Page 61 of A Sinful Night with a Scot
Her voice was laden with sorrow, and Keane felt a pang of worry gripe in his stomach. Taking the letter from her, he settled beside her and began to read.
Elspeth,
The very fact that I am having tae write this missive tae ye is irksome. But then, I suppose I ought tae expect naething else from a whimsical woman, a young lass who kens naething about responsibility. Had ye been a son, this would never have been necessary.
Ye cannae ken how disappointed I am in yer actions. The alliance between the Munro and Gunn clans is an importantcontract. One that must be honored. Yer recklessness has made me look like a fool. In me life, I have never been as humiliated.
Nay doubt, yer own happiness is all that concerns ye. Nae the future o’ this clan. And yet, that is where me responsibility lies, and will remain, above all else. Including ye.
Ye have defied me, daughter, and I am angry. Yet, there may still be a chance we can reconcile. It is nae something I am willing tae discuss in this communication. However, ye must write me back so an arrangement can be made fer us tae talk properly. Things cannae be left the way they are.
I await yer reply.
Laird Roland Munro
While she had told him what kind of man her father was, Keane could hardly believe the words on the page. Disbelief, anger, and a sense of injustice swirled around him simultaneously.
His own daughter was kidnapped, and this is the manner in which he speaks tae her?
Not once had he asked her if she was well, or harmed, or safe. There was not one bit of concern for her well-being. In fact, the laird only bemoaned his own lot, more concerned with his reputation than his daughter’s welfare.
“God’s teeth,” he growled. “What a bastard.”
With her head still in her hands, Elsie turned sideways to look up at him. With her brows furrowed, and a heavy sadness he had never seen in her, she said, “But he’s nae wrong. I have disappointed him and let the clan down.”
Keane’s eyes flew wide at her words, and dropping the letter to the floor, he spun toward her. Taking her wrists gently in his hands, he pulled her to face him.
“Nay, Elsie. Ye cannae believe that. Yer faither is a cruel and heartless man. I ken ye told me already the way he treated ye. But I will admit, until reading this missive, I dinnae really think I understood how bad he really is.”
Elsie sighed and dropped her gaze. She stared aimlessly past him, lost in her own thoughts. Thoughts that pained Keane greatly.
Ye cannae begin tae understand. This has been me experience all me life. He has nae once spoken tae me with any kindness. I am naething tae him but a tool tae be used. He is grateful fer me existence only in the ways he can use me.
“That’s nae how a faither should be,” Keane said tenderly.
Elsie lifted her head, giving him a strange look. She glanced at her hands, her eyes flying wide. Only then, did she realize that he had heard everything she had been thinking.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didnae mean tae?—”
She shook her head and cut him off. “It’s fine. It is just going tae tak’ some getting used tae.” She smiled then, her eyebrows lifting. “And perhaps, I need tae be more careful when ye are touching me.”
He feigned a scowl. “Ye wouldnae dare keep secrets from me, would ye, Elsie?”
“I kept me affection from ye fer long enough.”
He smirked. “Or so ye think.”
Her eyes widened and she looked surprised.
“Come on.” He stood and pulled her to her feet. “It is a fine day. Let’s go fer a ride. Ye need something tae put that smile back on yer face.” He took a step forward, brushed his fingers against her cheeks, and lowered his lips to hers, if only briefly. “The smile that makes me heart sing.”
Elsie blushed as she gazed back at him.
As they were heading to the stables, Keane heard a soldier’s bellow echoing across the courtyard.
“Someone is approaching.”
Halting in mid-step, he changed direction. Still holding onto Elsie’s hand, he headed toward the gates. By the time he reachedthem, the gates were yawning open, granting access to two riders, both of whom brought their horses to a steady standstill once inside the castle grounds.
