Page 33 of Claimed Highland Brides

THE FUTURE IS DETERMINED BY THE PAST

Daividh watched Fiona run off with a frown on his face. There was no way the girl could expect him to just sit back while she married the old man. Not after seeing the abject fear in her eyes and the manner in which the laird had spoken to her. He had followed when Fiona stomped out of the great hall and then concealed himself in the shadows when he saw her bump into the laird.

He could not clearly hear their conversation but her body language said enough, as did the sharp cutting edge of the laird’s voice, the contempt in his face. Whatever reason the laird had for wanting her for his wife, he clearly held no tender feelings for her.

That knowledge, strangely, was what freed Daividh from his reticence. If the man did not even care for her, why should he worry about encroaching on the laird’s territory? The girl had asked for his help and he would give it to her. If it resulted in a broken engagement, then so much the better. He was willing to admit that his feelings for the lady were a little more than platonic.

He turned back to the dining hall only to find his friend Simon leaning on the wall, waiting for him. He shook his head slowly. “Daividh, my friend, ye’re playing wi’ fire.”

Daividh wondered if he should feign ignorance. But Simon was more than his friend, he was a brother. Daividh sighed. “I dinnae care. She’s worth it.”

“Just please, tell me ye have a plan.”

“I have a plan.”

Simon rolled his eyes. “Why do I even bother?”

“Because my mither told ye tae look oot frae me afore I left hame?”

Simon pretended sudden enlightenment. “Och aye, I forgot, that’s why!”

Daividh huffed a laugh. “Dinnae fash, I dinnae aim tae do anythin’ too dangerous.”

Simon sighed in resignation. “What d’ye need me tae do?”

Daividh grinned in gratitude. “Cover for me. I have tae gang tae Glendale and find oot who this laird is.”

Simon sighed louder. “And then what will ye do eh? There isnae a thing ye can do tae change anything.”

“We dinnae ken tha’.” Suddenly he sobered, looking his friend in the eye. “I have tae try, Simon.”

Simon considered him for a long while. “Och, ye ken I will do all I can tae help ye.”

Daividh nodded, clapping him companionably on the shoulder. “Thank ‘e mo charaid.”

* * *

The gravity of her situation hit Fiona in the middle of the night as she lay sleepless in her bed. There was not really much she could do about it though. Her uncle had contracted a marriage for her and aside from Laird Hunter’s death or her uncle changing his mind, she did not see how else she could get out of it.

She turned over to her side with a sigh, wishing that Jamesina was here. She and her sister could always talk about anything.

She sat up suddenly, eyes wide, thinking about her sisters. Laird Hunter had not promised in any specific way to take care of them. She scrambled out of bed, grabbed her robe, and put her feet into her slippers even as she shuffled towards the door.

“Where are ye gang?” Julieta’s sleepy voice came from the other side of the room.

“I have tae see my uncle.” Fiona jerked the door open.

“The noo? He’ll be asleep.”

“I dinnae care. I cannae wait.”

She slipped her robe on as she shuffle-ran down the hall, towards the west wing where her uncle’s rooms were. When she reached his door she fisted her hands, banging on the door to wake him. A footman stood at one end of the corridor, studiously ignoring her.

“Uncle Donnchadh?” she called.

“Wha’...?” She could hear his muffled confused voice even through the thick wood of the door.

“I need tae speak t’ye.”