Page 16 of The Highlander's Auctioned Bride
Perhaps he will wed Lillian and keep me in a cage as his mistress,she thought scathingly, trying to ignore the stealthy little thrill that the thought instilled in her.
It had been a strange meeting. As the council members had left, the mask she had seen in the hall had fallen away again. His face was relaxed and almost amused. He was one man with hispeople and another with her and she couldn’t fathom why that should be.
As she emerged from the room back into the hubbub of the great hall she had never been so grateful to see her father in her life. One look at her expression, and he was on his feet, waiting for her to reach him before leaning close to her.
“What happened? Are ye alright? If he has done anythin’ improper I shall?—”
“Nae, Faither,” she said hurriedly, pulling him into his seat. She could feel Lillian’s eyes on her and did not need him to make a scene.
“Well, then, what did he say?” her father asked eagerly. “There must have been a reason for him to ask for ye. None of the other girls have followed ye.”
“He’s a bampot, I want naethin’ to dae with him,” Maisie answered honestly, fed up with her own confusing emotions toward the laird. “I just want to go home, Da. Once we return, we can solve everythin’ together. I’ll help more. Ye can confide in me from now on.”
Her father pursed his lips. “Maisie…ye dinnae ken what will happen.”
“I dinnae care,” she hissed. “Enough, Da. Let this infernal night be done and we’ll go back to our ordinary life, no matter how poor it may be.”
She picked up her wine and took a healthy swallow, only to realize she had accidentally picked up her father’s port. She choked slightly as she felt it flood her throat and then looked at the glass approvingly.
“That’s better than the wine.”
“Dinnae get any ideas, me girl,” her father murmured as he plucked the glass from her fingers.
Suddenly, a hush fell over everyone in the hall as James emerged. The strange intimacy she had felt from being alone with him had evaporated; all the heat had left his eyes, and they were cold and calculating once more.
She couldn’t decide if she wanted to be alone with him again or throw her glass at his head. Everything about him was designed to vex her. She wanted to escape the room, forget he ever existed.
Her eyes were glued to his every movement.
He walked in front of the high table and looked out at the assembled ladies. He appeared bigger and more muscular than she had ever seen him. If any man had ever embodied the word ‘laird’ it was him.
“I have made me decision!” he stated firmly, his eyes flitting about the room, but never so much as glancing at her or her father.
Thank goodness,she thought gratefully. He hasnae picked me.
The room fell silent, everyone watching with rapt attention. The other ladies were sitting forward in their chairs, Lillian amongst them, her dark brown eyes staring intensely at MacLennan.
The laird drew it out for an endless moment—toying with them.
It took everything in her not to scoff out loud.
“Me bride will be…”
MacLennan looked over the room, letting the suspense settle in, and then, as though it were happening to someone else, that dark blue gaze fell on her and Maisie felt her heart jump into her throat.
“Miss Maisie Brown.”
CHAPTER 7
No.There must be some mistake.
Maisie stared at that steely gaze for what felt like an eternity, a cold feeling spreading through her veins as she watched his expression darken with animalistic need.
She couldn’t believe her ears. How had this happened? She had barely had a civil conversation with the man. She had made her disdain for him so plain even a simpleton would see it.
Why me? Is he insane?
“Och, Maisie, this is wonderful!” her father said. She turned to him, completely numb, to see tears in his eyes as he gave her a brief but firm hug.
