Page 13 of Captured By the Highland Devil
“Isnae this just sad…” she murmured.
Then, her eyes landed on the metal bowls in a corner of the room and she realized they were for his dogs. Closing the door, she retreated to her rooms and found that footmen had delivered her trunks and bags, so she set out to unpack them.
Striding to his meeting room, an intimate assembly room where his father and his advisors would gather, Ruben summoned a messenger. He had to make the church and the Crown aware of the marriage and could not delay.
As he arranged the papers, the door slipped open. He did not look up. “I daenae need ye, Howe.”
“It’s me, brother,” Norah said quietly.
Instantly, his head snapped up. “Norah—” He dropped the papers and strode to her, “Are ye well? Did the journey exhaust ye?”
“Nay,” Norah said as she took a seat.
“Was the marriage and the celebration too much for ye? Because we will have another one tonight and I?—”
Exasperated, Norah waved her hands, “Stop, please, stop. Nay, nothin’ of the marriage or the feast after flustered me. Why does everyone think I am that fragile? Doesnae anyone see that me health has improved? I’m nae as weak nor useless.”
“Nay one is sayin’ that, Norah,” Ruben assured her. “But we do ken ye get flustered at times.”
“I am nae flustered,” she said, “But I am unhappy. Why did ye have to be forced to marry the enemy?”
Taking a seat across her, Ruben leaned in and braced his forearms on his upper thighs. “It was an order from the King, Norah. I could nae ignore or disobey his order.
“I suppose the war years ago and the continuin’ skirmishes between our men and theirs had reached the King's ears,” he said. “The King already has his hands tied up in issues with the English. I suppose he dinnae want any more troubles on his hands.”
She rolled her eyes. “There are always issues with the English.”
His lips flickered up. “That’s very true.”
“This girl,” Norah said. “Do ye like her?”
Ruben shook his head and stood as the messenger entered the room. After handing off the letter to the man with strict order to go straight to the archbishop, he returned to Norah.
“Likin’ her or nae likin’ her has nothin’ to do with this marriage,” he said. “All that matters is that we hold the union long enough for the two lairdships to be civil. The King will be satisfied then.”
Taking her brother’s hand, Norah asked. “But what of yer happiness? What about yer satisfaction? Should that nae count?”
He swallowed and took a moment while deciding what to say. His shoulders fell an inch. “I am a soldier, Norah. Me satisfaction comes from kennin’ that the people I serve are happy, healthy and safe.”
Her face fell in disappointment. “But what about love, Ruben? I ken ye remember how Maither and Faither were, even when Faither was as dedicated and decisive as a warrior as ye are. Ye deserve to be happy as well, nay just—ye cannae sacrifice yer life all the time for others and nay have anything for yerself.”
Ruben did not have the heart to tell her he had given up on love she spoke of a long time ago. His sister was a dreamer—or at least she used to be. He remembered when she’d come to the breakfast table recanting the last fairy tale she’d read with a hopeful glimmer in her eyes.
Tales about forsaken princes and poor women or hopeless princesses and the men, farriers, blacksmiths, or fishermen who loved them. The tales of forbidden—and unexpected—love were ones she saw as the best and the worthiest, but Ruben had no such ideals.
He tried to smile, but it fell flat. “Norah, ye have to understand, leaders daenae have the freedom to find love like ye want.”
When her face fell, he was quick to add, “Nae to say it doesnae happen. There are a few lairds I have heard of who have found the love of their lives in the most unexpected way, but the best I can do with this marriage is hope for civility.”
She shook her head. “Do ye want to have bairns with a woman ye daenae love?”
“T’is me duty,” he said. “I ken ye are worried, Norah but worryin’ will nae make any of this better. Why daenae ye take yer mind off it by helpin’ the servants prepare for the welcomin’ feast tonight, eh? I am sure cook will turn a blind eye one of those sweet buns go missing.”
She narrowed her eyes, “Ye’re tryin’ to distract me.”
“I simply daenae want ye to worry,” he replied. “I ken it’s nae what ye wanted but let’s make the most of it.”
Norah let out a long sigh but still stood and hugged him warmly before she left the room. Rubbing his palms on his thighs, Ruben stood and left the room as well, only this time, he headed out to meet with the guards.
