Page 72 of The Highlander's Auctioned Wife
“That experience made me realize that I had nothin’ to leave behind to keep me clan safe. It would be in turmoil, me position handed to an unworthy successor, if I had died there in that dungeon,” he went on, ignoring her gentle, heartfelt words for his own sake. “That’swhy I came to the auction. For heirs. I willnae deny that I’ve enjoyed yer company, but that reason hasnae altered. Love or nae, me clan needs heirs. And, Anna, I’m incapable of love.”
Everythin’ will be resolved by the weddin’. Ye’ll have yer freedom, if it’s what ye want. I’ll give ye that choice at the altar, once I ken everythin’ is safe.
David’s news had changed Gordon’s perspective, as keenly as his kidnapping had changed it. If he could deal with the threat tonight, then tomorrow would be hers to do with as she pleased: to marry him or not, entirely her decision. He would give her that, after taking it away before.
Indeed, it would be a better way of losing her than one day seeing her stolen from him, permanently. As for bairns—perhaps he would give the clan and title to Sophia’s children, if she ever had any.
Anna’s breath wavered, her hand trembling on her heart, her eyes creasing, eyelashes fluttering, as if she was trying to hold back tears. “I see… I kenned that, of course,” she murmured, her voice cracking. “Thank ye for… clarifyin’ yer position. Apologies for… sayin’ all that before. I daenae ken what came over me. Aye, of course I understand why that’s yer reason. Aye. Well…”
She slid off the workbench, smoothing down the front of her rumpled skirts, adjusting the lock of copper hair that had come loose.
“Well?” he prompted. “Has that changed yer mind?”
She met his eye, her smile bitter. “It wouldnae matter if it had. I never had a choice anyway. If nothin’ else, ye’ve finally made me see that choice, for me, has always been an illusion.” She walkedpast him, tossing a final remark back over her shoulder as she left: “I’ll see ye at our weddin’. Love or nae.”
He waited until the sound of her footsteps in the hallway beyond had receded, before slipping out after her. On stealthy feet, he followed her at a hidden distance, keeping watch over her, all the way up to her bedchamber.
Only when she had gone inside, and the door had closed, did he allow himself to breathe more easily, approaching the door as quietly as he could, just to be certain she was all right.
Crouching low, he peered through the keyhole, his heart hurting as he watched Anna fall into her maid’s arms, sobbing into the older woman’s shoulder. But at least she was safe, no intruder with fatal intentions lingering in the shadows.
Forgive me, lass. It’s for the best.
Pulling away from the door, unwilling to see more, he made a point of finding the guards who were meant to be watching over her. The same guards who had allowed her to sneak out to find him, when she should not have been permitted to go anywhere at all.
“Nay one comes in or out of this hallway,” Gordon hissed. “If anythin’ happens to that woman, ye’ll pay with yer heads.”
The guards stood straighter, bowing their heads to their Laird, and he knew they wouldn’t fail him. After all, he was the Devil ofthe Highlands; they wouldn’t doubt for a second that he meant the threat.
Satisfied that no harm would come to Anna overnight, Gordon departed the hallway, heading down and down and down until, at last, he came to the castle dungeons. A dismal, dreary, dripping place where he rarely had reason to set foot, but as he came to the door that led to the cells, he paused and drew in a deep lungful of the rancid, stale air.
Once he stepped through, everything would change. After twenty years, he was about to have his revenge, discovering at long last who was responsible for all he had suffered.
CHAPTER 34
“It’s nae too late,”Jane urged, weaving the last sprig of heather into Anna’s long, red hair. “Ye daenae have to do this. Until ye’re pronounced man and wife, it’s never too late.”
A knock at the door made both women jump, Anna expelling a relieved breath as Jackson poked his head into the room, flashing an encouraging grin.
“So, dear sister, am I takin’ ye to the carriage or the chapel?” he asked, stepping into the room.
It was a question Anna had been asking herself all night. Once or twice, she hadalmostgone to her brother’s room to ask him to get her out of there, but she’d only made it as far as the door before retreating to the bed again.
Yes, Jackson could and would take her away if she asked, but to what end? It wasn’t as if her parents would simply forget she existed, and the ‘blessing’ she possessed. There would beanother auction or an arranged match awaiting her; she was certain of that.
In a strange way, at leastthisis still me choice.
“The chapel,” she said, with a confidence she didn’t feel.
Jackson smiled. “Ye had a productive talk last night, then?”
“Ye could say that.” She forced a smile as her heart cracked, remembering every moment of the conversation in the forge: the singular thrill of his kiss, the want that still ached within her, and the crushing disappointment of discovering that Beathan’s warning had had merit. She’d fooled herself into thinking that Gordon’s intimate attention had been a sign of love growing; she wouldn’t make that mistake again. Whatever this was, she could at least still hope for companionship.
Jane’s brow furrowed, the maid shaking her head. She knew the truth of last night’s events, and no doubt felt like she’d failed her mistress, just as she’d failed Elinor three years prior.
“Did I miss somethin’?” Jackson asked, squinting at his sister.
Anna smiled until her cheeks hurt. “Nay, Braither. Come, we should leave or else we’ll be late.”
