Page 10 of A Kilted Marriage of Convenience

With that, he gave her one last glare, his gray eyes cold and challenging, before turning and exiting the room. The maids followed after him, leaving Ciara with her thoughts. The moment he was gone, she collapsed to the floor.

How could she have been so lucky? Despite the fact that she had just angered him, it appeared that being MacDonald's prisoner was preferable to going to the nunnery. She didn't have to become a nun, and the treatment would undoubtedly be better here. She just had to make sure he didn't realize she'd run away, or that her father didn't love her, or that she was supposed to be sold off. The laird's constant teasing got on her nerves, but every time he touched her, her skin tingled.

How strange ye are, Ciara.

She had never felt like this before, and she was not sure how to take it. She felt silly for being excited at the prospect of being held hostage by this man. It was one thing to ignore her excitement, but she couldn’t deny the wave of relief that washed over her at the thought that she had been saved from her father. He did not know where she was, and this was the perfect place to hide. There was no way he would guess she was here. They would keep the news of her whereabouts secret so that she would not be rescued.

She could not be rescued. She had successfully escaped! Thank ye, fates that brought me here!

She quickly took off the smock and submerged herself in the tub that had been brought. The water was warm, and it felt wonderful. It was such a contrast from the cold sea, and it loosened her muscles. She ran her fingers through her hair and focused on cleaning the sand from her tresses.

Thebeach. He must have been close to her then. Her lips were suddenly burning as she remembered his thumb brushing over them. Her face burned even more. Why had he done that? Was this the way one was supposed to act around a captive? Even if he was a righteous and kind man, she was still the daughter of the man he hated the most.

How could he seriously be so—

She buried her head in the water to clear her mind. What was the purpose of getting lost in her thoughts? There was no time for that. She had to control herself so that she would not be discovered and cast away.

As long as she said nothing, she would be safe. Safe as a prisoner.

* * *

Aidan’s mood had become cloudy once again. As much as he did not want to admit it, it was because of the MacNeil girl this time. Or rather, it was because he was upset at himself for being so easily swayed by her. He did not know why the idea that she might think he was not a good man bothered him so much. He had no reason to care what she thought of him, and yet he did.

Her father didnae care what Lillie thought of him when he tied her up in his dungeons, did he?

Indeed, he should not have entertained her foolish behavior at all. She had no idea what she was talking about. It seemed she had grown up sheltered, with no concept of the world and its evil. He wondered what she thought of her own father if she was so quick to judge Aidan. Did she not know what Keir had done to his sister?

Aidan marched to his study and found his brother was already there waiting for him. Darragh was lying on the bench by the window, his hands behind his head. Aidan sighed deeply and shut the door behind him.

“How did the lass take the news that she willnae be allowed to leave?” Darragh asked.

“About as well as expected. She has nae idea how grateful she should be. If we treated her even half of the way Lillie was treated…” Aidan trailed off. He went over to his desk and sat down. Darragh swung his legs off the bench and straightened up.

“It seems she has irked ye. Still, we cannae fall to the levels of Keir MacNeil. None of us here are that cruel,” Darragh said.

“Hm. I am sure the council would be horrified if we treated her badly, MacNeil spawn or nae, she has nae done anything to cause us harm. I suppose we shall see with time if she is as twisted as her father and must be punished. Have the maids report to ye how she treats them,” Aidan said.

Darragh nodded. “I have called the council already. We should—” His words were cut off as the door swung open.

Their visitor’s hair was in disarray, and it looked like she had run to them. Both brothers got to their feet instantly.

“Lillie!” Darragh was closer, so he got to her first, taking her hand and leading her into the room. Her eyes were fixed on Aidan, however.

“Brother… is it true?” she asked.

Aidan pinched the bridge of his nose. When Lillie had first caught wind of their plan to abduct Ciara, she had been against it, saying that she did not want another woman to experience the horrors that she had, being taken from her home. Of course, the brothers had no intention of letting that stop them, and they were prepared to face her anger. But now they had not even carried out their plan. Ciara had just fallen into their hands by chance.

“Aye, I am keeping MacNeil’s daughter captive.” Aidan did not see the need in trying to conceal the truth. Lillie was not going to approve anyway.

“Aidan, how could ye? I told ye that I didnae want ye exacting revenge for me! If ye were to take revenge, why are ye using an innocent lass to dae so? Ye should have attacked Keir MacNeil himself, if that was what ye wanted!” Lillie wailed.

Aidan sat back down, massaging his temples wearily, and his brother began to speak. “Lillie, we didnae take her from her home. Aidan and I saved her from the sea. It isnae the same thing—” Darragh began, but Aidan stopped him.

“Leave it, Darragh. There is nae need to say that. We were going to carry out the plan regardless of what Lillie says,” he declared. He turned to his sister. “Even if ye dinnae want revenge, Lillie, revenge is necessary. Our clan suffered by having ye taken from us. I completely lost my senses, and I couldnae dae my work as their laird. Everyone worked hard to bring ye back, partly because we were humiliated by the fact that it was possible for ye to be taken, right under our noses. Consider our feelings. Consider our clan’s broken trust in me.”

Lillie’s forehead scrunched. She still looked upset, but it seemed she had nothing more to say at that moment. Solemnly, she turned around and left in silence.

Darragh watched her go, worry etched on his face. “Is it really alright to let her leave like that?”