Laird Bryden blinked slowly at her, like a cat. Then he gave a rough, disbelieving laugh.
In two paces, he’d closed the space between them, seizing her by the wrist and pulling her toward him. He stretched out his arm as if about to fold her into a tight embrace.
Skye squeaked in alarm.
“What are yedoing?” she cried, thrusting her hand out in front of her to prevent being crushed against his chest.
Her palm rested against him, mostly by accident. She could feel the thrum of his heart against her hand. Warmth slipped easily through the thin linen shirt, soaking into her. His body heat turned into a tingling sensation that crept up her arm, and she hastily dropped her hand.
Frantic, Skye glanced around at the silent soldiers and attendants surrounding them. Were they really going to stand there and watch their master take such liberties with a woman he’d just met?
Apparently so.
Nobody’s going to help me, then.
Clearing her throat, she lifted her chin, meeting his eyes squarely.
Show him ye arenae to be toyed with. Show him that ye can stand yer ground.
“That’s improper, as ye well ken,” she stated crisply. “I am the daughter, sister, and cousin of lairds. Any mischief done toward me while I am in yer care will have serious consequences. Watch yerself, sir.”
He just stared at her with that same disbelieving look in his eyes. At last, he cleared his throat, his tongue darting out to touch the corner of his mouth.
“Have ye lost yer mind, wife?” he said, his voice clear and entirely unmistakable, his fingers still curled around her wrist.
His grip was not tight or uncomfortable, but Skye had a feeling that if she tried to pull away, she would not manage it.
“I… What?” she stammered.
He wasnotreacting in the way she’d expected.
“Ye heard me. Have ye gone mad? Do ye truly think that ye can play such games? The futures of our clans are at stake. For God’s sake, yer cousin is on the brink of declaring war. He’s wild with fury, and I have no answers for him.”
Skye blinked up at him. Was it possible they were having two entirely different conversations? Nothing of what he had said seemed to have anything to do with whatshehad said, or had anything to do with their conversation at all.
“What are ye talking about?” she managed.
He barked out a short, mirthless laugh. Abruptly, he stepped forward, his hand lifting. She flinched, not sure whether he was going to seize her chin or deliver a slap.
Instead, he gently brushed the curve of her cheek with his thumb. It stung where he’d touched. She must have had a scratch or a cut there.
“I burned down four villages on the shore looking for ye, wife,” he whispered, more tenderly than the situation called for. “Are ye hurt? Hungry? Thirsty? I’ll find somewhere quiet for ye to rest, and ye can tell us what happened. I have questions, but they can wait until ye are more yerself.”
She gave a faint, strangled cry, jerking her chin away from him. He dropped his hand as if stung.
“Are ye mad?” she hissed. “Ye cannae put yer hands on an unmarried woman like that, let alone a laird’s sister. Are ye trying to ruin this treaty before it even begins?”
He blinked. “What?”
“And… And why are ye calling mewife? This is our first meeting, and we arenae even officially betrothed!” She gave a brief, scoffing laugh. “Ye cannae possibly be so full of yerself. Do ye believe that I am yers already? I would like to return to me cousin now. Creighton will protect me, and we can talk under his watch.”
She turned to go, fully expecting him to release her. After all, he’d have to, wouldn’t he? The treaty was important. The MacColls and the Brydens needed an alliance.
Then why is he acting so strangely?
Laird Bryden was said to be a good laird and a clever, insightful man. So why on earth was he acting so strangely?
He didn’t release her. However, he shifted, and the side of his finger brushed against the inside of her wrist, hovering over her pulse point.
