Page 54 of The Cruel Highlander's Bride
Lana smiled through them, though, and pulled her big sister in for a hug. “Dinnae be scared of a good thing, Ci,” she whispered.
Ciara couldn’t think about what she meant by that, not when her throat was clogged with emotion. Instead, she just stepped back and nodded, watching as her family, one by one, climbed into their carriage and left her behind.
21
“Ciara,” Magnus called, trying to get Ciara attention.
They watched her family’s carriage disappear down the road, and Magnus could see the anger in her stiff posture. She was doing her best to look everywhere but at him, her nose up in the air as if she had smelled something foul.
He knew why. Of course, he did. He’d left his wife alone on their wedding night, and if there had been any way to avoid it, he would have. Spending the night with Ciara certainly would have been a far more enjoyable experience. Now, he just needed to explain, if she would let him.
The air outside was chilly, but the bite was welcome. Anything that would take his mind off last night was a welcome distraction. It was why he’d been outside in the first place. He had been riding and hoping that the activity would give him some respite.
She just hmphed and moved around him to head back into the castle.
“Ciara,” he called again, this time reaching out to put a hand on her arm.
Ciara stepped out of reach. “Aye?” she said.
Her feigned indifference was grating on his nerves, and he wanted her joy from last night back.
“Will ye come with me to me study?” he asked.
“I’m quite busy today, Magnus.”
“Please, lass,” he begged, his voice gravelly.
Ciara finally looked at him. Her blue eyes studied him closely. He felt like she was examining his very soul in order to pass her judgment on his worth.
He knew what she would find, and it wasn’t going to afford him another chance, because he knew, at his core, that he was his father’s son, just as she said.
When she nodded, Magnus just stood still for a moment, shocked. Had he seen that right, or was he just imagining what he wished would happen?
“Well?” Ciara prompted.
Whatever she’d gleaned from her inspection was obviously only enough to grant him an audience, but not patience.
He quickly snapped back into action and led her back to his study, careful to keep the distance that she wanted.
“I wanted to come see ye last night, lass. Of course, I did. I couldnae think of anythin’ better,” he began once they were shut away in his study.
Ciara didn’t reply, but she was once again averting her gaze.
“Just look at this,” he urged, pushing a worn piece of paper into her hands. He had been clutching the paper half the night, and its edges were now frayed.
He watched as she took the paper suspiciously and began to read. There was no need to look over her shoulder, he had the words memorized.
Marryin’ the enemy’s daughter willnae solve yer problems. This isnae over. Clan Gunn and that bonnie wife of yers should watch their backs.
“What is this?” she asked, finally turning around and looking up at him.
“I found it in me study last night when I came back here. Someone must have left it for me. With all the guests here yesterday, it could have been anyone…” he trailed off, frustrated at himself and the situation, but Ciara just looked back down at the note again.
“I rode immediately to see one of me councilmen, but I should have sent someone to let ye ken what was goin’ on. I am sorry, lass, I just couldnae think past this threat.”
He’d been married one day, and already his wife was receiving threats. He couldn’t stand to look at her, knowing that he was already failing to protect her, and this timeheaverted his eyes.
Last night, he had raced to James’s house. James had been the only councilman willing to admit to the ongoing war, and Magnus trusted him the most out of his councilmen. That didn’t say much, but Magnus didn’t know where else to turn.
