Page 17 of Never Kiss a Highlander

He leaned back and blew out a breath. “‘Tis no’ possible, lass. Yer da would ne’er allow it. Plus there is the matter of my honor.”

“Yer honor? Why does it always come down to what affects the mon? Da says I agreed to the betrothal agreement, but I was verra much pushed into it. Now that it is broken, I would prefer to remain single and live my life the way I want to. No mon will have me now. I am free.”

“Nay, lass. I want ye. And it’s not only a matter of honor. As long as ye do what you’re supposed to do, we can get along quite well.”

“What I am supposed to do? Ye mean what ye tell me what I’m supposed to do?”

“Aye. As yer husband, there are certain things I canno’ allow ye to do.”

“Like leave the castle walls, doona ride anywhere without yer permission?”

He nodded. “And stay away from the lists.”

She actually growled. The benefit of him ordering her about is what caused her dislike of him and would no’ diminish. At least she had no cause to worry about falling in love with the arrogant oaf and getting her heart broken.

Rather than hitting him over the head with something heavy, she stood and took a deep breath. “I am retiring for the night, Mr. Mackay. I will see ye tomorrow morning in time for me to receive my life sentence.”

He rose and reached out as she swept by him, but she pulled her skirt close to her body and left the room.

“Ach, life would be so much better with no men in it,” Alison whispered through gritted teeth.

Chapter Seven

No sooner had he left The Mackay’s office than his two brothers and cousin stopped him as he headed into the great hall, which was now busy with the Sinclairs packing up to leave.

Good riddance.

Robin threw his arm over his shoulder. “Come to the bedchamber I’ve been assigned to for a wee visit.”

“Nay, Helena must be sleeping by now.”

He pulled him along. “As Chieftain, I was given a bedchamber with a sitting room.”

Craig held up a jug of whisky. “I think ye can use some of this.”

His cousin, Logan, smirked. “We can all use some.”

Once they were settled on chairs in Robin’s sitting room with drinks in their hands, Craig said. “I guess we ken now why ye were out of sorts since we arrived.”

Finn tossed the drink down and ran his hand over his hair. “The only good thing about this mess is Lady Alison willna have to marry Archie Sinclair.”

“The only good thing?” Logan said, refilling Finn’s glass. “Ye’re getting a bonny wife who ye seem to care about.”

“And has a hard time keeping yer hands off,” Robin added.

Finn stood and placed his hands on his hips. “Part of the betrothal agreement between Archie Sinclair and Lady Alison was he was allowed to keep his lemman who would continue to share his bed after they married. All Lady Alison was going to be to the bastard was a brood horse.”

“Surely ye jest!” Craig said.

“Nay. Ye might not have noticed but the woman with them was her.”

“He brought his mistress to his wedding?”

“Aye.”

Robin blew out a low whistle. “I’m thinking we need to keep our eye on the Clan Chief. For him to make such a poor decision regarding his own daughter, I doona feel a lot of confidence in his future judgments.”

“I think losing one son after another affected him more than any of us realized,” Craig said, swirling the brown liquid in his mug.