Page 83 of Highlander’s Forbidden Fruit

“Indeed.” Lord Winchester nodded. “But Ashton is just as fine.”

Ashton nearly choked on his tea. Evanna saw him cough and splutter then stare at his father with a look that could only be described as flabbergasted. Evanna knew from the little Ashton had told her that Lord Winchester had no real interest in Ashton nor any kind words to say of him, so this was a surprising change.

Maybe the loss of one child has opened his eyes to the good qualities of the other, she thought.

“Evanna and Ashton are already good friends. Perhaps on her visit to Winchelsea, they can get to know each other better.”

“Father.” Ashton warned.

“I will not see John become the Earl, but the least I can wish for now is to have Evanna remain as the Lady Winchester?”

Evanna finally understood what Lord Winchester was implying. The thought of marrying Ashton was repulsive, not because she thought of him more as a brother, but because she didn’t want to marry anyone at all. Love and marital bliss were not in her destiny. She understood that now.

“That’s kind of ye,” she said politely. “But my father is nae well. I wish to stay by his side till he fully recovers.”

“That’s very disappointing.” Lord Winchester was not pleased by her answer. “Lady Winchester was looking forward to receiving you.”

“No, she is not,” Ashton rolled his eyes. “And Evanna has given you her answer. No need to manipulate her.”

“You stay out of this.” Lord Winchester snapped. “This has nothing to do with you.”

“Not when you're trying to fix my marriage. And how were you supposed to see John inherit the Earldom? It only happens once you die. That’s how it works. You won’t see me inherit it either, because you’ll be dead.”

“You’re insufferable!”

“Thank God! I thought you were falling ill when you complimented me earlier. That’s more like you.”

Evanna and everyone else in the parlor were staring at the Lord and his son bickering like an old couple. After a series of back-and-forth, Lord Winchester ignored Ashton and turned to Evanna.

“Tell me Evanna, don’t you want to be Lady Winchester? You can honor John’s memory by being the Lady of his house.”

“You pay me a very high compliment by considering me your only option. But I must refuse. My father—”

“Can come with us. What do you say, Laird MacLeod? Your daughter married to the Earl of Winchelsea; won’t that be grand?”

Laird MacLeod, who had been amused by the small tiff between father and son, now sat considering the Lord’s request seriously. Aleck, who stood a few steps behind him looked worried sick. His eyes darted towards Evanna, but she looked away. He was going to be betrayed twice.

Evanna knew what her father was thinking. In his mind it was either marry Evanna off to Ashton or see her become a nun. She knew which he preferred.

“She willnae go.”

Someone new had entered the room. Ted Graham stood in the doorway, his face red from the snowstorm outside. Flakes melted on his shoulder and ran streaks of water down his coat.

“How can she go with ye when she had yer son murdered?”

“What nonsense are ye on about, man?” Laird MacLeod roared.

“It’s nae nonsense!” Ted shot back. “The whole village saw her,” he pointed an accusing finger at Evanna, “run to Aleck and nae John when they came back from the road. She was so worried about her lover she didnae notice her fiancé was dead right in front of her face. Two-faced she is. She willnae go with ye, and if she marries yer other son, there’ll be three in the marriage bed.”

Evanna’s body was cold as ice. All the warmth had leached out of her bones.

“Stop prattling yer lies,” Aleck warned. “I will nae hear another word against Lady Evanna.” He took a few threatening steps towards Ted Graham who jumped back a little but did not stop.

“I’ve seen these two together,” he went on in the shocked silence. “I saw them return from the hunt alone, holding hands. That’s when he refused to marry me daughter, a good, kind lass he strung along and seduced for months. He had a richer, more powerful option now. Is that why ye paid Vano to kill John Winchester? So ye and the lady can live on in sin?”

“Silence!” Aleck roared and grabbed Ted by the lapels of his shirt. He pulled so hard the cloth tore off in his hands. Ted cried out and held up his arms to protect himself, but Aleck’s blows landed true.

Evanna was made of marble. She couldn’t move. Ted’s cries and screams as Aleck kicked and punched him bloody reached her as if from a far-off place. Lockard and a few other men came to Ted’s rescue. They tore Aleck away from him. Ted was a bloody mess on the floor. Aleck was still rearing to go, struggling against his captors. He would have killed Ted if they hadn’t intervened in time.