innes, a little closer than she needed to. Her wine cup caught on the ridges in the wall, sending a spray of dark liquid over Innes’ lilac dress. Isobel lifted a hand to her mouth.
“Oh, sorry,” she remarked.
But there was not an ounce of apology in her voice. Innes felt tears prick her gray eyes, and she blinked them back swiftly. She had to believe, somehow, that her brother saw a side of Isobel that was worthy of carrying on the family name. She trusted him to do what was best, and she could only hope that he would not be fool enough to question this choice that she was making now.
Outside, Lachlan was waiting for her. A smirk curled up one corner of his lips as he laid eyes on her, like he had known all along that she would join him.
“Lady Anderson,” he remarked, ducking his head low.
She almost laughed.
How ridiculous that this man who had backed her into such a corner now played the gentleman.
He opened the door to the carriage and gestured for her to get inside. She could not hesitate any longer, no matter how much she wished she could. Without looking back, she set her face and made her way towards Lachlan, brushing past him to get into the carriage.
But, before she could vanish inside, she felt a sudden grip on her arm. She turned to him, about to protest, but the look on his face knocked all the air from her lungs.
“Very noble of you to sacrifice yerself for yer brother,” he remarked, his eyes darkening. “Let’s see how long yer courage sustains you when I have you to myself.”
She pulled herself away from him, clambering past him into the carriage, his words ringing in her ears. She could not tell if going with him was a mistake or not.
But now it was too late to worry about such things. She sank down into the leather seat, and Lachlan moved opposite her, slapping the top of the carriage to pull it away from the MacFadden feast. By this time, the feast would have reached its peak. People would be dancing and laughing, maybe even meeting the love of their lives.
And Innes cast one last look behind her, at the remains of what had once been her old life, and bit back a lump in her throat.
Chapter Two
It was late at night when the Fraser Keep appeared in the distance, but, even from what she could make out in the dim light, Innes could not contain a shudder.
It looked like something crafted by… well, a madman.
Turrets jutting up at strange angles, half of the wall crumbled above the gate, giving way in the weird bluish moonlight. The horses slowed as the carriage was brought to a halt, and, a moment later, guards pulled back the gates.
They made their way up the sloping hill towards the courtyard of the Keep, and Innes did her best to keep her face straight, as she had done the entire journey. She knew that this man could misinterpret any emotion she showed, and she would rather not give him reason to prove that his title was well-earned.
They drew to a halt just outside the archway that must have led to the main hall. He pushed open the door and held a hand out for her with little ceremony. Without thinking, she took it—she did not know this terrain well, and stumbling would only make her feel more ill at ease.
She stepped on the cold, uneven ground, worn away from the hooves and feet that had walked there before her. A few guardshad gathered at the door, along with what looked to be a handful of maids, all of them eager to attend to whatever it was their Laird was to ask for.
Or perhaps too fearful of what he might do if they didn’t.
He moved to the archway, his expression unreadable. Was he triumphant? Glad that his scheme had paid off? Or had he not imagined that she would go through with it, his heart still set on Isobel in some way?
He turned to her, hands clasped behind his back.
“Ye’ll be taken to yer chambers. And ye’ll stay there until…”
He cast a look up and down at her, as if laying eyes on her for the first time. She clasped her hand over the wine stain on her dress, the first time she had thought to do so.
“Until I decide what to do with you.”
