Page 41 of Highlander's Secret Heiress
For a long moment, Lachlan sat silently, brooding over what his daughter had just said. Sometimes children were far more wise and perceptive than adults, he thought. Their minds were not clouded with preconceptions made up by years of dealing with people with views and prejudices of their own.
“Yes,” he replied. “Yes, I do, sweetheart.”
And suddenly Lachlan realised that he really and truly loved Alyth. He had done so almost from the first time he laid eyes on her, but his stubbornness and his loyalty to his late wife had not allowed him to admit it. Alyth had only left a day before, and already he was missing her so much that it was almost painful.
Lachlan knew that he had to find her and bring her back, but he also knew that it would not be easy. Although a truce was still in force between him and MacAdams, he was not sure if he would give his blessing to this marriage.
Marriage?Lachlan thought suddenly. Where had that thought come from? And yet, it seemed to be the answer he was seeking. Marriage to Alyth was not only the solution to a problem, but it would bring him the happiness he had been missing since Sandrina died.
Davina was still looking up at him, hopefully. “Bring her back,” she pleaded. There was a crack in her voice, and the expression on her little face was infinitely sad.
“I will,” he promised. “Just for you.”
That, of course, was a lie; he needed Alyth as much as he needed the air that he breathed. However, Lachlan did not point out to Davina that going to rescue Alyth might be dangerous;there was no need to alarm her more than was absolutely necessary.
Gavin gave Lachlan a grim smile when he was informed of his plan to go after Alyth. “I knew there was somethin’ between ye two,” he said.
Lachlan was puzzled. “How?” he asked, frowning. “We were very careful.”
They were sitting in Gavin and Maisie’s quarters, and as usual, Lachlan seemed to fill the small room with his presence. Gavin pointed to Maisie, who was sitting by the fire sewing.
“Maisie worked it out,” he replied. “Did ye no’, darlin’?”
Maisie looked up, her eyes twinkling. “I have seen many couples fallin’ in love over the years, lads,” she answered. “Tae me it was as plain as day. The way ye looked at each other an’ tried tae avoid lookin’ at each other, and the way wee Davina treated both o’ ye… It was the same when Gavin an’ me fell in love. An’ when ye came back the day the Robertsons attacked, ye looked as though ye wanted tae throw your arms around her an’ kiss her.”
Lachlan shook his head in wonder. “You must think I’m very stupid,” he said.
“No, lad,” Gavin put in, laughing as he looked lovingly at Maisie. “Women always know these things—an’ especially my Maisie!”
Lachlan felt a stab of jealousy as he saw the loving look that passed between them. If only Alyth would look at him like that.
Gavin got to his feet and poured them all some ale. “Now, I think we should make some plans,” he said grimly.
“Yes.” Lachlan sighed. “I don’t think hostilities will be necessary. Laird MacAdams is not too aggressive, and we are under a flag of truce, but it is better to be safe than sorry.”
“I am more worried about his ally.” Gavin’s face clouded. “There might be some o’ them devils there. The Robertsons are the worst o’ the worst.”
“Yes, I had already thought of that,” Lachlan’s voice was heavy with dread. “Take your best men, Gavin. I doubt if they will be needed, though.”
“I am no’ sae sure, Lachlan.” Gavin’s face was clouded with apprehension. “I wouldnae put anythin’ past Robertson. He is the devil himself!”
18
On the night before her wedding, Alyth did not sleep a wink, since she was tormented by thoughts of what would be happening to her in a few hours. She had no illusions that she would enjoy Laird Robertson as her husband. Indeed, she could hardly stand the sight of him.
He had the kind of twisted mentality that would revel in making her suffer, and would enjoy seeing the fear in her eyes. Alyth knew that men in power preferred a quiet, obedient wife, but she was not one of them. Even the thought of it made her shudder.
She thought again of trying to escape, but her clothes and shoes had been taken away from her, leaving her at the mercy of the bitter cold night air. There were guards outside her door, of course, but they were not her father’s guards, since they were dressed in the livery of the Robertson Clan. Then she wondered if she could climb down the wall outside.
Alyth sighed as she looked down. The room was at the front of the castle, unlike her own cosy chamber, which was at the back and enjoyed a view of the gardens. Here, there was a sheer drop to the ditch, where she would be impaled on vicious stakesif she fell. Alyth was agile and fit—she could scale walls of a moderate height and climb trees, but she could never scramble down a wall like that.
This was the reason she had been moved here, she realised. She had no idea if that was to be the room in which she would spend the first night of her marriage, but there was no way of escaping it, so she settled down to try and get some rest.
However, she tossed and turned the whole night, and in the morning Alyth did not have to look in the mirror to see that she looked like a wreck. Her dark grey eyes were bloodshot, and there were shadows underneath them.
Good,she thought viciously.The worse I look, the better. Maybe he will leave me alone then.
However, Alyth knew that this was a forlorn hope. The more Robertson could intimidate and humiliate her, the better he would like it. She guessed that he would enjoy using insults and foul language to intimidate her.
