Page 104 of Highlanders for the Holidays
“Did your grandmother not tell ye that this lass must be bound to the clan through marriage?”
Roderick was too stunned to speak. What had his grandmother done?
“I can see that the old woman did not share that part of her vision with ye, which was probably wise on her part.” Alexander gave a dry laugh. “All the same, ye shall wed the lass.”
Lily elbowed Roderick’s side. “I heard my name. What are ye saying about me?”
“Nothing,” he hissed.
“’Twas apparent the moment ye entered the hall that ye had claimed her,” Alexander said. “But taking her to your bed is not enough. According to your grandmother, ye must be bound in marriage.”
“What are the two of you saying about me?” Lily asked in a louder whisper.
Before Roderick had time to invent something, the scribe moved to Lily’s other side and spoke to her in a hushed voice.
“Roderick said he fulfilled his duty by bringing ye here,” the scribe said in perfect English.
Roderick felt her stiffen beside him and prayed she would give him a chance to explain. He glared at the sallow clerk, willing him not to say the rest of it.
“And Alexander, Lord of the Isles, said that bringing ye here and taking ye to bed was insufficient,” the clerk droned on in a low rumble. “Ye must be bound to him in marriage.”
Lily went so pale Roderick feared she would faint. But when he took her arm to steady her, she gave him a fiery glare and shook him off.
* * *
Lily feltRoderick’s gaze return to her again and again as the clerk continued translating the exchange between Roderick and the chieftain in a low undertone. Every word was another dart to her heart.
Roderick had used her and lied to her from the start.
She fixed her gaze on a shield that hung on the wall and concentrated on her breathing. In and out. In and out. Her skin felt stretched tight against the rising tide of violent emotions inside her until she could not remain in the room another moment, could not bear to hear one more word of his deceit.
When she turned to make her escape, the stern-faced guards stood in front of the door, blocking her way. Behind her, she heard the chieftain speak, and the guards stepped aside and swung the door open. As it closed behind her, Lily ran blindly, neither knowing nor caring where she went.
