Page 8 of Saved By the Cruel Highlander
The men looked at each other. It was obvious by their confused expressions that they hadn’t thought that far ahead. Their goal had just been to convince Elias to take a wife, and they hadn’t thought beyond it.
“A year? A month? A week?” Elias pressed. “And should I pick any lady—mayhap the next one I see? Does she have to be a noble? Do I need yer approval first?”
He wasn’t asking for permission, though. He’d thrown those questions sarcastically, showing the council just how much he opposed their newest orders.
“A month should be sufficient,” Fergus said with a nod. “That should give ye enough time to find a lady and woo her.”
Elias clenched his jaw. Once the old ones had their minds made up, there was no changing them. Still, that didn’t mean he would go easily to the slaughter—as he tended to think of marriage.
However, having someone around to assist in the boring tasks he hated doing, such as overseeing the maids, might be worth it.
He rubbed a hand down his short beard, contemplating how his life might change with a wife.
A knock sounded at the door, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Enter,” Elias ordered.
A young maid timidly stepped inside. Her eyes darted around the table, then landed on Elias. He scowled, even though he was used to maids looking at him with horror. Not just because of the scar running down his face. He was aware that people referred to him as ‘the Beastly Laird,’ presumably because of his foul temper.
But he didn’t mind. Not really. It kept people wary of him, which meant he wasn’t constantly pestered unless there was something important to relay. For this young maid to brave the council chambers, her message must be important.
“Out with it,” Elias said after a minute, when she still didn’t respond.
The maid raised wide green eyes and then quickly lowered them again, her cheeks turning pink.
“Excuse me for interruptin’,” she said. Her voice cracked, so she took a few seconds to clear her throat. “There’s a lady at the gates askin’ for an audience with ye, Me Laird.”
Elias’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Did she say what she wanted?”
The maid shook her head. “Nay. Just that her message was for the Laird and only him.”
“Send her escort in so they can get food and drink,” Fergus ordered gently.
The maid looked up and met his gaze. Her eyes didn’t shy away from the old man like they did with Elias.
“She doesnae have an escort. She came alone.”
Shocked gasps filled the room. It was practically unheard of for a woman to travel alone, without a guard or escort.
Elias smirked and glanced at the elders. “I have to go meet this lady.” Although he was smiling, his tone was full of sarcasm. “After all, she may be me future bride.”
CHAPTER THREE
“Let her through the gates,” Elias told one of his men who had been waiting outside the council chambers.
“Already did, Me Laird.” The man beamed.
Elias narrowed his eyes at him. “Without me approval?”
When the man cringed, Elias figured he’d made his point.
“Where is she?”
“She was shown to yer audience chamber, Me Laird.”
Elias’s eyebrows rose. “Is there a guard with her?”
The man blanched. “Uh, nay. She’s a lady. We didnae think?—”
