Page 31 of Claimed By the Heartless Highlander
Then Duncan turned and gave Ailis a look so stern that she felt like she was Lily’s age, getting caught playing with her father’s papers and ink—or sneaking into the library when she was meant to be sleeping.
The meaning of that look was clear. Running away was not an option. Duncan expected her to follow him, and there would be consequences if she didn’t, promise or no promise.
Ailis followed, shivering a little in her damp dress and bare feet, despite the relative warmth of the spring day.
Duncan didn’t say anything as they went back to the castle, save for vague comments in response to his daughter’s monologue and questions. Ailis was content to keep quiet as she considered what she might do.
She’d known she was testing her luck, and his patience, in taking Lily out beyond the walls. And yet she couldn’t bring herself to regret it, especially not in the face of the child’s joy.
She might apologize for being too bold and disregarding his words from the night before, but she wasn’t truly sorry for her actions as a whole. That, she suspected, might be a problem for Duncan.
It was clear he was used to his word being law, especially where Lily was concerned.
Once they passed the castle walls, Connor hurried back to his post. Ailis didn’t blame him. Like her, the warrior knew his laird was furious, and there were likely furious words to be had on the matter, as soon as Lily was safely out of earshot. She only wished she had the luxury of taking the same way out.
Inside, they traversed the halls to the private wing for the Laird and his family.
Duncan sent a guard to summon a maid and gently handed his daughter over. “Go get some dry clothes, then get to yer lessons, Lily.”
The girl pouted a bit, but true to her word, she didn’t say anything in protest.
Ailis turned to go to her own rooms. She was shivering, and getting a change of clothes seemed like the perfect excuse to try and avoid—or at least delay—the storm she knew was coming.
Duncan’s hand settled on her shoulder like an iron clamp. “Where do ye think ye’re going?”
“To get changed into dry clothes.” She glanced at him. “’Tis cold in damp garments.”
“There’s a fire in me study, and it’s there we’re goin’. Ye and I need to have a talk.”
His low, harsh growl made it clear he was not going to be denied, and any protest she made would only make the situation worse.
Silently, she followed him, contemplating what she would say. She was still cold, but it seemed unimportant at the moment.
Inside his study, Duncan locked the door, kindled the fire with rough, violent movements, and then spun around to face her. “What the devil did ye think ye were doin’?” His tone was so sharp that Ailis was glad of the desk between them and his self-control.
She bit her lip, then lifted her chin. “I wanted to enjoy the water. I’ve never been to the sea. When Lily said she’d never had a chance to play in the ocean, I invited her to come with me.”
“Ye had no right!” Duncan’s face twisted in a snarl. “I told ye last night, me daughter is none of yer concern! Nae yers to interfere with. And certainly, I didnae give ye permission to go off with her without tellin’ me!”
“Och, aye? And who was it that decided his precious business with his braither was too important to stay? Ye left her in me care with the puppies. And I was careful. We never went more than calf-deep in the water, and there was a guard with us. Aye, and plenty, I’ll wager, who kenned where we were, given that ye found us with nay trouble.”
She’d been prepared to receive his anger. But not if he was once again going to try to treat her as a complete outsider. That she would not accept without offering him some sharp words of her own.
“I left ye with the puppies because I didnae think ye were foolish enough to take it as permission to do whatever ye liked! Especially after me warnings.” He was all but roaring now, anger making a devil’s mask of his handsome face.
“Ye gave me me freedom! Ye promised it to me!”
“Freedom for yerself, not to go wanderin’ off with me daughter!”
“And what if I did?” She folded her arms. “Ye should be glad I was willin’ to risk yer temper and do somethin’ about the way ye’ve neglected her. ‘Tis shameful, the way ye keep her caged.”
If she’d thought he was furious before, it was nothing compared to the dark rage that flared in his eyes now. “Ye dare…”
“I dare. She’s a child, nae a beast to be trammeled. And ye’ve never taken her to the shore, despite the fact that it’s within view of the walls. God above, me faither had three daughters, and nay idea what to do with the lot of us most times, but he permitted us that at least!”
“Ye dinnae…”
“I dinnae understand? Well, ye’re right, I dinnae, but I ken that yer daughter says she’s never been beyond the walls afore today. Even a toddler can splash into the water or go berry-picking, so long as they’re watched properly. So, is she lyin’, or have ye really been so cruel as to trap yer daughter with nay regard for her happiness?”
