Page 5 of The Mad Highlander
“So, what kind of a man is he? Does he look as dangerous as all the rumors say?” Her heart skipped a beat as her mind conjured up images of a mad laird.
“Me Lady, I think it best if ye see the Laird for yerself. I dinnae wish to make ye any more nervous than I ken ye are.” Maudie forced a smile, but the gesture didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“I guess there is nae use in waiting any longer; lead the way.” Iris took a final deep breath and followed the maid from the room.
Maudie seemed to fidget as she walked, glancing nervously at Iris from time to time as they made their way through the castle. “Maudie, will ye nae tell me what ye ken about Laird O’Brien? Ye are safe with me. I promise I willnae tell a soul if ye tell me,” Iris probed her gently, needing to know more about the man she was to marry.
Maudie’s eyes filled with fear as they darted around the passage in search of anyone else. The fear that emanated from her being filled the air, sending a shiver down Iris’ spine.Is he really that bad?
“The mad laird is said to be a heartless man, Me Lady; he cuts down all who dare oppose him. None have survived once they have crossed his path on less than favorable terms.”
Iris felt her body tensing with every icy word from the maid’s mouth. She had heard all the stories about his past, but they somehow still managed to chill her bones. “Go on,” Iris urgedher, needing to know more. There had to be some morsel of information that she hadn’t heard about her husband-to-be.
“Me Lady, I cannae continue for fear of me life,” Maudie pleaded with her.
“I willnae betray ye, Maudie; ye are safe with me,” Iris promised.
Maudie took a moment to consider, chewing the inside of her cheek before nodding. She looked around to make sure no one was in earshot. “There’s a lot I’ve heard about the Laird, but the thing that frightens me the most is his temper and fits of anger. Promise me that ye will nay make him angry.”
“Of course, I willnae,” Iris stated.
“Aye, but ye have to be very careful. From what I ken, he becomes enraged at the slightest thing, and it has driven him to do terrible things in the past.” Maudie sucked in a sharp breath and held it.
Iris swallowed hard as they neared the entrance hall where Tristan was waiting for them. She already knew everything that Maudie had mentioned. The mad laird had killed his family for the title and money. Yet she had been hoping that something else was there. That there was even a sliver of hope that would redeem him to her. Had he never done anything honorable or even pleasant in his life?
She felt her heart drop into the pit of her stomach as they neared the large wooden doors.
Two guards dressed in green and white plaid kilts stepped aside, pushing the doors open.
This is it; beyond those doors is the man I am going to marry.
Her breath caught in her chest as the doors swung open to reveal the figure of Tristan standing alone.
“He’s nae here yet, Me Lady,” Maudie whispered to her as if she could read her mind before curtsying and hurrying away.
“Iris, ye look lovely.” Tristan smiled broadly and came toward her with his arms splayed open before kissing her cheeks.
She frowned as she accepted his greeting. How could he be so cheerful when he was about to hand her over to the wolves?
“Ye dinnae have to be scared, Iris. Maybe he’s nae as bad as he looks,” Tristan whispered as he embraced her.
“Nae as bad, ye say?” Iris whispered, trying hard to hide her confusion. Was he trying to cheer her up by pretending that nothing was wrong? She had expected him to be just as anxious as she was.
“I invited the Laird here so that ye may spend some time with him under me supervision. Ye dinnae think I would just let him leave with ye, did ye?” He tried to cheer her up again with a wink.
“I cannae say that yer words are cheering me up, Tristan. There is still time. Is there really nae other way to save Ashton?” She attempted one last ditch effort before her fate was sealed for good.
“What else was I supposed to say, Iris? Ye ken as well as I do that there is only one way to save yer brother.” He shook his head sadly and gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze.
She examined his face and the tired bags under his eyes. Perhaps she had been mistaken in thinking for a moment that he didn’t care. Being the Laird and having to make such difficult decisions couldn’t have been easy for him. She let out a heavy sigh and met his gaze.
“I’m scared, Tristan; what if things go horribly wrong? What if I am giving meself to a horrible man, an’ we cannae even manage to save Ashton?” She swallowed hard and tried to hide the fact that she was trembling.
Tristan held her gaze with a veiled look in his eyes, hiding his true feelings beneath the mask of a leader. “Nothing will go wrong. Laird O’Brien wants a wife. He will protect ye; we have to believe in that.”
The moment between them was broken when a guard rushed forward in a panic. “He’s here, Me Laird. The mad laird is here.”The fear in the man’s voice reached his eyes, causing Iris to lift her hand to her throat. Tristan dismissed the man with a nod and turned back to Iris. “This is the moment. Remember why we are here an’ why we are doing this. Ye need to impress Laird O’Brien. I ken it willnae be easy, but he needs to fall in love with ye for all of our sakes.” The urgency in his voice caught her off guard.
He’s just as panicked as I am.
