Page 18 of The Highlander's Auctioned Bride
“Is that an order?” she asked with a hint of sarcasm.
He held out his arm, his gaze intense. “Aye, lass. Get used to them.”
And so, he led the two of them through the tables, past the disapproving gazes of almost everyone else in the hall, and into the back room.
This time they were joined by the other councilmen, including Marcus, and Bram Wallace. Bram was the only one who gave her a faint smile as they all gathered around their laird.
“Congratulations!” Marcus said—his smile did not reach his eyes.
There were many things that she wanted to address. She thought of giving her condolences about Lillian even—but before she could attempt it he was already gone.
Next to step forward was Bram Wallace. He was far easier in manner than Marcus. He took her hand in a looser grip and squeezed it reassuringly as he smiled at her.
“Charmed, Miss Brown. I am Bram Wallace, the head of the MacLennan council, and we are honored to have ye, lass.”
He had a crooked smile that should have been off-putting but was strangely charming.
She curtsied to him, and then MacLennan briskly introduced her to the others. It was a whirlwind of names she hadn’t a hope of remembering and she felt increasingly overwhelmed.
“Gentlemen,” James said, his deep voice commanding attention. “Let us proceed.”
She turned back to glance at him, there was the barest hint of smugness in the way his mouth was turned up at the corner. Her stomach sank to the floor as she imagined his self-satisfaction at having ‘won’ her.
“We’ll be wed in a week,” James declared.
“Aweek?” Maisie exclaimed in tandem with Marcus and Bram.
James was unphased by their shocked expressions. “A week,” he repeated, turning to Maisie’s father, who had followed them into the room. “Is that enough time to gather yer kin, Mr. Brown?”
He nodded his head enthusiastically. “Aye, me laird.”
James nodded and turned his attention to Marcus. “Marcus, you’ll assist me in the paperwork?”
“A week, isnae that a bit soon?” Marcus spluttered.
“Ye all have been pressurin’ me for years to get wed.” He wrapped his arm suddenly around Maisie’s waist and pulled her against his solid body. “I’ve found the lass I want to wed, so I willnae wait any longer.”
“As is yer right, me laird,” Bram said. He put his hand on Marcus’s arm, holding him back from arguing any further. Marcus glanced at him, and he narrowed his eyes before looking back at MacLennan with a more neutral expression.
“Very well, as ye wish,” he conceded and stepped back. “Come, Mr. Brown.”
Maisie glanced at her father, a tightness in her chest that he was leaving her. James released her and there was a tense but brief exchange as her father approached. He clearly felt on display in front of so many onlookers.
“Well done, Maisie, I am proud of ye,” he said quietly. “I will see ye soon.”
He did not hug her, indeed, they did not touch at all, and Maisie felt bereft as he left the room.
Daenae leave me,she wanted to say, but he was already gone.
Maisie glanced up at James. From this close, she was struck with just how tall he was, and it knocked the breath out of her.
He smirked. “Aye, Miss Brown? Anythin’ to add?”
She had little choice but to go through with things now, it seemed that everything had been decided for her.
She thought of her father and how happy he seemed. Even just now his face was more relaxed than she had seen it in weeks.
She would do this for his sake, and she would find a way to manage somehow.
