Page 7 of Ruining a Highland Healer
Anyone else would have let me faither hit me. Anyone else wouldnae have cared.
But it looked like this man… cared. Despite the fact that he seemed a cold, impenetrable wall as he stood there with his hands on his hips, staring her father down, he had stopped him.
Turning his gaze to her, the man said, "Bring yer things. We dinnae have time tae waste. I’ll have a talk with yer faither an’ then I’ll find ye by the doors."
Valora nodded, not wanting to push her luck. Sidestepping her father, she pushed past her future husband, whose name she didn’t even know. Without another glance at her father, she was gone, hurrying to the chambers where she had left her small bag.
When she entered the room, she found a few more young women there, whose items were there as well. None of them spoke to her or to each other, and Valora couldn’t help but wonder if they had all met similar fates as her; if they were all being shipped off to new homes, not knowing if they would ever see their families again.
With all her items packed, Valora made her way back to the main doors of the castle. The fresh night air was cool on her skin, grounding her. She didn’t know what to expect from this man, from this marriage, but she could at least rest assured her sister would be spared. Perhaps now that Valora would be marrying for convenience, her sister would have the chance to find a man who loved her, or at least someone who was kind.
A chill coursed through her that had nothing to do with the cold air. Valora glanced wearily around her, a feeling that someone was nearby, watching. Something seemed to stir in the shadows, a movement she caught from the corner of her eye and which unsettled her. Slowly, she moved closer to the doors, where the torches that hung on the walls illuminated the area around her, giving her greater visibility.
Where are the guards when ye need them?
Valora was just about to step back inside and search for the man she was going to marry, when two pairs of strong hands grasped her. She cried out in fear, the sudden attack leaving her frightened and disoriented, and she was certain then that someone would come out to rescue her at any minute.
But even as she kicked and screamed, trying to fight the two men with all her might, no one came out of the castle. She was left alone to battle them both, kicking her legs in the air and thrashing in their grip as she desperately tried to escape.
The hands that held her were rough, unyielding. The fingers dug into her flesh, hurting her and leaving dark bruises behind. Her breath came in short, labored puffs that burned her lungs, her throat hoarse and closing up with panic as they began to drag her away. Each step they took brought her farther and farther away from safety. She could hardly fight them on her own, not when they were dragging her away so quickly and so resolutely that her own feet were barely grazing the ground.
They were Laird Keith’s men, she knew. Even in the half-light of the scant torches and the moon, she could see the colors they wore and she could identify them with ease. Laird Keith must have been furious to lose her hand, and ambitious enough to think he could have her and keep her, even if it was an insult to the man she was meant to marry—a man who, according to her father, was a very powerful laird.
"Let go o’ me!" Valora demanded, but her words fell on deaf ears. The men dragged her towards a side exit, one that didn’t seem to be guarded at all, and she couldn’t help but wonder if Laird Keith had arranged it to be so. How much influence did the man truly have?
Can he keep me if he so wishes?
CHAPTER FOUR
What have I done? God, what have I done!
Torrin kept his expression blank, his head high, his shoulders back. But deep inside, panic was beginning to settle as he thought about how reckless and impulsive he had been—two words that otherwise never described him or his actions.
He must have lost his mind; it was the only logical conclusion. Why else would he have bid on Laird MacNaecail’s daughter?
From the corner of his eye, he could see Noah glance at him every few steps, his gaze betraying all the concern the rest of his face didn’t. He, too, seemed entirely calm. The only reason Torrin knew he was worried at all was because he knew him so well.
As Noah walked to his left, Laird MacNeacail kept in pace with him to his right, the three of them walking to the main gates. Hisheart had leapt all the way to his throat, but when he spoke, his voice was calm, measured.
"I want all o’ me wife’s things tae be brought tae her new home," he told her father. "See it is arranged as soon as possible."
"O’ course," said her father, in that tone that was at the same time as eager to please as it was proud. Torrin didn’t understand the man; he was full of contradictions, too full of himself to speak to him in absolute servitude, but too aware of the importance of this marriage to make any demands—or even suggestions. "Dinnae fash. I will have everythin’ arranged."
Valora. A fittin’ name fer the lass.
It was the first time Torrin had heard her name. It would be the name he would call for the rest of his life, he realized.
When would the time come, he wondered, when her name would be as familiar to him as his own?
Better me than someone else. But how dae I explain this tae me council?
"It is a big investment," said Laird MacNeacail, clearly oblivious of Torrin’s dislike for him. The man had no concept of humility, nor any understanding of the feelings of those around him. "I understand that. So, if there is anythin’ I can dae fer ye, Laird Gunn, let me ken an’ I shall dae it."
"Thank ye, Laird MacNeacail," said Noah, jumping in before Torrin himself could respond. It was for the best; Torrin didn’t know if he could control himself and keep his opinion of Laird MacNeacail a secret. "Yer eagerness is appreciated. But now that me laird has paid ye fer yer daughter’s hand, ye have neither claim nor duty towards her. She is now Laird Gunn’s tae dae with as he pleases. Ye ken this was an auction and ye dinnae have hold on Lady Valora anymore."
Noah knew all the right things to say to Laird MacNeacail, but that didn’t mean Torrin liked to hear them. Besides, the more they discussed this arrangement, the more he was plunged into the depths of a quiet, secret panic at the thought of revealing his…brideto his council.
He had only gone to this auction to shadow Laird Keith and find out more about the man. He was never meant to leave the auction with a wife, but when he realized Laird Keith would do anything to have the girl, Torrin couldn’t let him have her; not after what he had done in the middle of the dance floor, disrespecting her like that in front of everyone.
