Page 22 of The Winter Laird

He was smirking at her, as if he could read her thoughts. She narrowed her eyes. Whatever game he was playing, she was sure she didn’t want any part in it.

Nioclas spoke. “I am the MacWilliam. Welcome. We asked you here because Lady O’Rourke thought it wise for you, being of advanced age, to listen to the betrothal agreement we’ve set.”

Brianagh choked. “Advanced age?”

“Aye. You are nine-and-twenty, are you not?”

“That’s not advanced age!”

He ignored her and turned to Kiernan. “Recite her dowry, O’Rourke.”

As Kiernan listed off a whole bunch of animals, gold coins, and other nonsense, Brianagh’s jaw slid farther and farther south.

She was beingsold?

“Um, excuse me,” she tried, but neither man heard her. “Hey. HEY!”

All eyes landed on her, expressions ranging from surprised, amused, slightly taken aback, and completely void of expression.

She got the feeling Nioclas MacWilliam was a master of the poker face.

“What happens if I don’t agree to this wedding?” she asked, rather bravely, in her opinion.

Kiernan’s eyebrows nearly shot off his head. “What?”

“Why would you not?” Aidan asked, amused.

Too many reasons, she thought. “Well, to start, I really don’t think I am whoyouthink I am.”

Kathryne smiled gently at her. “Easily proven.”

Oh, nowthatwas interesting. “How?”

“Well, you’ll have the mark,” Kathryne explained. “The Fates promised to leave an unmistakable marking on the chosen O’Rourke daughter.”

“I don’t have any marks,” Brianagh replied with an apologetic shrug, but inside, she was dancing an Irish reel. “Sorry. I should probably get going, so you can find the woman you’re looking for…” Her voice trailed off as Kathryne shook her head.

“No, you must have the mark.” She gestured. “It should be somewhere on your arm.”

Bri sighed. “I haven’t anything there but a small scar. But I wasn’t born with it. I tripped on some rocks when I was a child. I remember it well.”

“Ah, but I didn’t say you’d be born with it.” Kathryne turned to Nioclas and Kiernan. “Perhaps we ought to tell her what we’re looking for before she shows us.”

After a beat of silence, Nioclas finally said, “A hawk.”

“Like this one,” Aidan said, walking over and handing Brianagh something smooth, round, and heavy.

“My brooch!” she exclaimed. “Wait. How did you get it?”

“My lady, I ask that you show me the mark on your arm,” Kiernan said, his voice brooking no argument.

Bri immediately disliked him. Commanding, intimidating, overly loud men didn’t rank very high in her book, and she gave him a frown. But she grit her teeth and began to roll the sleeve of her dress.

She just wanted to go home, but they weren’t going to let her go without a fight. Fine.

She yanked up the last of the material. There, no larger than a quarter, was the only mark on her, aside from a smattering of freckles across her lower back. And she certainly wasn’t going to bare any more of herself than she was at present.

Kathryne’s sigh of relief likely carried to the next village over, it was so loud. “Aye. You are the chosen one.”

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