Page 1 of The Icy Highlander's Virgin
CHAPTER ONE
"Ye mean to tell me there's another condition?" Erica's voice cut through the stone chamber with razor precision. "And ye kent this all along, and didn’t think it necessary to let me ken?"
Councilman James shifted in his chair, his weathered hands fumbling with the parchment spread before him. The man who'd helped her navigate the treacherous first months of her sudden inheritance now looked like he'd rather face a Highland winter naked than meet her eyes.
"Aye, Lady McLaren. I... I dinnae consider how urgent it would be. I ken one of the laws of the clan was the leader must be married upon becoming laird or lady, but I didnae ken ye would need to do it so quickly until last night."
"How considerate of ye, James." Erica's fingers pressed against the stone table, her knuckles white. "But tellin’ me I must marrywithin a sennight or lose everythin’ is hardly ‘bringin’ up the matter’, I assure ye."
The councilman's face flushed red above his gray beard. "I only just learnt the time frame meself. The law is clear, me lady. Ye must wed within half a year from assumin' the position. That period is nearly up."
Erica turned away from him, pacing to the narrow window that overlooked the courtyard of Castle McLaren. Below, servants went about their daily tasks, unaware that their lady's world had just tilted on its axis. Again.
How can I marry a stranger? How can I trust any man with power over me? Worse of all, do it within one week?
James cleared his throat. "There are several suitable candidates," James continued, his voice gaining confidence. "Laird Morrison has expressed interest, and young Laird Campbell sent word just last week that he could consider the marriage under certain?—"
"Consider?" Erica whirled around, her brown eyes flashing. "How generous of him."
She'd heard the whispers about both men. Morrison was known for his heavy hand with servants and his three wives, who'd all died under mysterious circumstances.
Campbell was barely twenty, more interested in his own reflection than governing, but his cruelty to those beneath him was already legendary.
Just like Leo.
Her brother's face flashed in her mind—that cold smile, the way he'd spoken about breaking her before marriage, how he'd enjoyed the fear in her eyes. Leo was dead now, killed just months ago when Nicholas had rescued her from that nightmare, but the memory of his cruelty burned as fresh as ever.
"What about the betrothal contract?" she asked, her voice deadly quiet.
James blinked. "What betrothal contract?"
"Daenae play games with me." Erica stepped closer, and the old man actually leaned back in his chair. "Ye've been hidin' one condition from me for months. What else have ye kept to yersel'?"
"I... there was mention of a previous arrangement with the laird, but I assumed it was void since?—"
"What arrangement?" When he didn't answer, she slammed her palm against the table. "What previous arrangement, James?"
"Since ye were supposed to be dead," he whispered.
The words hung in the air like smoke from a dying fire. Erica's heart hammered against her ribs, but she kept her voice level. "Tell me about this arrangement."
James's hands shook as he reached for another piece of parchment, this one yellowed with age. "Yer parents... they arranged a match when ye were just a bairn. To ensure peace between the clans and strengthen both territories."
"With whom?"
"Lachlan Galloway. Laird Kinnaird."
Lachlan Galloway.
She'd heard stories about the Galloway laird—how he'd killed his own father in front of his entire clan, how he'd exiled his mother, how he ruled with an iron fist that brooked no dissent.
Another man drunk on power. Another monster.
"Nay." The word came out flat and final. "I'll nae marry a man who murders his own blood."
"But me lady, now that it’s clear ye’re alive, and the rightful heir of the clan, the contract binds ye. Besides, Laird Kinnaird is a good man."
"A good man?" Erica's laugh held no humor. "Do ye ken what good men do to women, James? They pretend to care, they make promises, and then they show their true nature when ye're trapped."
