Page 28 of Claimed Highland Brides

Daividh reared back, genuinely surprised that the laird would even think that. “O’ course not. What d’ye take me for?”

“I take ye for a man who finds my niece enchanting. Who seeks tae break up her advantageous union wi’ a guid man for ye’re own ends. Do ye deny this?”

“O’ course I do! I have nae ill intention. Simply the need tae see her happy.”

The McCormick pointed at the door. “Get oot o’ my study afore I am tempted tae throw ye oot o’ my castle.”

Daividh opened his mouth to protest but then, wisely, closed it again. He simply nodded and left, feeling his heart sink with despair. Fiona would marry the laird and go away to Glendale where Daividh would likely never see her again. Whatever Hunter chose to do with her once he had her, there would be no one to object.

The very thought had him gnashing his teeth.

I must do something!

He paced along the corridor, thinking hard as his feet carried him inadvertently to Fiona’s door. He came to a stop, staring at it, only just then realizing where his feet had taken him. Lifting a hand, he knocked softly on the door.

“Who is it?” Julieta’s voice called.

“’Tis I, Daividh Campbell.”

The door opened a sliver and Julieta’s head poked out. “What are ye doing here?”

“I need tae speak wi’ yer lady. Can ye tell me where she is?”

“I dinnae ken. Ye shouldnae be trying to talk to her on yer own, should ye? She is promised elsewhere.”

“Let him in, Julieta,” another voice called from inside even as Daividh opened his mouth to argue. The maid sighed but widened the gap in the doorway so that he could just slip through.

“If’n the laird hears o’ this we shall be in a world o’ trouble,” she grumbled to the room at large. Fiona sat in the high-backed wooden chair, a book in her lap, staring up at Daividh. He took his chance to look his fill, meeting her eyes boldly. She blinked a few times and looked away.

“What do ye want, Daividh?”

He looked to Julieta, wondering if he could ask her to leave but the manner in which she folded her arms and looked mutinous told him without words that that was a lost cause. He sighed with resignation and moved closer to Fiona.

“How is yer hand? Did he hurt ye?” He bent down and picked it up from her lap. There was a faint bruise around her wrist as if someone had gripped it too hard. Daividh growled deep in his chest.

“I am fine. Dinnae fash,” Fiona said quietly.

Daividh stepped backward and sat on the bed, letting his hands dangle off his knees and hanging his head in despair. “Ye’re nae fine. Please dinnae lie tae me. There are enough lies swirling aboot in this castle wi’out us adding tae them.”

She raised an eyebrow looking surprised. “I’m nae lying. He scared me a wee bit but he dinnae hurt me.”

Daividh raised his head to look her in the eye. “Why are ye marrying him? Why him and not...somebody else?”

She smiled sadly. “Do ye ken I asked my uncle that same question no too long ago? He said that marriage is aboot political alliances and protection, nae love or happiness. He believes Mr. Hunter will afford me the greatest protection.”

“Against whom?”

Fiona shrugged. “Other suitors I suppose. Greedy ones.”

Daividh violently expelled his breath through his nose, looking away from her. “What if he is the one who’s greedy? What if he is the one ye need protectin’ from?”

“My uncle would never put me in such a situation.”

Daividh shot to his feet and lunged forward. He picked up her wrist and shook it in her face. “He already has!” He stared bleakly at her, red-faced, a vein throbbing visibly in his temple. Fiona stared at him with wide eyes.

“Let me go,” she said.

He dropped her wrist at once and went back to sit on the bed, covering his head with his hands. “My apologies. I dinnae mean tae scare ye.”