Page 51 of Wicked Kilted Highlander

"Nae," Elsie sighed. "Gregor… he has been acting strangely ever since you returned."

Lara's throat tightened. She did not need to ask what Elsie meant. The name alone was enough to chill her blood.

Gregor.

"His interest in me far outweighs propriety," Elsie said, voice low. "Something does not feel right, as if I cannae escape a man of his power and means."

Lara shuddered, glancing again at Gregor. His gaze remained locked on her, a wolf eyeing her, and she gripped Elsie's hand beneath the table.

"Ye're right tae have these concerns," Lara murmured. "If only there were something I could…"

Elsie shook her head sharply, squeezing Lara's hand. "Ye cannae. This marriage must happen, Lara, for Faither and the clan. I must bear Gregor as my husband. And ye…" Elsie's gaze flicked across the hall. "Ye must find happiness as well. Dinnae waste it, Lara, for both our sakes. Nae all men are like Gregor."

Lara's mouth dried, and her stomach knotted again. She followed Elsie's gaze, locking upon Darragh. Together they turned their backs on the hall, blocking out the sounds of fun and laughter. But the weight of Gregor's stare remained, a dark shadow Lara couldn’t ignore, and she stood to go to the guests’ area.

* * *

Darragh was standing in the vicinity of Gregor when he heard him mutter "I shall teach the damned wench how tae behave when I have her in my bed” under his breath about Lara when he thought no one was listening

His fists clenched, knuckles white, as he stepped towards Gregor, his blood boiling over the man’s disrespectful comment. In a flash of anger, he jumped at Gregor, and the two men erupted into a brawl, exchanging rough blows as guests scrambled out of the way in alarm.

Lara screamed when she realized what was happening, but the sound got lost amidst the chaos as Darragh slammed his fist into Gregor's smirking face. Gregor reeled but recovered swiftly, kneeing Darragh in the stomach, and they grappled and swung at each other like beasts.

Darragh felt the wind knocked out of him and tried to catch his breath as they struggled against each other.

Darragh saw Harris coming. "Stop them!" Lara cried, rushing to her father’s side. "Before someone is killed!"

Harris blinked at her, slow to react, but soon bellowed at his men to break up the fight. They hurried to obey, dragging Darragh and Gregor apart as they continued to snarl and snap at each other, crazed as rabid dogs.

Lara watched Darragh wrest free of the men restraining him to stand before Gregor, hatred etched into every line of his face.

"Stay away from her," he growled, "or next time I'll rip out yer black heart and feed it tae the crows."

The brawl between Darragh and Gregor had escalated into a chaotic clash that disrupted the grand feast. Glasses and food were knocked askew, and guests fled the fray in fright. The laird’s rage boiled over at the ruination of the supposedly happy event.

The hall plunged into uneasy silence as Harris stormed between them, fury clear in his gaze.

"What madness is this?" Harris thundered. "Gregor, ye are Elsie's betrothed and ye Darragh, are a guest under my roof! What reason dae ye have for attacking a future laird?"

Gregor spat, crimson staining his chin. "Ye traitorous bastard, attacking me from behind like a coward! Ye dishonored me, Darragh, and I demand ye answer!"

Quinn and Gil came rushing over from where they had been standing chatting with some of the guests. They were clearly shocked by the scene unfolding before them.

“What in God’s teeth is going on here?” asked Quinn.

Darragh was still struggling against the men restraining him, glaring at Gregor with a look that could have melted iron.

"I'll only say it once, ye swine, so listen well. Keep away from Lara. Dinnae talk about her, or even look at her, for if ye dae, I'll finish what I started."

Darragh shrugged Harris' men off, eyes glinting in the firelight. His gaze burned, fixed upon Gregor.

The rush of the fight still pounded through his veins as he watched Lara turn away from the wreckage of the hall. Anger and frustration swirled inside him at what Gregor had caused. Without thinking, Darragh reached out and grasped Lara's arm firmly to stop her from leaving.

"Nae so fast," he growled. "Ye'll nae run from me this time."

Lara wrenched her arm from his grip, her glare matching his own. "Unhand me at once! Have you no shame, brawling like a brute at a feast!"

"I did it fer yer honor," Darragh said through gritted teeth. "Will ye nae even thank me for defending ye from that blackguard’s insults?"

"I dinnae need yer defense," she retorted hotly, "nor dae I care a whit for Gregor Campbell's meaningless insults. Yer violence has only added insult tae the injury ye caused me, and I'll nae have it."

Before he could reply, Lara turned on her heel and swept to the other side of the hall.

Darragh watched her go, chest heaving and knuckles still smarting from their collision, Gregor following the scene with a sneer. He knew he'd made a mess of things again, but he did not regret defending her honor. Even if she refused to see it.

With a sigh, he turned to find Harris bearing down on him, face purpled with rage. No doubt he was in for a legendary scolding. Darragh steeled himself to weather the storm. He'd endure far worse than harsh words for Lara's sake.

"Look at this disgrace you've caused!" Laird MacLean thundered, gesturing to the ruins of the feast. "Brawling like a common thug and frightening decent folk out of their wits! Have you no control over that miserable temper?"

"He insulted Lara," Darragh said stubbornly. "I'll not stand by whilst her honor is impugned."

"Your behavior here tonight proves you are no fit match for any woman, nor for being a father to my grandchild" Harris continued, relentless. "Much less one of Lara's standing. I trusted ye Darragh and ye broke it."

Anger and anguish warred within Darragh, but he held his tongue. He could not defy Harris openly, no matter what he wanted. With a stiff nod, he turned on his heel and strode from the hall, heading outside.

At the edge of his vision, he saw Lara’s gazing after him, her expression inscrutable. What was she thinking in that moment? Much as it pained him to leave her there in hall under the spell of lurid whispers, he had no choice but to remove himself. Staying there meant he might lose control with Harris.