Page 42 of Highlander's Secret Heiress
She laughed inwardly at that thought. Having listened to the kind of insults the guards tossed at each other every day, she was completely immune to it!
Yet Alyth had one ace up her sleeve; Robertson had no idea how fit and well-trained for combat she was. If he tried to use any violence against her, he would find that he would receive the same amount and more back again. Alyth was quite capable of flattening him with a few well-placed blows.
That would be a surprise for him tonight, she thought, then a sinking feeling of disappointment assailed her. Unless her action was accompanied by an escape plan, it would prove fruitless. Robertson would love the violence, and would be ready to turn it into a game. Either that or he would take revenge on her for hurting him.
No, if she was going to use force against him, it had to be enough to kill him. Could she do that with her bare hands? Alythknew she could, but she had no intention of giving up her own life in the process, since there were so many of Laird Robertson’s guards about.
When Shona came in with her breakfast, she looked at Alyth with dismay.
“Ye look very tired, Mistress,” she said, her voice filled with pity. “Did ye no’ sleep?”
“Not very well, Shona,” Alyth answered, yawning.
“I expect ye are nervous about the wedding,” Shona said, nodding. “Most brides are, Mistress. Dinnae worry. Ye will be fine.”
“Thank you.”
Alyth pasted on a smile and began to tackle her breakfast, once again having to force down every bite. A headache was beginning to throb behind her eyes, and she pushed away her plate after eating only a few mouthfuls of food. She felt nauseous at the thought of confronting Laird Robertson, but her mind kept straying to the terrible prospect of what lay ahead that night.
“Is that a’ ye can manage?” Shona asked as she took Alyth’s plate away.
“I am feeling a bit sick,” Alyth replied. “But I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.”
“Aye, well, as ye say, ye are nervous, Mistress,” Shona said soothingly. “But I am sure ye took the right decision fer yer people.”
Yet Alyth could tell by the tone of Shona’s voice that she was only trying to comfort her, and that she herself was uneasy about her marriage to Laird Robertson.
“Do you really think it is right for me, Shona?” Alyth asked. “Or are you just saying that to comfort me?”
Shona looked awkward for a moment. “I think after ye get tae know yer husband, he will be good for ye,” she replied with a sigh. “But it might take a wee while.”
She stopped speaking as Alyth’s bath was brought in, then helped her into it. The warm rose-scented water was soothing, but Alyth could not relax.
“Did ye find somebody else while ye were away?” Shona asked, looking down at Alyth suspiciously.
Alyth stared up at her, considering what to say.
Shona had been Alyth’s maid since she was twelve years old, and could practically read her mind. Now, something about her mistress was bothering her; for a bride-to-be, she seemed desperately unhappy. She had seen plenty of arranged marriages where the two parties hardly knew each other, but eventually settled down into some kind of relationship where each accommodated the other.
However, she had come to feel a great affection for her young mistress and hated to see her upset. She also disliked Laird Robertson, but it was not her place to say so, and there was nothing she could do to stop the wedding.
“I did find someone,” Alyth replied at last. “While I was away I fell deeply in love with Laird Carrick.”
“Carrick!” Shona cried out in horror. “But Mistress, that was the clan that killed your mother! How can ye fa’ in love wi’ your enemy?”
Alyth shook her head and put her face in her hands. “I knew you would say that, Shona,” she said sadly. “But you don’t know him. He is truly a good man, and inside he is very gentle, but he has to cover it up to look strong for his men. Even though he appears tough on the outside, he is really very soft inside. He cares about all the members of his clan, and they are all completely loyal to him. He has a little daughter called Davina who is seven years old. Her mother took an arrow in the heart tosave her life, and for three years the wee girl was unable to speak. He is so tender and caring towards her, and she adores him. ”
Then she smiled. “But for some strange reason she started speaking to me, at first just a word at a time, then more and more. The Laird asked me to read her bedtime stories, so I did, and we became very close. One day, we went out riding and were attacked by the Robertsons, and Lachlan, Laird Carrick, saved our lives. Is that the act of a bad man?
And that was when I fell in love with him. He has been so good to me! But the people who havenotbeen good to me are the Robertsons, and my father wants me to marry one of them. And not just anyone, but the worst of all of them, the Laird. How can you marry a man you hate, Shona?”
Shona sighed and helped Alyth out of the bath. “You know Laird Carrick is your family’s enemy, Mistress. Your father willnae like this at a’.”
“My father will never know.” Alyth’s voice was firm, and she looked at her maid threateningly. Shona nodded in understanding as she helped Alyth into a dressing gown. “Because what I just said will never leave this room, will it?”
“No, Mistress—have I ever betrayed ye?” Shona looked hurt, and Alyth felt wretched.
“I’m sorry, Shona,” she said, sighing. “I should never have said that. I should not take out my fear and anger on you. You have been so good to me all these years.”
