Page 8 of A Sinful Night with a Scot
Narrowing her eyes, she continued to stare at him.
“Me word is me bond,” he added, as though that ought to fill her with confidence.
“Fine,” she hissed.
Taking her by the arm, the laird and his companion, that she had since discovered to be named Alisdair, walked with her down to the river that was situated a little way from their camp.
Nearing the river, he pulled her towards him, untying the rope that remained at her waist.
“Dinnae even think o’ trying anything,” he growled, his eyes dark as he looked down at her.
Where exactly would I go, me laird?!
Keeping her angry thoughts to herself, she glared back at him.
“Remove the rope only tae undress, and then, wrap it back around yer waist. Dinnae mak’ me come tae check if ye’ve done as I ask.”
Nodding abruptly, she turned away from him and stormed toward a thick tree near the water’s edge. She didn’t trust that he would not try and look, and thus, the tree would provide adequate cover.
Nervously, she removed one item of clothing at a time, sneaking peaks around the tree, only to find the laird and Alisdair with their backs to her, in fairness keeping to his word.
Finally, dressed only in her chemise, she fixed the rope back around her waist. There was no point in tempting fate. The last thing she needed was him seeing her in such a state of undress.
Just as Elsie began walking to the water’s edge, she heard a rowdy racket, and turning to look just beyond a thin group of trees to her left, her mouth fell open when she saw the laird’s men, naked as the day they were born, frolicking in the water and washing themselves.
“Och, me God,” she gasped.
Her words caught their attention, and spinning to look, the men began cheering, beckoning her into the water to join them.
Throwing her arms around herself, for she had never been so naked in front of any man, she spun on her heels to retreat, only to see Laird Mackay and his companion laughing heartily at her plight.
“Ye did that on purpose,” she spat.
“The laird chuckled.
With her teeth clenched, she spat. “I swear, there will come a time that ye will feel far more humiliated than I in this moment.”
She then turned to storm off, but suddenly, the rope tugged her hard, and she tumbled backwards.
“Argh,” she cried, as her arms and legs flew in all directions.
Her face now flamed with even more anger and mortification. As though being naked in front of all the laird’s men was not dreadful enough, she was now rolling around on the ground like some imbecile.
“What is wrong with ye?” she screamed, struggling to swallow down the tears of embarrassment.
She noticed a slight flicker of regret cross his face, and then, he was beside her. Taking her by the arm, he helped her to her feet.
“Ye need tae ken one thing, Lady Elspeth,” he whispered close to her ear. “I couldnae care less about yer feelings. Now, get dressed.”
I despise ye. I have never despised anything or anyone in me life as much as I despise ye in this moment.
He smirked down at her before releasing her, leaving Elsie to hurry off back to where her clothes lay.
Once she was dressed again, with the rope back at her waist, she stormed back towards the men, still seething with anger.
“Now what?” she demanded.
The laird regarded her with a side-ways glance. “We travel tae the first village on me clan lands. Once I find the priest, we’ll marry immediately, then the deed will be done.”
