Page 7 of The Mad Highlander
His words seemed like a thinly veiled threat to her that made her throat run dry. Did Tristan not say that there would be war if she didn’t give in to all of his demands? What would her life be like now with a beast that would command her every move for the rest of her days?
“Yer cousin has until the sun sets ’afore we leave. She has until then to pack all of her belongings; anything that gets left behind will remain here.” Cayden met her gaze once again and stared into her soul.
“An’ what if I leave anything behind that I truly need? Am I to be given over to a life of wanting because I was forced from me home with short notice?” She felt her courage rising despite the pounding of her heart.
Cayden’s eyes flashed with something that could have easily been mistaken for enjoyment. “Take anything that cannae be replaced if ye have any items of yer family or heirlooms. Everything else ye need will be purchased for ye as soon as ye arrive at Castle O’Brien. There is no need for yer maid either. The servants will all be at yer beck an’ call.”
His words caught her off guard. She had been expecting him to reprimand her for talking back to him, but he had seemed impressed instead.
“That’s a mighty generous offer. I think Iris will be more than happy to accept.” Tristan turned to her with a warning glance, waiting expectantly for her response.
“Thank ye, Me Laird. Yer offer is mighty kind. I shall be grateful for as long as yer me husband.” She caught her breath again when his eyes bore into her soul. She bit back the rest of her words when Tristan glared at her.
4
Her heart thudded furiously from anger as she threw a few of her belongings into a trunk that her maid was hurriedly trying to pack.
How could Tristan agree so readily to the change of plans?
The confusion and anger made her heart ache with longing for her brother and the way things used to be before everything had gone to hell.
I have to say something.
She squared back her shoulders and lifted her head. The resolve to save her brother was there, yet she wasn’t willing to be ordered around like a servant just because she had agreed to marriage. Turning toward the door, she yanked on the handle and jolted when she came face to face with her cousin.
“I want a word with ye, Iris.” The look in his eyes was so serious that she felt her resolve melting a little. “Come an’ walk with me ’afore we have a drink with Laird O’Brien.” He nodded to the side and glanced at the maids in her room that bustling about like a nest of ants.
“Aye, I would like to have a word with ye as well.” She accepted his offer and shut the door behind her.
Tristan offered her his arm as they began to walk down the corridor where she had spent most of her life. The walls held so many memories for her, memories of raising her brother and learning to cope with the loss of her parents.
“I can still recall the day that ye and Ashton showed up here at the castle after yer parents died. Ye were such a pretty little lass, a little lost, but so protective over yer brother. He was just a bundle of clothes with a face when I laid eyes on him for the first time.” A smile curved the corners of his mouth as he reminisced over that day.
“Aye, I dinnae ken what would happen to us, but I was glad that ye and yer faither took us in. It was a great kindness.” Her heart ached at the memory of her brother in her arms. She had feared he would fall ill and die just as her parents had. Her uncle had gotten a wet nurse to look after Ashton, but that hadn’t stopped her from staying up late at night to check on him every hour.
Tristan hadn’t paid them much attention at first, but that all changed when her uncle died. Tristan had inherited the title and took over the running of the castle. It had been Iris and Ashtonwho comforted him, staying by his side as he processed the loss of the only parent he knew. Lady McCabe had lost her life giving birth to Tristan.
“I ken that ye must have a lot of questions an’ fears right now, one of them being why I agreed to let ye go so soon instead of fighting harder?” Tristan glanced at her as they turned a corner that led to a small courtyard of stone where a large ash tree had been planted in the only patch of soil. The tall tree touched the sides of the courtyard, reaching out its branches as if trying to hold everything together.
“Aye, I had hoped for more time. I’ve hardly had enough time to prepare meself ’afore his arrival.” She let out a heavy sigh that hinted at just how burdened she felt.
Tristan nodded understandingly. “It’s nae an easy job being laird; ye have to make decisions for the good of the clan, even if what ye want is to keep those ye love close to ye. If our dealings with clan O’Brien had been better, then I would have fought for ye to stay. But I cannae go against the man when he needs to protect his own.” He stopped and turned to her with a serious look.
“There must be something we can do to buy more time?” She felt the tears welling in her eyes as her fears threatened to burst.
“I cannae risk a war now that the deal has been made. I am sure of one thing: Laird O’Brien willnae harm ye. He’s a hard man when it comes to war an’ protecting his own, but he’s never started anything with the surrounding clans unless theythreatened to attack him.” He gripped her upper arms and gave her an encouraging squeeze.
“But what about all the rumors of him killing his father and brother.” Fear rose in the pit of her stomach again as she searched his face.
“Those are just rumors; besides, even if he killed his father an’ brother for the title, ye are nae someone standing in his way. I beg of ye, Iris, ye are our only hope of getting Ashton back; dinnae say ye willnae go now.” His eyes pleaded with her as he tightened his grip to an almost painful pressure.
Swallowing hard, she took a deep breath that felt as if it were rattling through her body. “I will go for Ashton’s sake.”
Tristan’s face softened as he loosened his grip. “I knew ye would make the right decision. It’s funny, ye were the one that took care of yer brother when ye lost yer parents, an’ now, ye are the one falling on yer sword to save his life again.” The corner of his mouth lifted into a sad smile as he let her arms go.
I have to do this for Ashton.
She swallowed the final shreds of doubt that she was doing the wrong things. All she needed to take a bold step was the gentle reminder that her only brother’s life was on the line.
