Page 25 of The Highlander's Auctioned Wife
She couldn’t decide if he was merely oblivious to the process of betrothal and marriage, or if he was trying to trick her into lessening the amount of time through sheer frustration. It concerned her a little that the length of time clearly perplexed him, for she had started to think that hewasn’tlike all the others, wanting her for her child-bearing body and that alone.
If he wasnae bothered, a year wouldnae be too long at all. Six months, certainly nae.Unease began to prickle up her spine, worrying her that her “ choice’” was just an illusion, to make herself feel better about her circumstances. Still, five weeks would be enough to gather some amount of control over her fate; she was sure of that.
“Five weeks,” he said with a nod. “Then we marry.”
His tone was firm. Definite. As though it wouldn’t matter if they hated one another, they would still be marrying at the end of that duration. But it was the only leeway she had, and she knew she’d be a fool not to take it, and figure the rest out later.
If he kisses like he was made to kiss me, why should we nae be a good match?She held onto that thought, refusing to dwell on a worse outcome when they were only at the start of theirbetrothal journey together. Indeed, only time would tell and, now, she had time.
“And daenae think about destroyin’ that drawin’,” Gordon said suddenly, surprising her. “I’ll consider it me weddin’ gift.”
Blushing furiously once again, for a very different reason, Anna wished she’d left the awful thing by the loch. She didn’t want to be reminded of what she’d drawn, just in case it turned out to be closer to the truth than she thought.
After all, the devil had a thousand ways to tempt a person and set them on the wrong path, andhewas the Devil of the Highlands for a reason. She would do well not to forget that, no matter how well he kissed…especiallybecause of how well he kissed.
CHAPTER 13
“I beg yer pardon?”Anna’s father rasped, needing a gulp of weak ale to wash down the chunk of bread he’d almost choked on.
Jackson grinned. “I think she just said she’s made her choice.”
“But there are at least ten lairds comin’ this afternoon!” Ewan protested, as if it would somehow reflect poorly on him if his sister wasn’t ready and waiting to throw herself on their mercy.
Anna’s mother was the only one who said nothing, staring at Anna with steady consternation, a line appearing between her eyebrows. Her gaze briefly moved to Gordon and back to Anna again, the older woman’s mouth flattening into a grim line.
“Aye, well they’ll just have to be sent away again,” Jackson said, sending an encouraging wink in Anna’s direction.
Did ye ken this would happen?Anna wondered, putting on a smile to reassure her family.Did ye ken that I’d heed yer words, Jackson?
She trusted him more than she trusted anyone else at Castle MacTorrach, with the sole exception of the maid, Jane. But as she already knew that Jane wouldn’t be too pleased about the decision, she was relying on Jackson’s continued support to prevent her from losing her nerve. If he thought it was a good idea, then it had to be…
Sitting back, dabbing his mouth with a napkin, a smile finally crept onto Thomas Lane’s face. The pride of a father whose children had pleased him. “Indeed, the lairds will be sent away again,” he agreed. “I’ll explain, say a thing or two that’ll make ‘em wish they’d arrived earlier, thank them for comin’, and wish them well on the return journey.”
“When will the weddin’ be?” Louisa asked quietly, her expression unchanged.
Anna didn’t dare to glance at Gordon. “In five weeks, at Castle Lyall.”
Louisa nodded, expelling a small breath of relief. “A fair period of betrothal. Nay one could argue with that.” She cast a sharp look to her left, to silence her husband before he could make any remark. “Aye, I’d say that’s very sensible.”
“For appearances, it’s wise, so ye’ll hear nay argument from me,” Thomas replied, still wearing that delighted smile.
Evidently, he was of the opinion that the ‘betrothal’ would end in marriage no matter what, having never learned that he shouldn’t underestimate his youngest daughter. If things didnotgo well, Anna wouldn’t be marrying Gordon. She hoped Gordon understood that, too.
“Will ye spend yer betrothal here?” Louisa asked hopefully.
“Nay,” Gordon replied. “Castle Lyall.”
Louisa looked to Anna. “And ye’re in agreement with this?”
“I am,” Anna answered honestly.
She was rarely permitted to go beyond the castle boundaries, and certainly no further than the woods without an escort, so, if nothing else, the next five weeks would be a much-needed adventure. A chance to see a little more of the country she called home.
“And how is it that ye’ve returned to the castle this mornin’ with Laird Lyall?” Ewan interrupted, his arms folded over his chest, behaving more like a disgruntled father than their actual father.
Anna adopted a saccharine smile and reached out to take Gordon’s arm, surprised to feel his whole body stiffen at the touch. “In truth, that’s why I decided to choose him, and have nay desire to meet these other lairds.” She peered up at Gordon, fluttering her eyelashes, putting on a fine performance of smitten damsel. “I was wanderin’, as ye ken I often do of amornin’, and a gust of wind swept away a precious letter that I had in me hand. I waded into the loch to retrieve it but me foot got stuck between some rocks. I’d still be in those icy waters if nae for His Lairdship, who happened to be ridin’ by. Me savior. Me hero.”
It wasn’t the truth, and she didn’t like to tell tall tales, but she figured it would be a more palatable truth than her almost dying in the bog. Her father constantly warned her about that spot, and she didn’t want to spend what might be her last day at Castle MacTorrach by proving that she couldn’t be trusted with her own safety.
