Page 22 of The Cursed Highland Bride

If he wishes to treat me as an enemy, then I will become the enemy. He will regret the day he brought me to such shame.

It occurred to her that she might be passing on her anger over Alistair Morgan’s actions toward Dunn, but in that moment, she did not care. In that moment, they were both evil men, and she was tired of being their pawn. She would make them both regret ever laying eyes or their hands upon her.

Having lost her appetite, she exited the hall and returned to her room. She needed time to think. Since arriving in Orkney, she had not been alone except to sleep. She needed to come up with a plan to save her sisters in the instance that Alistair Morgan did not keep his word. She hoped to do it when she would be summoned for a visit, but it would be difficult, as Morgan would make certain to place all eyes on her. He would not trust her and rightly so, for at the first opportunity, she planned to kill him.

I do not wish to kill my husband to escape him. He has done naught but hurt my pride. However, Alistair Morgan and his soldiers have earned their deaths. As for my husband, I only wish to make him suffer.

CHAPTER NINE

Dunn crossed the hall to join the clan elders, but his mind was not on the meeting ahead. Katarina had seen Brigid leave his room naked. There was no way that a man could talk himself out of something like that, so he had instead used it to his advantage by putting some emotional distance between them. He did not like the way that his new wife made him feel. He had no desire for any other woman besides her, and that put him at a disadvantage.

Damn her eyes! He hated being at a disadvantage to anyone, especially a woman who was the daughter of his sworn enemy.

“What has ye distressed, brother?” Tor asked as they took their seat together at the table by the hearth.

“Katarina saw Brigid leaving my bedchamber sans clothing,” Dunn answered low enough for only his brother to hear.

Tor’s brows raised in surprise. “On yer wedding night? Brother, do ye nae have any more sense than tae bed one o’ yer mistresses on yer wedding night? Was the Lady Katarina nae able tae satisfy ye?”

Dunn shot his brother a warning glare. “I did nae touch Brigid. She offered herself tae me, and I sent her away.”

“Without her clothes?”

“I found her in my bed in an undressed state. I had nae part in it.”

“Why were ye nae with yer wife?”

“I dinnae sleep with women. Ye ken that. Once I had performed my husbandly duties, I returned tae my own bedchamber.”

Tor shook his head. “Ye are a fool. What man does nae wish tae lie in the arms o’ his bride on their wedding night? I dinnae understand ye, brother. Perhaps I should have wed her and shown ye how it should be done.”

Dunn fought the urge to punch his brother in the face. “Dinnae speak o’ my wife in that way again,” he warned through gritted teeth.

A huge grin broke out over Tor’s face. “Ye care for the lass.”

Dunn growled.

“Are ye well, my laird?” one of the elders inquired, having heard the sound.

Dunn looked at him sharply, and his elder clansman looked away without further remark. “Shall we be getting on with it?” he asked, looking around the table at the rest of the gathered men.

“As we have discussed, welcoming a Morgan intae our laird’s family is cause for concern. The marriage has transpired as the king wished. Naught can be done about it, but we must proceed with care,” Fergus, the eldest among them, spoke of what was on all of their minds. “We cannae speak freely o’ clan matters in her presence or risk what we say being reported back tae her faither. Alistair Morgan will be certain tae use this marriage tae his advantage, and we must be ready for further action on his part.”

“The marriage was tae purchase a peace, was it nae?” Ewan, the youngest among them asked. He had recently joined the council after the death of his father. “Are they nae tae be considered our allies in the eyes o’ the king?”

“This is so,” Dunn affirmed. He liked the young man but feared his youth and naïveté would cost him dear. “But Alistair Morgan is a dangerous foe, never tae be underestimated.” His eyes traveled around those gathered. “As tae my wife, she has assured me that she means nae harm and is nae a spy for her faither.”

“A spy would say such a thing, would they nae?” Fergus argued.

“Indeed,” several of the others agreed.

“We cannae depend upon the lady’s word in this matter as her loyalties are bound tae be with her own people.”

“We are now her people,” Tor pointed out, surprising Dunn. “I believe that she will see reason.”

“That is most generous o’ ye, brother,” Dunn mused, wondering what Tor was up to.

“When her faither’s men came for us, she fought back,” Tor reminded him.