Page 3 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds
“Eva, it’s me.” Sloan finally stopped the horse. “I’ll not hurt you.”
Embarrassed by her reaction, she mumbled, “I’m sorry, Sloan.”
Ahead, Snow Queen was heading back toward them. Eva turned sideways so she could face Sloan. “I didn’t mean to fight you. My thanks for coming after me.”
Her brother’s two guards came abreast, but Sloan waved them back to the path. “Eva,” he said, waiting to make sure the guards were far enough away not to hear his words. “What the hell did the earl do to you? You’ve never been afraid of me.”
He was right. She’d known Sloan all her life and knew he would protect her from anything and anyone. He’d just proven it. “I’m not afraid of you.” She swiped a falling tear from her cheek, hoping he wouldn’t notice.
Her brother had arranged for an English earl, Sir Basil de Stain, to meet her two moons ago. He’d come on two occasions, hoping for a match. Eva had felt more like a prize set on a table. He’d studied her, rarely speaking to her except for polite discussion, instead focusing on her brother, the chieftain. They’d conversed at length, to the point where her mother had said, “Are you interested in marrying my son or my daughter, my lord?”
The earl had shot daggers at her mother, but that never stopped Rut MacVey, who’d responded by crossing her arms and taking a step closer. “You’re ignoring my daughter.”
He’d replied, “She’s a lass. I have more important discussions available to me.”
Rut ground her heel on his instep until the boor winced. “Oh, pardon me.” Then she’d smiled and whisked her daughter away.
“I heard it didn’t go well, Eva. Your brother wasn’t fond of the earl, but did he hurt you?”
She shook her head. He hadn’t hurt her, just offended her. He’d asked to see her breasts when they were given a few moments in private at his request. Eva had been shocked, unable to speak, so he’d reached for her and attempted to yank off the top of her gown, but she’d pulled away and kicked him.
That had ended the impending betrothal.
And stirred a new hatred for men, though she reminded herself that Sloan was not like the earl.
Or was he? Were all grown men so crude? This question forced her to rethink her desire to ever marry. Even if her dear father were here to choose her betrothed for her, she would feel doubtful about marrying anyone after the way the earl treated her.
“Eva? I’m not convinced he didn’t hurt you.”
Eva smiled at Sloan. “Nay, he didn’t hurt me. He wished for more than I cared to give him, but my refusal upset him, so the betrothal ended before it even began.”
The look of fury on Sloan’s face went straight to her heart, but then his expression changed as quickly as a bolt of lightning in the night sky.
“You don’t deserve such treatment. If anyone ever abuses you again, please let me know and I will deal with it.” The fury had been replaced with a tenderness that warmed her insides.
There had been times over the years when she’d thought she and Sloan would suit, but after all she’d been through with the earl, she’d decided living alone would suit her better.
Now all she had to do was convince her mother and her brother.
CHAPTER TWO
Sloan
Sloan led Eva’s horse to the gates of Dounarwyse Castle. He dropped to the ground, then turned and set his hands at her waist and lifted her down. He placed her an appropriate distance away from him.
If he had his preference, he would have kissed her sweet, rosy lips, but Eva would not have been receptive to any such thing from him. He’d always had a soft spot for her, but he knew the feelings were not reciprocated.
That was why he’d proposed to Gormal. He’d thought Eva was going to be betrothed to an English earl, Sir Basil de Stain, or whatever the hell his name was. Sloan’s father had been pressuring him to marry and get an heir or two, but he’d procrastinated, hoping Eva would change her mind. It had never happened.
He liked Gormal. She was a sweet lass, but apparently she hadn’t been interested in marrying him at all. She’d fallen to her death from a cliff after telling her sister she couldn’t bear to marry him.
He never knew what the lass had hated about him, but he had to admit that her death had a major effect on him still being unmarried.
He surely couldn’t survive another lass taking her own life over his inadequacies. In fact, at one point, he wished to ask Eva why she wasn’t interested in him, but after Gormal, he decided never to ask that question.
Clearly, there was something very wrong with Sloan for a lass to choose death over life with him. Others had told him she had problems thinking clearly, but it did nothing to change one fact he knew for sure—he was a total failure at romantic relationships.
He’d nearly given up on the idea of Eva as his wife, but after what de Stain had done to her, would she possibly reconsider his offer? Perhaps he should visit Lennox and ask him.
