Page 10 of Craved By a Highland Beast

Evan could hardly keep up with the flood of new information and how it all affected his own mission. He had heard that Ruthven supposedly had a betrothed, but he could have never guessed it would all work out so well for him. With Bonnie as Ruthven’s intended, Evan could easily infiltrate Castle Ruthven and get all the information he and Alaric needed to expose his connection to John Balliol.

It could not have worked any better for him. Bonnie, on the other hand, looked less than thrilled at the prospect of visiting Castle Ruthven.

“I wasnae informed that I would be visitin’ yer lands,” she said, this time unable to stop her tone from assuming a chilled quality, one that made it clear just how much she didn’t approve of the plan. “I thought we would meet here an’ then I would return home.”

“I think it’s best if we acquaint ourselves better with each other, dinnae ye think?” Ruthven asked, and though he phrased it as a question, there was no room for disagreement. “We will be husband an’ wife soon. We should ken each other well.”

For a few moments, Bonnie remained silent, the muscle in her jaw jumping as she grit her teeth. Then, she gave a forced smile and said, “But without me sister an’ her husband tae accompany me, then surely, I cannae come. I dinnae suppose ye would wish fer me tae come stay with ye without a chaperone.”

This is it. This is how I will get intae that castle.

“Me brother an’ I will chaperone ye,” Evan said.

The look Bonnie gave him sent a chill down Evan’s spine. For such a small woman, she certainly managed to appear intimidating. “I’m sure ye an’ yer brother are busy,cousin. I wouldnae wish tae be a burden.”

“Yer nae a burden at all,” Evan assured her. “Alaric an’ I will be pleased tae accompany ye there as well.”

Bonnie stared at Evan in silence and he stared back, daring her to disagree. The way he saw it, this was the best solution for everyone. Evan needed a way into Castle Ruthven and Bonnie offered him just that. Bonnie clearly didn’t want to be alone with Ruthven and Evan could be the buffer she wanted between the two. They could be useful to each other. Ruthven wasn’t going to take no for an answer, so this was Bonnie’s next best option.

Evan could only hope that she would realize that.

“As long as I dinnae inconvenience ye,” she said in the end with another tight-lipped smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Let us head inside now. We shouldnae miss the festivities.”

Without another glance at either Evan or Graeme Ruthven, Bonnie walked through the main doors of the castle. Evan had to rush after her to make sure that he didn’t lose sight of her and when he caught up, he grabbed her arm once more to keep her close.

“Where dae ye think yer goin’?” he asked. “I told ye tae stay close.”

With a long-suffering sigh, Bonnie led him to one of the tables, sliding into one of the seats. Evan sat next to her, but no sooner had he settled in the chair than Bonnie yanked her arm out of his grip and pinned him with a glare.

“Why did ye dae that?” she asked. “Why did ye say ye would come with me tae Castle Ruthven? I dinnae even ken ye!”

Evan considered his response for a few short moments, then said, “I have me reasons.”

He hadn’t revealed anything to Bonnie so far and he didn’t think it would be wise to tell her the truth before he knew where her loyalties lay. The fact that there was no love lost between her and Ruthven didn’t mean that she wasn’t sympathetic towards Balliol—then again, few were, if they valued honor over wealth.

“Dae ye truly expect me tae allow ye tae follow me everywhere when ye willnae even tell me anythin’?” Bonnie asked in exasperation. “Why should I trust ye? Why should I dae anythin’ ye say? What if I end up like that man on thebirlinn?”

“Keep yer voice down,” Evan hissed as he looked over his shoulder at the people around them to see if anyone had heard Bonnie. Everyone seemed to be absorbed in their conversations, though, and no one was paying them any mind. Still, it didn’t mean there were no people there who observed everyone closely to gather useful information. “I told ye it doesnae concern ye what I dae. Be glad that ye have someone tae accompany ye tae Castle Ruthven. Or would ye rather go alone?”

Before Bonnie could respond, Ruthven appeared in front of them once more. Next to Evan, Bonnie stiffened, sitting straight-backed in her seat as if she was preparing herself to flee the clutches of a predator.

“May I have this dance, Miss MacLaren?”

If laird Ruthven’s presence had displeased Bonnie, then his request brought forth a wave of panic in her, one that was very thinly concealed. Evan was certain Ruthven had noticed, as well—there was no hiding it, no pretending he didn’t know Bonnie would rather spend the entire night alone than dance with him. And yet Ruthven made no effort to backtrack, only standing there as he looked at Bonnie expectantly, that polite yet insistent smile never fading from his face.

Evan took pity on her. He was the only one who could save her from spending time with Ruthven and besides, he needed to keep a close eye on her.

“I’m afraid Bonnie has already promised me she would be me partner fer the night,” he said, standing as he offered his hand to her. “I have . . . difficulty talkin’ tae lasses I dinnae ken, so she has graciously agreed tae keep me company.”

Ruthven stared at Evan in silence for a few moments, seeing right through his excuse. It wasn’t meant to be a good excuse, though; it was only meant to keep Ruthven away for now.

“Ye may find it difficult tae find a wife, then,” Ruthven said.

“Let us hope I willnae have tae,” said Evan and with that, he and Bonnie left the table, joining the rest of the people who danced near the band just as the next song began.

He and Bonnie took their places in the circle of dancers, their hands joining after a moment’s hesitation from her. Once the jovial tune enveloped the dancers, they all began to move around the circle, cheering and laughing. It was only Bonnie who didn’t seem to be enjoying herself—and Evan, of course, who instead of dancing could be spending his time doing more useful things, such as observing Ruthven and trying to find Alaric.

His brother was somewhere there, he knew. He had caught a glimpse of him at the ceremony, after he was done dealing with their prisoner, but now Evan couldn’t find him as he scanned the crowd.

---