Page 16 of Never Kiss a Highlander

Finn shivered for a moment. Life with Alison would most likely be difficult, but he knew this was the result of their actions.

“Aye, my laird. ‘Tis my privilege.”

He swore the laird snorted. “Since we are all set for a wedding tomorrow, prepare yerself to stand before the priest in the morning.”

Of course that made sense, it was just that it all happened so fast he didn’t have time to think about it.

“Aye, laird.”

“Go tell one of the servants to fetch my daughter. And then return.”

Finn did as he was told, then returned to the solar.

If it had been possible for the floor of the stable to open up and drop her through, Alison would have paid any price. That thought kept going through her mind as she paced in her bedchamber, going back and forth, the skirts of her gown swishing as she turned. What a mess!

Yet, deep down inside, she knew there was very little, if any, sorrow in her predicament.

Would her da dismiss Finn? Would The Sinclair break the betrothal agreement? Or given the lack of regard Archie Sinclair had for her—how little he actually cared—there was a good possibility that he would just shrug and continue with the wedding.

The wedding that she now knew she could not go through with. Just the slight bit of passion she’d experienced with Finn told her she could not have passion-free marriage. She might not want to fall in love, but she would need more of what Finn had done to her.

It had been almost two hours since the catastrophe. She was anxious to know what was going on, but at the same time she didn’t wish to face any of the men who had walked in on them.

What were they all doing in the stable, anyway?

A soft knock drew her attention. She opened the door to Brenda, looking wide-eyed at her. Apparently her disgrace had been spread around the keep. “Yer da wishes to see ye in his solar.”

The muscles in her stomach tightened and she nodded. The walk to her da’s solar felt like she was going toward her execution.

She was relieved to see only her da and Finn in the room. Da sat behind his desk, his arms resting on the wooden surface. Finn stood as she entered, then sat in a chair in front of the desk. At least she was not going to be given her punishment and lecture in front of all the men who had been in the stable.

Her da took a deep breath. “There will be a wedding tomorrow, as planned, daughter.”

She jumped up. “Nay, Da. I can’t marry Archie Sinclair. I will jump from my window if ye make me.”

He shook his head. “Ye can stop the dramatic threats, Alison. Ye will be marrying Finn Mackay here.”

She looked over at Finn who stared straight ahead, not looking at her.

“I doona think he wants to marry me, Da.”

Her da waved his hand in dismissal. “It doona matter. He took advantage of ye. The Sinclair has withdrawn the betrothal agreement and the family is packing up to leave as we speak.”

“As much as I willna marry Archie Sinclair, I doona understand why they would break the agreement since he showed up for his wedding with his mistress!”

“Ye agreed to it, daughter.”

“Aye, and I was a fool.”

Finn leaned forward toward her da. “May I have a private word with yer daughter, my laird?”

He placed his hands on his desk and pushed himself up. “Aye. But the door will remain open.”

Alison flushed and tamped down the desire to point out that the damage to her reputation had already been done. And witnessed by a group of men, and most likely spread throughout the keep. And soon the entire Mackay clan would know.

Once her da left the room, Finn turned toward her and took her cold hands in his warm ones. “I am sorry for this mess, Alison.”

“Since it keeps me from marrying that horrible mon, I can’t say that I’m sorry. However, I doona wish to marry ye. Not anyone. Now that the agreement is broken, why can’t we just forget it all and let me be?”