Page 38 of Claimed Highland Brides

She grinned wide and happy. “Guid morning. Ye’re the knight in shining armor are ye no?”

Daividh blinked in surprise, lost for words. The girl let out a tinkling laugh before turning back to the room. “Fiona! It’s for ye.” She stepped back with a last smile and vanished into the chamber. Her form was replaced by the taller, more dignified one of her sister, who was already looking at him with censure in her emerald eyes and shaking her head. “Wha’ did ye do?”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Wha’ makes ye think I did anything?”

“I havenae seen ye for days and now ye’re here, clearly havenae shaved for days, looking weary. So wha’ did ye do?”

In spite of himself, Daividh was impressed by her deductions.

“That doesnae matter at the moment. Wha’ matters is wha’ I’ve learned. Ye willnae like it.”

She was shaking her head even before he finished speaking. “No. Dinnae tell me. This wedding is gang ahead and there’s no a thing ye can do tae stop it.”

Daividh stepped closer, blocking the doorway as she tried to close the door. “Did ye ken that he competed frae yer mither’s hand? Tha’ he lost tae yer father? Tha’ he never sought to marry ever again? And now he comes frae ye? Do ye no want to ken why?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “How did ye find all that oot?”

“I went tae Glendale⁠—”

“Ye went tae Glendale? Have ye taken leave of yer senses? Ye dinnae ken who saw ye and who will tell. Why would ye do tha’?”

He looked intently into her eyes, taking a step closer and grabbing her wrist. “For ye.”

She froze, her eyes boring into his, her bosom heaving. “Ye cannae…” Her throat clicked and she swallowed. “Ye cannae put yersel’ in danger on my account. It isnae worth it. Ye hear me?”

“I hear ye,” he whispered, “and I disagree.”

She huffed in annoyance. “Whatewer the man wants wi’ me, he needs me alive tae get it. The same courtesy doesnae extend t’ye!”

Daividh smiled. “So ye’re worried frae my welfare? Can ye not then concede that I am worried frae yers?”

Fiona shook her head in frustration. “Tha’ is beside the point! Dinnae put yersel’ in danger frae me. I forbid it.”

He cocked an eyebrow in amusement. “Aye weel, ye’re nae my laird so I dinnae have tae do as ye say.”

Fiona hands folded into fists and she growled in frustration. “Please!” Her teeth were gritted and her face was flushed as she willed him to obey her.

He rubbed gently at her wrist, moving even closer. “It does my heart guid tae ken ye’re fashit frae me but ye cannae make me back down. I will protect ye wi’ my last breath if’n it comes to tha’.”

“I dinnae want ye wastin’ yer last breath on me!” Fiona hissed.

“Weel, too bad. Because ye have it awready.”

They glared at each other, Daividh’s hand tight around Fiona’s wrist, at a standoff. Suddenly Fiona’s shoulders slumped, as she sighed in defeat. “Alrigh’ then, tell me what ye found oot.”

* * *

Fiona mulled over the news that Daividh had given her while her sisters sat around her, all talking at once as usual. It seemed that there was more to her betrothal than she realized. She thought about confronting Laird Hunter about it, making him tell her what he was about. But then she might tip her hand and he would wonder how she found out. His eye might fall on Daividh Campbell, and that she could not risk.

She felt no doubt that the laird was a killer and would not hesitate to eliminate the soldier if he thought that was necessary to achieve his ends.

I have to go canny.

There were other members of the laird’s retinue that she could ask. If she did so discreetly and carefully there might be no repercussions. At least not to Daividh. She had no doubt that Laird Hunter had his spies in the house, who would not fail to note how many times Daividh had sought her out. They probably had also noted his absence. It would not be hard to put two and two together should she not be careful.

She shot to her feet and was walking to the door before she noticed the uncharacteristically dead silence behind her. “Where are ye gang?” Jamesina asked, as the rest of them stared at her, nonplussed.

“Uh...I er, have tae see th’ cook aboot nuncheon,” she said before opening the door and leaving quickly before anyone else came up with another question. She hurried off to the courtyard where she’d seen some of her uncle’s soldiers lounging about.