Page 42 of An English Rose for the Highlander
The meeting chambers were full, each member of the council assembled and sat at the large table in the center of the room. A quiet hum of conversations between tiny groups within the greater whole rumbled until Dominik stood up from his seat, casting a severe look across the men there.
“English rumors have once again proven to be a folly that is both foolish anddangerous.”
Dominik surveyed the room, finding each man there with his eyes. He was unsurprised to see concern and agitation among the crew of clansmen who’d just been caught up in their whispers and suspicions. Still, the established respect he expected was there as well, on all the men except for Layton. The miserable fellow sneered back at the Laird, barely restraining himself, it appeared.
“I am aware of yer concerns. I have heard them all. Me wife is the heiress to a valuable plot of land, rich in copper and possessing a port. I ken that ye are all keen to scrutinize that standing because of this nonsense.”
Chairs creaked around him, and Dominik scowled all the harder before one of the members, Duncan MacDougal, cleared his throat to speak his mind.
“Me laird,” he began, his voice level and his stare meeting his for a few solid moments before ducking away again, “the cost of marrying this Englishwoman could be well too high. Perhaps it is best if…if ye seek an annulment before too much time has passed and the clan is affected.”
Murmurs sounded, some in agreement, some not. But it was Layton who spoke next, and he made no move to soften his words to ease the Laird’s anger.
“An annulmentandthe release of the Englishwoman back to her own people. She should return to England at once. We daenae need a scandal following us from their shores. The clan’s honor is at stake, me laird. Heed the council’s warnings. AScottishbride of standing.Thatis the way of it.”
Fury raged inside him, his blood boiling, and the need to throttle the man surging through his veins stronger than hunger after starvation. Too many of the council began to chime in after Layton’s words, bold men who suggested they take their leave of this woman who was so obviously cursed with bad luck.
“The livestock and now this? It isnae right. She is bringing disaster to the clan. We cannae fathom how ye might have angered the fair folk for bringing home an English bride.”
Roger Callahan’s voice echoed in the spacious, sparsely furnished room as he finished speaking. These stubborn old men were blaming Rose’s presence for the livestock and now implying that she was responsible for the rumors because of somecursethat had befallen her. It was ridiculous, and as Dominik stood there, listening to these mad ramblings with no care or consideration for how diligently Rose had worked for the clan since her arrival, his wrath at last broke through.
Slam!
The sound of Dominik’s hands hitting the table echoed, his palms burning. Every voice in the room stopped at once, all eyes focused on Dominik as he glared across the long stretch of wood at every single man there.
“Me wife is here by her choice! Ye all ken as well as anyone that I dinnae abduct her. She is of Clan MacKay now. Whoever has started the rumors in England is looking to disrupt our peace, to cast aspersions that would damage us.That personis our enemy. Nae me wife.”
Dominik made eye contact with each man, his hands squeezing into fists as he leaned over the table. The air felt icy with the power of his anger, eyes gaping at him as he growled out his words.
“Any more insinuations, fromanyof ye, and ye’ll answer to me. Trust that I daenae plan to be merciful.”
The Laird was met with utter silence, the weight of which pressed down on everyone there. Standing, Dominik straightened his shirt. He rolled his stare over each man once more and then nodded sharply.
“Ye are dismissed.”
After a moment, the men began to rise from their seats, filling out of the room slowly and quietly. Oskar stood from his chair next to him, and Dominik could feel his presence as he watched the entire council, save his man-at-arms, exit. Several seconds passed before Oskar cleared his throat softly, and Dominik turned to see him crossing his arms over his chest.
He didn’t speak, but as the Laird began to walk forward, eyes set firmly on the door in front of him, he could hear his years-long friend mutter beneath his breath.
“It is a fierce woman indeed who can tame the wolf to her side.”
They both knew that Dominik had heard the words, but he said nothing. Oskar, for his part, said nothing more. But the “damage,” as it was, had already been done. The Laird knew precisely what his friend had meant by that, and as much as Dominik had been doing his best to deny any feelings associated with Rose beyond duty and respect, the entire council had seen him snap when her place here had been challenged.
There was no denying it anymore, least of all to himself.
And Dominik was going to have to come to terms with the fact that hecaredfor Rose, despite every move on his part to protect his heart and mind.
As he passed under the door frame, Dominik was now the one to whisper to himself, and it was only a single, very telling word.
“Damn.”
21
Rose’s chambers were quiet, the fire flickering in the hearth to keep the space warm. It had been another trying day, and the world beyond her room felt as if it were attempting, each day, to thwart her happiness. She had at last given herself to Dominik, and the moment had been so very wonderful before his sudden change of mood.
He’d corrected a bit of their tense misunderstanding and distance this morning at her inherited property, but there was still so much strain between them. And that was before Mirren had arrived and delivered her devastating news.
How could someone believe I had been abducted? Where are my parents in all this? Have they said nothing in my defense?
