Page 35 of A Two-Faced Laird
He was three inches taller than his father, and it had always given him a psychological advantage, as it did now, since his father cowered back slightly in his seat.
“Then you can unsign it, Father, or tear it up, because unless you drag me kicking and screaming to the church, I refuse to marry Fenella.”
“I am afraid unsigning—whatever that means—the contract will do no good,” the Laird said, his voice gritty as he looked at his son.
If Aidan thought he was going to intimidate his father, he had another think coming.
“Do you not need my signature?” he asked, trying to keep the desperation out of his voice. “I am the bridegroom, after all.”
He stared at his father, hoping to intimidate him, but it did not work.
“No.” The Laird’s penetrating blue gaze bored into his son. “You may sign the register after the wedding. You have made it clear exactly what you want to happen, Son, but I am telling you whatwillhappen. You are marrying Fenella Anderson and that is the end of it. Now go—I have work to do.”
Aidan turned and walked to the door, but as he opened it the Laird called, “And do not let me hear of you being seen with any other women.”
Aidan turned back, raising his eyebrows questioningly. “Like whom?” he asked, even though he knew the answer already.
“You know who I mean,” his father barked, “Edina McCarthy. She is not for you, and never will be. From now on, your mother and I will be arranging when you can meet Fenella so that you can court her properly. Now get out of my sight.”
“You are being unjust, Father. All I did these years is obeying you, giving up everything I had—even my own name!”
Aidan did not stay longer to hear the Laird’s reply.
The atmospherein the dining room that night was thick with tension as everyone ate, since Laird Findlay and Lewis were so obviously having a disagreement. However, it masked the fact that there was something else hanging in the air between Edina and Lewis, who tried to avoid looking at each other as much as possible for fear of giving what was between them away.
After dinner, Edina retired to the library to choose a book to read for the evening, knowing that she needed something other than Aidan to occupy her mind. It was her favourite place in the whole castle, since it was so rarely used that she was almostalways guaranteed solitude when she was there. The fire was rarely lit because so few people went into it, so it was always frigid in the big room. However, she had got into the habit of bringing a thick quilt and blanket to wrap herself in when she relaxed on the couch, and she snuggled into it now as she opened the romance she had selected.
The day had been so unusual, exciting and thrilling that she had difficulty sitting still for a while. Her mind was full of what she and Lewis had done that afternoon, and how wonderful it had been. She was a little sore, but she knew that it was because she had undergone a rite of passage that meant she was now a complete and fulfilled woman.
Edina was so absorbed in the events of the day that she read the first page of the book three times over without taking any of it in. She was about to give up and retire to her room when the library door opened and in walked the object of her thoughts and fantasies.
His eyes widened with surprise when he saw her, then he broke into a beaming smile.
“I was thinking about you,” he told her as he enveloped her in his embrace.
“And I was thinking of you, too,” Edina admitted, returning his smile. “I tried to read, but I simply cannot concentrate. I keep thinking of?—”
“This afternoon?” he supplied, laughing softly. “Me too. Edina, it was wonderful.”
Edina took Aidan’s hand and sat him on the sofa where she had been sitting, then picked up the quilt to wrap it around them both. She had intended to lean her head on his shoulder, but he laid his head in her lap instead and looked up at her.
“I think you are much more comfortable than my bed,” he told her, his eyes twinkling.
“Should I lay my head on your lap instead?” Edina asked mischievously. “It might be even better that way.”
Aidan’s eyes widened in mock horror.
“I don’t think that would be a good idea,” he answered, knowing what the result would be.
Edina laughed, not quite understanding what he meant. Her whole body was singing for him to be inside her again, to take her to the magical place he had taken her before. She wanted him to be her lover—not just now, but forever, and that was the moment she realised that she loved him.
She loved everything about him; not just his big, strong body, but his loyalty to his family and those around him. He and his mother were absolutely devoted to each other. Granted, she could see a strong connection between him and his father too, but Lady Eleanor was the one he treated with the most fondness.
As well as that, he was not afraid to be vulnerable, and the fact that he could admit his sadness because he missed his brother so much made him stronger in her eyes, not weaker.
Moreover, he was fiercely protective, and Edina knew that he would protect her from any danger that threatened her or anyone else that he held dear; it was the quality she loved most about him.
“Can you tell me a story?” he asked suddenly. “My mother used to tell me one before I went to sleep at night, and I used to look forward to it all day, but I was only about seven then. Understandably, she will not do it any more.”
