Page 12 of A Scot for Bethan
“I thank you.”
Cameron had never been one for seeing beauty in men, but he couldn’t help but see it in Bethan’s younger brother. With thick chestnut hair and sparkling brown eyes, Siaspar was the masculine version of his sister, which was to say he was a stunning man.
“I do not like the idea of Bethan being sent to Scotland to marry a stranger,” the Welshman surprised him by saying next. Clearly, like his brazen sister, he was not one to be intimidated. “It bothered me when the contract was signed all those years ago, and it still bothers me now. Though I tried to find a flaw within it many a time, I could not. Unfortunately, our fathers made sure the contract was unbreakable. Can you at least assure me that she will be well treated?”
Everything bristled within Cameron at the idea of Bethan being mistreated and he glared at the Welshman for even daring to suggest he would let such a thing happen. “She will be. I’ll see to it myself.”
A twinge of guilt made him frown. Why had he said that? He had made it sound as ifhewould be the one looking after Bethan, night and day, when they all knew he wouldn’t even be at Crois Dhubh with her.
“How will you do that?” Siaspar arched a brow. He had not missed his vehemence. “You are not the one who will marry her, are you?”
“No. But she is marrying into my clan and my family. Therefore, her happiness is my responsibility.”
“Happiness? Surely you mean safety?”
Damn and blast, the man was far too astute for a twenty-year-old. Cameron clenched his jaw. Siaspar might be a formidable opponent, but that didn’t mean he had to allow him to win. Where was the confident man and level-headed laird he prided himself on being?
“My whole existence is dedicated to ensuring no one under my care has reason to be unhappy,” he stated firmly. This, at least, was true. The men around him grumbled their agreement, adding weight to his declaration.
For a moment, the two men stared at one another, not backing down. Eventually, the youth nodded. Oddly, though, this victory felt hollow.
“Shall we?” Siaspar offered. “I daresay you will all be thirsty and famished.”
They were, so Cameron accepted the invitation to follow him into the great hall while his men were directed to the stables, where food was already being taken. Castell y Ddraig was run efficiently indeed. Did Bethan share her brother’s flair for management, he wondered? She had better do, as Dougal would likely spend most of his time away, in the Bruce’s army, and Crois Dhubh was in sore need of repairs. She would be the one in charge of putting it to rights.
Not for the first time, he found himself bemoaning his stepbrother’s decision to marry his son to a woman he didn’t know, and who was obviously looking for a real marriage, not just an advantageous match.
Well, it was as Siaspar ap Morgan had said, it could not be helped.
Chapter Four
Arainbow!
Despite her heavy heart, Bethan’s chest swelled in delight. Two perfect arcs, one bright and close to the ground, and a bigger, paler one higher up, were stretching their colors over the valley. It was as if nature was intent on cheering her up with this vision of beauty. Saying goodbye to Siaspar earlier that morning had been just as hard as parting from the Hunters had been the day before and she dearly needed this small moment of joy.
“Please, could we stop a moment to admire the rainbow?” she asked Cameron, who was riding just behind her, as was his custom. “I’ve never seen such vivid colors.”
From the way he arched his brow she fully expected him to refuse. He had reiterated his intention to press on when they’d left Castell y Ddraig and she knew he was eager to reach Scotland. The request to stop, and for such a trivial reason, was sure to irritate him.
But to her surprise, he agreed with a gracious tilt of the head. She could even have sworn he was amused. This was unhoped for. Not wanting to give him the opportunity to change his mind, she jumped down from the saddle and walked over to the edgeof the cliff. Handing the reins of his stallion to Murdo, Cameron followed her.
“The view is quite breathtaking, don’t you think?” she exclaimed, looking at the rich carpet unfurling at her feet. After a brief morning shower, the sun was shining once more, and everything was bursting with color and life. The breeze was making the tall grass in the fields undulate like waves on a rolling sea. “So beautiful.”
“Aye, ’tis beautiful.”
Bethan kept her back turned because she had a sudden suspicion they weren’t talking about quite the same view. Was he admiring the grass dancing in the wind—or her? His voice had gone suspiciously hoarse.
Heat flared in her body because she was suddenly certain he was looking at the swell of her buttocks. Instinct told her that was where his gaze would come to rest. It wasn’t the first time she’d noticed how he looked at her, like a man would look at his next conquest, definitely not the way an old uncle would look upon his nephew’s intended bride. She had been on the receiving end of such looks too many times not to recognize them. But with Cameron it was different, better. He didn’t just give her the impression he found her beautiful. He made herfeelbeautiful. Up until now, she had accepted what people, and men in particular, told her because it seemed silly not to. She was beautiful, it was the general opinion. It was the first time she had felt it, though.
Trying her best to appear relaxed, she took another step forward. Before she could take another, Cameron seized her by the elbow.
“Careful. ’Twould be a rather nasty fall from here.”
“Don’t worry, I have no intention of falling,” she whispered. Did he really think her so clumsy? Or did he fear she would throw herself off the cliff to escape a union she did not want? Itwas not impossible, but she didn’t protest. The heat of his hand on her arm was as wonderful as it was unsettling and prevented her from thinking straight.
“No one ever intends to fall,” his tone gruff. “And yet it happens.”
Yes. It did. She had not intended to be attracted to the man charged with taking her to her betrothed, but that was exactly what had happened. Bethan took in a shaky breath.
