Page 6 of Claimed Highland Brides

Before this day, he would have said he was content with his lot but that was before this woman had come into his life and turned it on his head.

Now he wanted things he couldn’t possibly have and everything was a bumblebroth of epic proportions. He could not understand how things could possibly turn on the head of a pin in such a way, even having lived the life he had.

In his six and twenty years of travails he’d seen friends and family die, he had been present at birthings, he had killed with his own hand. For sure, all of those experiences had changed him in fundamental ways. But nothing felt as impactful as looking in Fiona’s eyes.

Daividh was at a complete loss of what to do.

“Will we stop for the night?” Fiona asked.

“Of course we shall. We cannae ride through the night without risk and we arenae sae far behind that we have tae risk it.”

She nodded curtly and turned away. Daividh had the feeling his apology had not had the intended effect.

* * *

Fiona watched the soldier from beneath her lashes, admiring the way he sat on his horse even as his brusqueness annoyed her. She was taken aback by his apology, which seemed to come out of the blue. Exchanging glances with Julieta, she lifted a puzzled eyebrow at her lady’s maid, wondering why the soldier was like this. Julieta hid a giggle in her tartan shawl and looked away lest she burst out laughing. It made Fiona smile and she waited with bated breath to hear what else he might say to her.

She was disappointed when they rode on in silence, the soldier fidgeting in his seat as if he might have harbored ticks in his trews. The thought of that made Fiona want to giggle again but she restrained herself with effort. She wanted him to take her seriously and it was clear to her that he did not. Perhaps it was that she was young, just having seen eighteen summers, and he was clearly much older than that.

There was nothing she could do about that except show him that she was capable of comprehending the concerns he had. That she was able to take care of herself. For some reason, she wanted his respect, his kind regard, his admiration. He was clearly capable and efficient, a man of worth.

She was slightly disappointed that he was not, in fact, her intended. Even when his manner was short and he behaved discourteously, she was mortifyingly aware of him. The dangerous grace with which he moved made her stomach twist into knots. The storm in his sky blue eyes made her shiver in reaction, her hands shaking slightly at his piercing glance. His hands were so big and capable-looking, callused no doubt from wielding his almighty claymore.

Even as she frowned and narrowed her eyes at him, pursed her lips, and disapproved of his manner, she could not help but be swept up by his proximity. Her reaction to him was nothing less than shocking and disconcerting.

It must be because I have not seen a man like him in a long time.

Her father kept sellswords when they were younger but his kin, Uncle Donnchadh, had persuaded him to disband them.

“Ye dinnae need them, remote as ye are. If’n ye need any assistance, I should be glad tae send my men tae help.”

Her uncle did not know she had overheard that conversation. Yet when her father had been set upon by brigands on his way home from Dunavar, Uncle Donnchadh’s men were nowhere in sight. He had been alone with just a coachman and tiger. It was a bone she fully intended to pick with her uncle even though she knew that fighting with him would not bring her father back.

“Will we stop for the night?” she asked, tired of being alone with her thoughts and his quiet distant presence.

He turned to look at her, his eyes dark with an emotion she could not name. “Of course we shall. We cannae ride through the night without risk and we arenae sae far behind that we have tae risk it.”

She nodded, feeling disappointed by his answer and his eagerness to deliver her to her intended. She could not fathom why it should annoy her so, but it did.

They found an inn not far from Drummacree which sat about halfway between Braenaird Keep and Dunavar Castle. It was not much of an inn; it barely had stables for the horses and only a few bedchambers behind the dining hall.

Mr. Campbell called for soup and bread for their supper and they ate in relative silence. The room was packed with men in various states of inebriation, who watched them as if they were prey. Fiona could understand why Mr. Campbell was reluctant to speak in such company and why Julieta huddled close, not lifting her eyes from her plate.

When supper was done and the innkeeper led them to their rooms, she was less tolerant when Mr. Campbell insisted on giving them a lecture as if they were still babes.

“This is a dangerous place. Those men out there cannae be relied upon tae be gentlemen and so ye’ll gang tae yer room and lock the door behind ye. Ye shallnae come oot until morning. D’ye understand me?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I have no hearing impairment, nor am I a child. Ye cannae tell me what tae do.”

“I can and I have and ye will mind me if ye ken what’s good for ye.” He pointed an admonishing finger in her face, which was the last straw. She stepped back and slammed the door in his face.

* * *

Daividh sighed at the door before turning away to head back to the bar. He was so very tired of having to deal with Miss Douglass and her high and mighty ways. In retrospect, it might have been a good thing that they were not meant to be. If she were his wife, he might be tempted to strangle her.

He went back to the bar and ordered another tankard of ale, drinking it in a brooding fashion as he kept an eye on the corridor leading to his charge’s rooms. He would not put it past any of the men to attempt entry.

He managed to finish the tankard without having to fight anyone and got up with relief. He would spend the night outside her door, where he could keep an eye on her. He walked slowly down the corridor and came to a stop outside her door. Knocking softly, he listened for any sound from inside.

Perhaps they have slept already.

He tried the door to see if it was locked and to his surprise, it opened easily. Even more to his shock, the room behind it was completely empty.