Page 66 of A Bride for the Kilted Beast

She laid eyes first on his father and recoiled, her face a mask of horror.

“Ye bastard,” she spat at him.

He just laughed, obviously enjoying the fact she was terrified of him.

“What’s that, lassie! Ye call me a bastard, d’ye? Why, ye should be thankin’ me for nae killin’ ye. I wanted to kill ye from the beginnin’. I was gonnae slit yer throat meself.”

Odhrán saw Kincaid tense up at those words, and Maddison shrank further into her brother’s arms.

“But ye have me son here tae thank fer yer life,” his father went on, jerking his thumb at him. Odhrán saw the shock on Maddison’s face as she turned to stare at him, her mouth dropping open.

“Ye-ye’re his son?” she asked in a strangled voice.

Odhrán nodded, feeling once more as if his heart was being stabbed by knives. He could only watch in growing dismay as she continued to stare at him, comprehension dawning in her beautiful green eyes. They shot daggers at him, and her soft, plump pink lips curled in derision.

“Ye lyin’ scum,” she hissed, “ye’re as bad as yer monster of a faither. I hate ye, and I curse ye. I hope ye both rot in hell.” She tossed her hair and turned her face away from him, as if he no longer existed in her world. Her eyes settled instead on his future wife, Morin McIrving, who stared back at her with an expression of… she could not tell.

“Who’s this?” Maddison asked, staring at the girl questioningly.

“That’s none of yer business,” his father bit out. He looked at one of the guards.

“Take her away. Ye ken what tae dae with her,” he told the man, who took hold of Morin’s arm and led her to the door.

“Wait!” Kincaid said suddenly. He released his sister for a moment and went over to Morin.

“I’m sorry,” he told her, pressing her hand. “There was nae other way.” She frowned and gave him a haughty look before the guard led her from the room, shutting the door behind them. Odhrán wondered if she already knew what was in store for her. If not, she would soon find out. He wondered what she would think of it.

Whatever the case, he vowed to keep his father away from her and treat her right. Even if he could never love her, he could at least try to make up for what she had been through at Kincaid’s hands, the cold bastard.

Lillie’s heart was pounding with fear as she was escorted along the hallways of Castle Lennox by two guards, but she made every effort not to show it. She kept her head held high and said not a word. Eventually, she was taken into a large chamber filled with too much expensive-looking furniture. The guards left her there, locking her in.

She ran to the windows, but it was immediately apparent that there were bars on the outside. The chamber looked like a boudoir of some sort, but it was clearly a prison. She was crushed. The room was unlit, and the light from outside was already fading.

I need a light.

She hunted about a little and eventually spotted a candlestick with a half-used candle in it on the mantel. She hurried over to see if she could find a way to light it. To her relief, there was a tinder box nearby. She soon managed to get herself a light, though it was not much of one. But it was enough.

She rummaged in the sleeve of her dress and hurriedly pulled out the note Diarmaid had slid into her hand when he had bidden her goodbye a few minutes ago. She had swiftly concealed it before anyone could see.

Her heart hammering in her chest, she unfolded it with shaking fingers and held it up to the light.

Lillie, me love,

I’m sorry I had tae lie tae ye. I had nae choice. I’m comin’ tae get ye, so just sit tight and wait fer me.

Elation washed through her as the meaning of the words sank in.

He’s nae betrayed me after all! It was all a ruse… he’s comin’ back fer me. I kent he would never leave me!

She was clutching the note to her heart when she suddenly heard the door being unlocked. Quickly, she tucked the note under a book that was lying on the table and turned to face whoever was about to enter.

When three maids came in, she had the strange experience that history was repeating itself for the third time, for one of the maids was carrying over her arm a beautiful gown that looked fit to clothe a bride. The others had with them other paraphernalia reminiscent of a wedding: a flowery headdress, hairbrushes and combs, jars of cosmetics, a velvet box one might use for storing jewelry.

“What is this?” she demanded, watching them file in. Somebody outside locked the door, leaving her shut in with the maids. The one with the dress hung it over a cupboard door and turned to her, while the others placed their things on a large table before they all curtseyed to her.

“Ye’re tae be married straight away, m’lady,” the tallest one told her with a meek smile. “Tae Maister Odhrán. Everyone is waiting fer ye tae be ready fer the ceremony.”

Lillie stared at them in shock, her blood running cold at this revelation. Her hand went to her chest to try to still her pounding heart, which she feared would burst out of her chest at any moment.