Somehow, she doubted that it was going to be easy.
The chirping of a bird drew her attention, and she turned her head to see the culprit sitting on the ledge of the window beside her. When it noticed her interest, it flew away, giving her an unfettered view of the room across the window.
It was masculine and sparsely furnished, indicating that its occupant was most likely a man, but the heavy broadsword that hung on the wall helped identify him—the Laird.
It was the Laird’s room.
Emily felt her composure unravel as she understood what this meant.
The Laird’s room was next door, and with how uncomfortable he made her, the idea of him sleeping so close disturbed the tranquility she had found in her new sanctuary.
She wanted to blame the housekeeper, but Mrs. Donnelly most likely thought she was doing her a favor, since she was supposedly betrothed to the Laird.
If they were true lovers, this would have been a welcome development. Unfortunately, they were not, and now she had to live next door to a man who unsettled her simply by looking at her.
Who knew that a person’s gaze could evoke a deep sense of peace and something else? Something… different that she was not ready to examine closely.
Her desire to spend time with him did not make sense, especially since she didn’t know him well enough. But she had to. She could not afford not to.
A loud crash from the room beside hers startled her out of her thoughts.
She hurried out, closing the door tightly behind her before walking the short distance to check the other room.
It was just as beautiful as hers and similarly furnished, except that it was a lot smaller than hers. Elize was standing in the center, staring hard at the contents of the open chest before her.
Emily guessed that was the cause of the crash.
“Are the dresses nae to yer liking?” she teased, hoping to ease the tension in the air.
“They are beautiful, of course,” her sister replied, raising her head momentarily to fix her with a confused stare. “The only problem is that they daenae belong to me. All of this…” She spread her arms to encompass the room. “None of this is mine. What am I doing here? What is going on? Mrs. Donnelly said something about an upgrade. How? Why?” Her voice grew frustrated with every word.
“Perhaps if ye asked the question one after the other, I would have the time to answer,” Emily replied lightly.
“Ye can start by explaining what exactly is happening here and what we are offering in exchange?”
“Why are ye so sure that the Laird is demanding something in return?” she asked, deflecting.
“No one gives ye such gifts with nothing in exchange.”
Some people did. So many ladies born into nobility grew up with the world at their feet, everything done for them before they even breathed a word. People bent over backwards trying to please them.
But she and her sister were not like those people, and Elize knew it. She had also learned this the hard way, and she was just reminding her in case she had forgotten.
“He has asked nothing untoward of me, Elize,” Emily assured her. “Ye daenae need to worry.”
“Then he must be very dull,” Elize scoffed. “He doesnae strike me as the sort. So, tell me about the deal ye cut with him.”
Emily tried to argue, but the knowing look in her sister’s eyes stopped her in her tracks.
“He asked me to pretend to be his betrothed,” she admitted reluctantly.
“Tell me ye didnae accept,” Elize said, her mouth dropping open in surprise.
“I cannae, because I agreed,” Emily sighed, studiously avoiding her sister’s gaze. She might be the older sister, but Elize had a fearsome temper.
Sure enough, she did explode.
“I cannae believe ye, Emi,” Elize hissed, pacing up and down as if Emily had just proclaimed that she wished to take poison and die. “Ye are willing to shackle yerself to a man ye daenae ken. Why?”
