Page 6 of A Sinful Night with a Scot
And then, as she was standing there, thinking about her fate and the strange turn her life had suddenly taken, a further realization washed over her.
I will never be his wife, nae really. I will spend me life being used as a weapon. A weapon he can wield against Laird Gunn and me own people. A lifelong sentence with nay end.
And yet, it is that, or death.
And thus, she was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Her life had hardly been a delight, but never had she been pressed with two such dreadful choices. She could try to run, but Elsie had no doubt he would hunt her down and certainly kill her. And if she did run, where would she go? Her family would think she had been ruined, and thus, they would refuse to take her back. Besides, she couldn’t face the shame of returning and facing their judgement. Especially not from her father, who already deemed her worthless.
I have nay choice. I have naewhere tae go.
The bitterness of that realization burned through her, and in that very moment, hate grew in her heart for Laird Mackay. She might be still alive, but he had ruined her life forever. Perhaps death would be a better option after all.
Ye are better than that. Besides, things change. Lairds go intae battle, dae they nae? Or even better, Laird Gunn will want his own revenge. Dinnae be so quick tae give yer life, Elsie. The future isnae yet set in stone.
“Fine,” she finally spat. “But there is a provision tae me agreement.”
“Which is?” he pressed, eyeing her carefully.
“Ye will never bed me,” she snarled firmly.
There might still be a chance that, if she did escape, she might be able to return to her clan. But only if she was not ruined. Of course, there was little chance that the laird would heed her word, but she had to try.
To her utter surprise, Laird Mackay burst into laughter. Elsie did not understand his reaction at all but was somewhat grateful that her demand had not evoked his anger again.
“As ye wish,” he said eventually. Which surprised her even more. “I dinnae need a wife tae fulfill me. Besides,” he said, sneering at her “when ye are yearning fer me, ye can ask me and I’ll share yer bed.”
Elsie could only feel disgust at his arrogance, and clenching her teeth, she scowled at him.
Like that is ever going tae happen.
CHAPTER THREE
She was left tied to a tree, which, she supposed, was better than death. Not that she felt any sort of relief after the laird’s decision. While the men sat around the campfire a little distance away congratulating themselves on the fact that they had escaped from the chapel and managed to kidnap his bride right from under Laird Gunn’s nose, she was left to mull over her fate.
She was alive, and she ought to at least be grateful for that. But her uncertain future still angered her greatly. Taken from one man only to be used by another was hardly something to rejoice about. But she ought to have become accustomed to it, ought she not? It wasn’t as though she was seen as anything other than a bargaining chip. In fact, she never had been.
A little time later, Laird Mackay stood and announced that he was going to retire.
“We have a long journey ahead o’ us,” he continued, looking down at his men. “I suggest ye dae the same.”
At that, the men began shifting, each moving to their allocated places where they had already set up makeshift sleeping arrangements.
Turning from the fire, the laird made his way over to her. At each step, Elsie could feel her fear rising once more.
“Ye will sleep beside me,” he said, once he reached her.
“I certainly willnae,” she retorted.
“Ye think, after all the effort and planning, that I’m going tae be foolish enough tae give ye a chance tae escape in the middle o’ the night,” he growled. “Nae a chance. Stand.”
She did as she was bid, more out of fear of what he might do if she didn’t. Suddenly, he took a step forward and leaned in closely. Elsie gasped and turned her head away.
He chuckled at her reaction, and she flushed with embarrassment, for while she had imagined he was going to force her to kiss him, she instead, felt the rope being wrapped around her waist.
“Dinnae flatter yersel’,” he growled.
Yanking her past the fire, he brought her to a place where a blanket already lay on the ground. He nodded abruptly at it, and Elsie knelt down, and then lay on the blanket.
“If ye dinnae want tae freeze tae death, I’d get a little closer,” he said, lying down beside her. “I can keep ye warm.”
