Page 45 of Claimed Highland Brides

There was no reasoning with this man. There was no way he could call off the engagement without risking everything. His eyes fell on his men...one particular man who was watching them keenly even as he effortlessly went about his drills.

He willnae leave it alone.

There was only one thing left that he could do.

He turned away from Padraig without another word. He went to his study and sat down with a large glass of whisky, his eyes narrowed as he tried to think of anything else he might do that would result in everyone emerging from this with no harm done. He could think of nothing and so he called his personal guards to him, two men who had been with him since he was a child. They’d grown up together and were loyal to his house.

“Aye, sir.” They stood to attention in front of him and he could hardly find the words for what he was asking of them.

“Put Daividh Campbell in the dungeon. He has betrayed us and he needs to pay.”

He could see the shock on their faces, the disbelief, but they did not question him, and he was grateful for that.

“As ye wish sir.”

He felt his chest burn with despair as he watched them go. It was his right, as laird, to punish any of the men under his command as he saw fit. He was acquainted enough with Daividh Campbell to know that if left to his own devices, he would not let this wedding occur. If he had felt sufficiently emboldened by his feelings to confront his laird, he would not hesitate to confront Padraig. This was for the best.

* * *

Fiona wrung her hands as she paced back and forth. Trying to make friends with Laird Hunter’s men was more difficult than she had expected. They were a close-mouthed lot and not given to much conversation with anyone not of their party. She had tried to ignite a conversation with one of the men she’d found by the well, collecting water, by asking about Glendale, and what she might expect of the place. He had merely grunted and looked away as if she did not exist.

During lunch, she sat in the hall with her sisters and the other castle inhabitants. The Glendale warriors sat together and any overtures she made to them were politely rebuffed. It was puzzling. She had never known a group of people to be so insular and unwelcoming to outsiders as this one. It was more than worrisome because it said something about the laird’s leadership that scared her. If she was not mistaken, his men were terrified of him. How much more afraid should she be, if she tried to break this engagement?

Fiona shook her head, sighing with despair.

This is going to be a lot more difficult than I imagined. Maybe I should try consulting the seer again. Surely she must know something that will help me.