Page 4 of When a Highlander Vows
“Many years ago, I made a vow to yer brother, Miss Caitlin.”
“Ye may call me just Caitlin, me Laird, if ye like. Ye meant so much to me brother after all.” She smiled again, and he felt an odd fluttering in his chest.
No one had ever invited such intimacies before, and he found he wasn’t quite sure what to do with them. While he still lived with his grandmother who loved him and he loved her, there was not much other kindness he could see in the world.
“Well,” he continued after clearing his throat. “Ye will come and live with me now that ye have nay one here to live with in this house. Ye will come and live in McDougall Castle as yer brother would have wanted. And ye will be under me protection.”
He drank his ale then, and he stood, knowing that he’d dispatched his duty, and all that was left was for the young woman to prepare herself and join him on the journey home.
She looked at him, a furrow forming between her light brown brows. “Ye are very kind, Laird, but nay. I willnae be comin’ with ye.”
Lucas nearly dropped the mug in his shock.
Caitlin wanted to laugh when she saw the laird’s shocked expression. She had lived with a man for many years, andeven though her brother loved her, he’d always expected to be listened to. Men often thought that way. But she was on her own now, and she had to stand strong. Sheneededto stand strong. What she didn’t need was for the laird to take her under his wing now that she had no need for financial help.
Now that her brother was gone, she had been given everything. All the money, the house, everything. She would be able to remain quite comfortable for the rest of her days, even if she was just on her own.
“What do ye mean, nay?” he asked, his initial solemn yet kindly demeanor vanishing rapidly. “I said that ye will come with me to the Castle. I have a duty to perform.”
“Which I respect highly,” she said quickly, keeping to her seat.
Her gaze remained on his face because once it had become clear to her, she couldn’t look anywhere else. Caitlin was not a woman who’d had much experience of the world, but she did know when a man was beautiful. And Laird McDougall was. She wondered why on God’s green earth had nay one in the village who’d seen the man mentioned it?
It was as if he’d been carved from marble, his every feature perfect, the lines hard and strong. His eyes were the same black as his hair, and power radiated all through him. He was tall, muscular, yet lean. If ever she had to choose a man who looked like a laird, this would be exactly her choice. There was a strength in him but at the same time, a sort of coldness.
But he is nay goin’ to command me.
“But I wish to remain here, in me home. I have been left Seamus’ money, the house, everythin’. I thank ye for yer kindness, but I daenae need yer charity.”
“Charity?” His cheeks flared red as he stepped closer to her chair.
She swallowed. Never before had she been in such close proximity with a man besides her brother, and her brother, naturally, had never made her feel as though her insides were turned out. Like her heart was thumping so wildly, it might burst from her body.
In a cold, firm voice, he said, “It is nae charity, but duty. Perhaps ye daenae think it of me, but I dae ken a few things about honor, as yer Laird, and I willnae allow me honor to be fought against.”
His eyes were boring into her own, and she could sense that he hoped to frighten her. She could imagine many being frightened by such behavior, but she smiled.
“I daenae wish to offend. But certainly ye can see, Laird, that I am well here. That I wish to remain where I am comfortable.”
His eyes looked about the room. “Ye would refuse the comforts of a castle for this?” His tone was so mocking that Caitlin’s cheeks flushed red with fury.
Never had she felt such anger before. It coursed through her suddenly like hot iron in her blood. Even if she had been given privilege now with her brother’s change in career, she had grown up poor, and even poorer after her parents had died, leaving two children to fend for themselves.
“It doesnae become ye to mock yer own people, Laird.” She lifted her chin. “We may have humble lodgings, but I am nae ashamed of where I have hailed from. Where I have begun. There are many who have it far worse than I do.”
He scoffed but he did not move. “Daenae attempt to change the subject that we are on, Miss Caitlin. Ye are comin’ with me, and that is final. I have traveled all this way, and I am nae leavin’ without ye.”
This time, he leaned over her chair, his hands on the arms, his face close to hers. Caitlin’s mouth opened a little, and her breath came fast. He was attempting to be fearsome, and yet all she could think about was how she could see some green flecks in his eyes. It softened him somehow.
“Ye will come to the Castle with yer Laird, or I will bring ye by force. Now,” he pushed back, and Caitlin could breathe again. “I will wait. Pack yer things, and we will be off.”
He turned and left, slamming the door behind him.
3
Lucas cringed when he heard the door slam behind him, louder than he intended it to.
Shite.
