Page 65 of The Highlander's Auctioned Wife
“We’ll marry whenIsay I’m ready. I willnae be rushed, nae even by ye,” she managed to croak out, before ducking under his arm and walking away, the butterflies in her stomach leaving no room for breakfast.
CHAPTER 30
For the next few days,Anna made a point of avoiding Gordon. She didn’t dine in the Sea Hall, she didn’t wander where she thought he might be, preferring to withdraw to her chambers and Jane’s company.
Whether or not Gordon had sent word to her family to let them know that a weddingwasn’tyet confirmed, she didn’t know, but figured she could contend with that problem if it arose.
That’ll teach ye,she mused as she explored the upper floors of the castle, far from where Gordon ever went.If I must tell me family they’re mistaken in yer presence, that’ll be punishment enough.
She imagined her father’s fury, her mother’s dismay, Ewan’s protest, and Jackson’s laughter at the scene. Yet, the trouble was, she wasn’t sure howshewould feel, making such a statement. Half of her wanted that marriage, whether it camesooner or later, and half of her wanted to make a point while she still could—that no one decided her life but her.
Is that nae what ye promised, Gordon?Her heart sank, praying it hadn’t been an elaborate ruse all along, with him merely saying what he thought she wanted to hear. That would make him little better than Laird Glendenning and send her doubts spiraling.
Finding a short staircase that led up to a weathered door, curiosity shelved her worries for a moment. Glancing back to make sure no one was watching, she took hold of the iron ring that served as a handle and opened it.
A gust of cold wind smacked her in the face, filling her lungs with fresh air after days of the stagnant air in her bedchamber. She gulped it down, shocked and delighted by the temperature, and promptly headed out to see what lay beyond.
“Goodness…” she gasped, finding herself on what felt like the top of the world.
Considering that the castle was built into the cliff and the rocks, it was sometimes difficult to make out where the building ended and nature began. Both seamlessly blended together.
But it appeared that she had found some sort of tower or turret that offered an expansive view across sea and land: a secret lookout, unmanned, to watch for encroaching enemies. And, judging by the tufts of hardy grass and patches of yellowedlichen that were growing across the space, no one had been up there for a while.
Fighting against the blustery wind, Anna approached what amounted to a wall—a waist-high barrier of vaguely carved rock, hollowed out from the cliff, rather than a manmade thing of masonry and bricks.
She gripped the edge and peered over, her eyes widening at the sight below: the training ground, where soldiers sparred and honed their bodies and their skills.
Despite being so high up, one particular body caught her eye: someone she would have known immediately, even if she were twice as high and had nothing but moonlight to see by.
We wouldnae have to be so far apart if ye hadnae made me doubt ye…
Gordon appeared to be training some younger soldiers, letting them come at him with practice swords, moving as gracefully as a dancer to block and parry their attacks. He had shed his shirt, the majesty of his body on full display with every smooth movement, every whirl, every thrust and arc of his sword, like an extension of himself.
“I wish I could draw ye like this,” she murmured, grateful for the wind that cooled her suddenly flushed face.
He really was majestic. A king among men. And he was hers, if she but said the word, agreeing to the wedding he’d arranged without telling her.
“Lady Anna?” A startled voice turned her around sharply, her heart leaping in surprise.
Seeing who stood there, she released a breath of relief. “Goodness, M’Laird, ye scared me.”
“As ye scared me, M’Lady,” Beathan replied, furrowing his brow. “Forgive me, but I saw ye come through this door and… I feared the worst.”
“The worst?” Anna raised an eyebrow, uncertain of his meaning.
Beathan approached, coming to stand at her side in front of the hewn wall. “I thought, perhaps, that… ye were nae feelin’ quite so happy with yer situation.” He peered over the edge, his expression. “But I see that I was mistaken.”
At once, Anna understood, a shocked gasp leaving her lips. “Heavens, nay! In truth, I dinnae even ken what was out here until I came through the door. I wouldnae dream of doin’ somethin’ like that, regardless of how unhappy I might be.” She shuddered at the thought of that long, fatal drop. “I thank ye for comin’ to be sure, but… aye, there’s nay cause for concern here.”
“Apologies, M’Lady.” The older man cleared his throat. “It’s just that there’s been so much tragedy in this castle already. Isuppose it makes a person leap to the worst conclusion, instead of the simplest. And considerin’ ye havenae shown yerself for several days, and there’s been talk of a rift between ye and me nephew, I’m afraid Ididjump to that worst conclusion.”
“A rift?” Anna frowned. “Nay, I wouldnae call it that. More of a… disagreement.”
Beathan mustered a sad little laugh. “Honestly, I’m surprised it took him this long to find the means to push ye away. I thought, maybe, he’d overcome the past at last, but… I suppose nae.” He shook his head. “In truth, I was curious why a lass like ye would settle for such a life as the one he’s offerin’, when I ken ye had most of the Highlands to choose from. I’m still nae sure.”
Why would he want to push me away?
Anna’s gaze flitted from Gordon’s muscular, powerful body to Beathan, who stood hunched against the wind, but a different question sprang to her lips first. “Settle? What do ye mean by that?”
