Page 77 of Secrets of a Kilted Seduction

“That’s a bloody lie,” the laird muttered.

“Ach, ’tis true that fer years, he tried tae find ye and yer maither. He must have spent a bloody fortune, sending men out searchin’ high and low. But somehow, he never quite managed it. It was me that found ye.”

She could not help but look up at him then.

He nodded at her. “Aye, months ago I happened upon some old documents in the castle archives by accident. In them, I found a tiny record of yer birth in another place far from here. That’s when I realized the old fool wasnae mad. He really did have a daughter, illegitimate, aye, but his actual blood. His living, breathin’ heir. That was when it came tae me what I had tae dae. And now, there’s only one thing holding me back from becoming the next Laird MacIver. Can ye guess what it is, Alana?”

“I couldnae care less,” she told him, despising him more by the second.

“I’ll tell ye anyway. I’m sure ye’ll be thrilled. ’Tis our weddin’.”

“W-what?!” Alana gasped, feeling like she’d been kicked in the stomach.

“Aye, I’m disappointed ye didnae guess. After all, I gave ye enough hints in the past. It always amused me that ye seemed tae believe ye had some choice in the matter. And that pathetic ruse ye tried tae pull on me with MacTavish, pretendin’ ye were man and wife.

“Well, it daesnae matter now. ‘Tis funny tae think I didnae have tae even lift a finger tae get rid of the bastard. Ye did it all fer me. I’m guessin’ that deep down, that’s what ye wanted because ye kent ye could have me as yer proper husband, eh?”

“Tadhg’s a hundred times the man ye’ll ever be, ye worm,” she snapped.

His eyes gleamed with triumph as he smiled sneeringly at her. “Well, I’ll enjoy provin’ ye wrong on that score tonight, lass. Because in just a short time, ye’ll be me wife in the eyes of God and man.”

“What?! Nay!” she cried, gripped by panic, her defiance evaporating.

“Aye, the ceremony’s due tae take place in exactly one hour’s time, in the Great Hall. Now, I ken a bride likes tae look her best on her weddin’ day, so I’ll leave ye tae get ready.” He walked to the cell door and looked outside. “Guards, take her.”