Page 32 of Claimed Highland Brides

“Aye,” Fiona said absently, back to being absorbed in watching Daividh. He was now walking slowly towards the castle, probably headed for the great hall for his meal. Fiona decided to go down as well and see if she could speak to him.

She turned and left her chambers, heading soundlessly to the ground floor of the castle and down the long dark corridor until she reached the great hall. Unlike in her own home, the laird did not join his subjects for their supper, but as a result, the hall was much louder and more raucous than Braenaird Keep had ever been. Diners picked up a plate at a long serving table and then had it filled from two cauldrons filled with stew. At the end of the table, they were given two loaves of bread each.

It wasn’t much for working men, which led Fiona to wonder if diminished circumstances had prompted her uncle to sell her to Laird Hunter. That would serve as a reasonable explanation for his actions. She could even forgive him for it if that was the case. When Daividh had told her that Laird Hunter had her uncle over a barrel, she’d wondered for a minute if he had chosen to sacrifice her out of some form of malice.

She spotted Daividh, sitting at the end of a bench, his food sitting untouched in front of him as he gawked at her, with narrowed eyes. Slowly, she made her way towards him and he stood up, coming to meet her in the middle. “What are ye doing here? Didn’t ye already have supper wi’ the laird?”

Her eyebrow rose in surprise. “How did ye ken tha’?”

He shrugged. “I have my means. What are ye doing here?”

“Looking for ye.”

He noisily expelled the breath from his nose in annoyance. “Why are ye looking for me?”

“I wanted to see if ye would help me.”

He stepped closer, leaning down to look her in the eye. “Help ye wi’ wha’?”

“To find out more about Laird Hunter and what he might want wi’ me.”

Daividh let out a loud laugh, gesturing at her. “Look at ye. Who wouldnae want ye?”

Fiona pursed her lips to stop herself from smiling in response. “While I am indeed flattered at th’ compliment, I dinnae think it is my bonniness tha’ the laird is after. Not if I am the first woman he has sought to marry. Why me? Why the noo? Is it no strange?”

“Ye’re seeing ghouls where none exist, Lady Fiona. I dinnae ken why he hasnae been married before but I’m sure⁠—”

Fiona held up her hand to forestall his reassurances. “Never mind. I should ha’ kenned ye wouldnae help me.” Wheeling around, she stomped away, feeling quite annoyed at having her misgivings dismissed. Daividh looked after her with his mouth open.

She marched down the long corridor, still preoccupied with her annoyance and so was caught quite unawares when she bumped against a hard chest. “Oh,” she cried, extending her hands in a bid to steady herself from stumbling backward. She looked up and was surprised to see Laird Hunter in front of her, his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes cold and annoyed.

“I’m sorry.” She almost quailed in fear but stopped herself, straightening her spine and looking him in the eye.

“Are ye? What are ye sorry for? Insulting me? Or fraternizing wi’ the help?”

“Excuse me?”

“Have ye nae just come frae the great hall? What were ye doing there?”

Fiona took a deep, unsteady breath. “I dinnae have tae justify my movements tae ye.”

The laird took a step closer. “Mayhaps not yet. But soon,” he whispered, his eyes boring into hers. She gasped, unable to help her fearful reaction, and took a step back.

The laird took a step to the side and walked around her. She watched him go with a rapidly beating heart, realizing what a daunting opponent he made. He was a powerful laird and she was just a girl. Daividh was simply a warrior in service. If they went up against him, they would lose.

The words of the soothsayer flitted through her mind. You must lose the love of your life in order to win him.

What if she had meant it literally? There was very little stopping the laird from having Daividh killed should Hunter deem him a threat. She had been wrong to try and involve him in her problems.

She whirled around and began to walk determinedly towards the dining hall. She had hardly walked two steps when she again bumped against someone.

“Och!” she cried in irritation, “Forgive me⁠—”

“Nae. Ye are the one who needs to gi’ me forgiveness. I dinnae mean tae dismiss yer worries.”

She looked up into Daividh’s midnight-blue eyes and was at a loss for words. “I-It’s quite alrigh’.”

“Nae it isnae. I shall help ye find oot aboot the laird if ye wish. Whatever ye need.”

Fiona was shaking her head even before he finished speaking. “Nae, nae, I dinnae want ye tae do a thing. Leave it alone. I’m the one who was mistaken.”

He stared at her in disbelief. “Are ye sure?”

“Aye. It was my mistake. Dinnae try to find oot a thing. I shall marry the laird and be happy. That is what I want.” Very deliberately, she took a step away from him as he stared at her with open-mouthed disbelief.

“Goodbye,” she said before whipping around and running off to her chambers.