Page 38 of A Virgin for the Highland Beast
“Me faither was the Laird of Clan MacRoss before me and his faither before him. This seat, this land, belongs to me. Now, I’ve listened to yer grumblings and displeasure. I considered yer requests.”
“And yet ye’re still without a wife,” Marcus added, his thin lips forming a tight line.
Hunter tilted his head to the side, daring anyone else to say another word. The room fell silent as he moved to meet the council members.
As much as he loved watching them wiggle and shift uneasily under his towering height, Hunter no longer found enjoyment in the weekly torment.
“I am rectifyin’ that problem, as we speak.”
“How are ye plannin’ to do that? We’ve heard of nay such arrangements bein’ made,” Devlin said, skepticism lacing his tone.
Hunter, with a calm smile, replied, “I have proposed to a lass, and a weddin’ is currently bein’ planned as we speak.”
Murmurs of surprise echoed through the room. Hunter watched the council members collaborate in a small group for a moment before turning to face him once again.
He had hoped his announcement would have been met with far less scrutiny, but as the men whispered in hushed tones, Hunter wondered what more he could do to ease their fears.
“Ye’re lyin’,” Marcus snapped as he turned away from the huddled group. “Word would have spread. Servants talk all the time, and surely this sort of news would have reached us sooner.”
“Nae if the matter was resolved last night,” Hunter stated. “But ye can go and question the servants if ye like. I’m sure they’ll all tell ye the same thing I’m tellin’ ye now. I’m engaged, as of last night.”
“And who might this young woman be? If we are to believe ye, we must meet her,” Devlin said, turning to the others for support.
The councilmen all jeered and bobbed their heads.
As much as Hunter wanted to keep Emma as far away from them as possible, he knew it would only be a matter of time before she’d have to meet them.
“All in due time. Ye’ll meet her at the weddin’,” Hunter responded, his voice firm.
“This is but a ploy to buy more time. What do ye take us for? Fools?” an elder council member retorted.
“Go then, ask around and hear from others wit’ loose lips. But I’ll expect yer resignation as council members when ye return. I’ll nae have me authority questioned or me integrity scrutinized,” Hunter said as he lifted his chin.
“Where does this lass of yers come from? What clan will be joined to ours by this union?” Marcus demanded.
But before Hunter could reply, the study door swung open, abruptly drawing every eye.
Glancing over the heads of the council, Hunter spotted Archie barreling into the room. Panick was etched on his face as he moved past the councilmen.
“Aye? What is it?” Hunter asked as Archie cleared his throat.
With an air of apprehension, Archie glanced at the members of the council a moment.
“If ye’ll excuse me, gentlemen, seems there’s a matter that needs me utmost attention,” Hunter said as he felt the tension rolling off Archie and crashing into him.
The councilmen muttered as Archie pulled Hunter to the farthest part of the room and leaned in. Hunter couldn’t help but notice Archie’s pale face and wide eyes.
Placing a hand on Archie’s shoulder to ease some of his worry, Hunter waited for him to speak.
“If ye have nothin’ to report, then ye’ll nae be scolded for interruptin’,” Hunter said, eyeing the councilmen with distaste. “I needed a respite from their constant bickerin’.”
“Wish that was all I came in here to do,” Archie muttered.
“Then out wit’ it.”
“The guards on the southern wall have spotted men comin’ towards our land. They’ll be here soon,” Archie reported in a hushed voice. He paused, taking a moment to catch his breath before continuing. “They appear to be prepared for battle. But we’re nae sure what they could be after. Ye dinnae think this is the trouble the lasses were runnin’ from, do ye?”
Hunter’s eyes narrowed as he processed the news. The room, filled moments ago with the petty politics of the council, had suddenly become a war room. His mind immediately switched gears, focusing on the imminent threat.
