Page 10 of Highland Vows of Betrayal

“I am glad tae ken ye,” Scarlett whispered.

“Now that we have met, I want us tae stay in each other’s lives. Please, let us nae be alone again,” Eloise said fervently.

“I am so glad ye are here.” Scarlett didn't have the heart to tell her sister how much she'd fantasized about a moment like this for years, lying awake at night imagining how it might be and feel. “I’ve always wanted a family.” They were all the words she could manage in the end before entwining their fingers, solidifying their new bond.

“Now, I just have tae find Avery. I heard rumors of him heading to France, but this is all such poor timing.” She cursed softly, sitting back.

“What do ye mean?” Scarlett took a sip from the whisky before topping off the glass and proffering it to her twin. Eloise took it, though she only managed a small sip.

“I was hoping tae take a boat tomorrow tae France. I hope tae find him, but now, I cannae go.” She shook her head sadly. “It seems a marriage has been arranged for me by our father.”

“Marriage?” Scarlett queried, almost choking on the whisky. Eloise reached forward to pat her back. Scarlett almost laughed, but Eloise was clearly disconcerted. “He’s forcing ye tae marry?”

“Aye. I am tae marry Laird Noah Chattan, of the Chattan clan.” Eloise spoke his name with some reverence, though she couldn’t manage even a smile.

“What do ye think of this man?”

“I havenae met him,” Eloise admitted, shaking her head. “Yet, I hear he is a brute, unkind, a man who prefers many lovers rather than one wife.” She shuddered and bent over the glass between them. “I cannae imagine I will be able to make him happy.”

“This is absurd! How can ye be made tae marry a man ye dinnae ken?”

“It is our father’s decision.”

“That doesnae make it right!” Scarlett scoffed and pushed the glass toward her sister. “There, drink that. Ye’ll need it if ye are tae wed such a man.” She watched as Eloise downed the glass. Something in that action prompted Scarlett to smile, recognizing a similarity between them—they could both down a glass of whisky well enough. “So, ye cannae go tae France, for ye are going tae be married?”

“My father is sending me tae stay with Laird Chattan in two days,” she muttered forlornly. “I will stay there for a month before the wedding.” She rolled her eyes at the idea. “Apparently, they believe it will be a chance for me tae ken my new husband. It’s so infuriating, Scarlett. Call me a fool, but I had always hoped to marry for love.”

“Fool ye are not,” Scarlett asserted as Eloise smiled. “Is it nae everyone’s hope tae marry as their heart chooses?” Scarlett hadn’t thought about marriage at all. She thought only of travelling, getting as far away from the tavern as possible.

Everyone would choose with their heart if they could.

“Our father doesnae think so. He is thrilled that his daughter will be Lady Chattan.” Eloise derided the idea, waving a hand in the air. “Only our father, a man who so concerns himself with appearance and position, would think such a mad thing.”

“I am sorry, truly.” Scarlett clasped her sister’s hand in hers.

Eloise hung her head forward, and sniffled, her shoulders shaking as she wept in sorrow.

“Nay, ye cannae cry now!” Scarlett entreated.

“How can I nae? I am doomed to a loveless marriage.”

“Eloise, just look what has happened this very night tonight.” Scarlett stood and rounded the table to sit beside her sister on the bench. “Ye have found a sister! Aye, I will admit, being sent tae marry a stranger is nae a good thing. Yet, tonight ye have nae only found a sister, but a friend tae.” Scarlett linked their arms together, watching as tears pooled in Eloise’s blue eyes.

“Ye are so kind; I hoped ye would be,” Eloise whispered, batting her tears away.

“As far as I’m concerned, just make yer feelings kent tae this man. If that doesnae scare him off, then drive him away,” Scarlett said mischievously, her head held high. “I could teach ye a few tricks tae send a man running.”

“Truly?” Eloise laughed through her tears. “Ye are bold where I am not.”

“Aye, I am, but I am happy tae be so. Believe me, there is much I can teach ye to scare Laird Chattan away.” She darted her eyes to the dagger at her hip.

“That might be possible, but it would take months.” Eloise sighed deeply and leaned against the wall behind her. “I have tae be at the Chattan castle in two days. I can hardly get to France and back in that time, can I?”

“Aye, that willnae work,” Scarlett accepted the truth with a heavy sigh. “In the name of the wee man above, ye certainly have a lot on yer plate, dinnae ye?” She elbowed her sister playfully, trying to elicit another smile from her. “’Tis a shame ye cannae sneak off tae France first and have the laird wait for yer return… what? Why dae ye look at me like that?” Scarlett paused as Eloise stared.

One last tear trickled down Eloise’s cheek before she wiped it away, her wide eyes fixed on Scarlett.

“Ye stare at me as if stars have just landed on my head!” Scarlett giggled. “Eloise? Are ye well?” She waved her free hand before her sister’s face, trying to get her attention again.