Page 8 of Claimed By the Heartless Highlander
That’s the answer. He’s never kenned aught about me but the letters I sent him, and so long as I’m nae behavin’ too outrageously—at least while I’m home—anythin’ I do can be explained as nervous vapors. I’m free to be as difficult or as careless as I please, so long as it’s nae enough for Faither to recognize it as a ploy. Surely, as indifferent as he is, it willnae take much to convince him that I’m nae the sort of lass he wants to marry. And if that fails, I might be able to convince his clan and kinfolk that I’m nae the sort they want to see married to their Laird.
It was a good plan. A man could only take so many bad habits—dropping cups on his lap,accidentallyelbowing him in the sides, or stepping on his feet before he grew tired of it. And his kin would take only so many displays of clumsiness before suggesting he find someone more refined.
Ailis went about the task of finding her traveling bags and deciding what she wanted to bring with her. However, as she packed and plotted, she couldn’t help but feel a faint sense of regret.
Duncan was a handsome man, and that voice of his was everything she’d ever imagined when her stories described a man as having a “deep, dark, smoky voice like rough velvet.” In fact, it was better because writing had never caught all the nuances and inflections of such a voice.
His voice, combined with the deep blue of his eyes, his looks, and his stoic, brooding expression made her feel like she’d swallowed butterflies. She had an urge to run her fingers through his hair to feel the softness and see if she could discern all the colors in his dark locks.
She wanted to run her hands over his muscles, to see if they were as firm as she had imagined. The very thought made her blush in mortification, especially given the circumstances, but it was the truth. She’d spent a long time reading romance novels, and never getting to live one.
Now she had a man who could have stepped out of the pages of a romance, claiming her as his wife, and she couldn’t help but think of what it would be like to experienceallthe aspects of those tales. The romantic aspects, at least.
He was also offering her the freedom she’d barely even allowed herself to dream of having. A chance to be her own woman, with no demands on her time or her behavior. By his words, he’d not care if she ran about the woods, wild as a woodland fairy, and danced in the moonlight like a village maid seeking a paramour under the stars.
But that was the problem, wasn’t it? He’d not care. And for all she didn’t want a husband who’d treat her like property or a witless fool, she did want one who would at least offer her those experiences she’d been dreaming about. Who would care what she did, even if he didn’t demand control over it?
If I have to choose between a life without love and a life with less freedom, then now I ken which one I’d choose.
A knock on her door pulled her out of her thoughts.
At her call, Freya came in, her eyes bright with concern. “Grace is plannin’ the feast, but I wanted to check on ye. Everything’s happenin’ so fast, and tomorrow ye’ll be leavin’ us.” She came closer, her eyes searching her face for reassurance. “I ken how much ye’ve insisted on havin’ a love marriage, but ye’ve only communicated with letters. Are ye sure of what ye’re doin’, Ailis?”
Ailis hugged her sister. “I cannae say I’m nae nervous, but I do have a plan. I ken what I’m doin’, Freya darlin’, so dinnae fret on me behalf too much, even if me nerves get the better of me every now and then.”
Freya smiled, and Ailis felt her resolve strengthen. One way or another, she’d find a way to return to those who loved her.
Then she leaned back and regarded her sister. “And what sort of plans have ye and Grace made?”
Freya smiled, genuinely happy to be able to help. “Well, since we cannae have a regular betrothal feast—we dinnae have near enough time to invite all the important people in the Highlands—Grace and I decided to suggest a cèilidh. Faither approved, so we’ve called in the musicians and the clanfolk in the nearby villages, and Grace thinks most of them will come, since it’s such a big event.”
“She’s likely to be right about that.”
Cèilidhs were infrequent, reserved for major seasonal festivals and coming-of-age milestones within Clan Clyde. They were always well-attended. Ailis was willing to bet this one would be even more crowded than usual, given the curiosity of the local clanfolk.
Anyone who could find a clean set of decent clothes to wear was likely to come, unless they had pressing business at home. It was a perfect excuse for her “nerves.”
We’ll also be required to dance, at least a couple’s reel. And I imagine even a stoic like Laird Muir can only take so much of havin’ his toes squashed and his shins accidentally bruised…
* * *
The lass—Ailis, he supposed he’d better begin calling her, even in his mind—was planning something. He might not know her too well as of yet, but he’d had plenty of experience with that wide-eyed, too-bright, nervous smile.
He also knew the difference between true nerves and mischief. This, for all she tried to disguise it behind a guileless expression, was the latter.
Which was why he wasn’t too surprised when, as she joined him at the table for the feast, she managed to “accidentally” knock a cup of water into his lap.
“Och, me apologies! I’m nae usually so clumsy…”
“Dinnae fret. It will dry.” He dabbed the water with a cloth offered to him by one of the servants. Then, just to get a reaction, he muttered in a low voice that only she could hear, “Besides that, Me Lady, I cannae deny that it is effective in coolin’ the blood—something I’ve sorely needed since I saw ye in person.”
The statement had the benefit of both being true and making her flush with honest embarrassment. He didn’t miss the way her gaze roamed over his frame either.
It was clear that he wasn’t the only one affected. That made him feel more cheerful and more tolerant of the discomfort that came with being surrounded by more people than he was used to.
It had been a long time since he’d stepped outside the borders of his lands, and there were few folk in his home that he didn’t know well. Being surrounded by people who were strangers made him feel uneasy.
Being able to tease his new betrothed was also a new experience, but one that took his mind off the stress of his situation. It was an amusement he’d not expected to find.
