The reprobation was clear, and Sheena’s chin jutted out indignantly. “I’ll no’ claim an intimacy with you that isna true, even to protect myself. There is only one solution here, Sir Jamie.”
“To let you return to Aberdeen? Nay, there is another solution.”
He seemed more furious than ever, and began pacing the floor, Sheena watching him nervously. After an eternity, he spoke very quietly.
“We will be wed.”
He turned to look at her, seeing confusion cross her face, then anger. She couldn’t know that the words were just as hard for him to say as for her to hear.
“Will we?” she demanded, incredulous. Did his arrogance have no end? “How will you manage that? I have no intention of agreeing.”
“We will be wed!” he repeated coldly.
Anger fled, replaced by uncertainty. Was there some way he could force her? Something she hadn’t thought of?
“Just last evening you spoke again of handfasting. What has changed your mind?”
“Handfasting willna make you willing, or haveyouchanged your mind?” he countered.
“But you said you wouldna marry an untried lass.”
The reminder only fueled his anger, and he answered cruelly. “That applied to a maiden. We both know you’ve been tried. And since you havena taken your life over it, you must have found it to your liking. ’Twas a frigid wife I wasna wanting, you see. You’ll no’ be that, will you?”
Sheena caught her breath, her cheeks flaming, and retaliated just as sharply. “You mean to rape methen? You think that will make me agree to marry you?”
“Nay, lass.” He smiled coldly. “We will be wed soon, so I can wait to have an obedient wife, willing to please in every way.”
“Never!” she screamed, but he turned his back on her and walked out. Her screams became louder. “You canna force me! Do you hear?”
She sat down on the bed, her head in her hands. She was right back where she’d started, terrified of marrying a Highland chief, recalling all the stories about him, about his wife, his raids. She heard Niall saying that he’d beat her and rape her and make her suffer all her life. And she knew that was just what he meant to do, make her suffer. His cold fury proved that. There had been no heartfelt declaration, no talk of love. Lust was ruling him, and, in the end, lust would make them both suffer.
Chapter 27
Soon after Jamie left her, two men escorted Sheena to a chamber near Jamie’s. She didn’t object, for she wouldn’t have slept at all with the door to the tower room broken. Her new room didn’t have an inside lock, but it wasn’t locked from the outside, either. The two men didn’t go away. They were there all night, and the next morning, they followed her to the hall. They were there to guard her. They stuck to her for two days. On the third day, as she sat at the table with Jamie and Colen, eating porridge and cream, she began worrying about Jamie’s attitude. He was too calm. Indifferent. Aye, indifferent described him perfectly. Where before he hadn’t been able to keep his eyes off her, now he never looked her way. Could she hope it was over, that he had given up? Or was he keeping her in suspense? If he had some plan, what was he waiting for?
The man who ran into the hallbefore the meal was finished received everyone’s attention. Visibly upset, he stopped at the laird’s table, a look of utter disbelief on his face.
“A word, Sir Jamie. Quickly!”
“You may speak freely, Alwyn,” Jamie sighed. “You are always making too much of minor incidents.”
“You’re no’ going to believe it, Sir Jamie,” Alwyn gasped. “But I swear every male Fergusson alive is outside our gate.”
Sheena blanched, swallowing quickly before she choked. Her eyes riveted on Alwyn. Her kin, here? All of them outside the castle? But she was inside! They would attack, not knowing she was there!
“So this is how you settle it, Jamie. ’Tis a bit underhanded, if you ask me.” Colen’s disapproving voice broke through Sheena’s panic. His meaning was not quite clear until she looked at Jamie. He was smiling at her, such a self-satisfied smile.
Sheena gasped. There being no point in pretending any longer, she said simply, “How long have you known?”
“No’ long, m’dear,” Jamie said. “I had a visitor while you were sojourning with Jameson. Alasdair MacDonough—I believe you know him? He had much to say about the betrayal of his bride-to-be.”
“But you had never seen…how could you know?” Sheena demanded.
“We can discuss that later.” Jamie’s smile deepened as he got up from the table. “Right now, Idinna want to keep your father waiting.” He signaled to her guards and ordered sharply, “Take the lady to her chamber and see she stays there. She’s no’ to leave it for any reason, you ken?”
Her arms were gripped, gently but firmly, yet she couldn’t just let them lead her away. All manner of horrible visions flashed through her mind…her kin slain, her father, her brother….
“Jamie!” she cried, stopping him as he turned to leave. “You must tell me what you plan. Please!”
