Page 50 of The Beast of the Highlands
Keira crinkled her nose. “A what?”
“A moment like this, where you reveal your intentions. You could have sent a message that you wished to speak with me, and I would likely have heeded it. Instead, you used subterfuge for your own amusement. Or, perhaps, you were seeking confirmation that I would come to Flynn’s bedchamber if he called for me?”
Autumn knew she was prodding Keira, and it might come back to bite her, but she would not allow this woman to hold the reins of this conversation. Not for as long as she could help it, at least. Though she sensed some kind of threat was imminent.
“How dare ye!” Keira’s cheeks turned purple.
Autumn smirked. “Yes, how dare I. How dare I, a Baron’s daughter, a tutor, a Sassenach, come to this castle and fall in love with the Laird. How dare I try to make such a man happy, when you seek only his wealth and title. How dare I try to be with him, when you feel you are entitled to him because of a promise that was made a long time ago, when he was vulnerable and grieving and not in his right mind.”
Keira flew off the bed and charged Autumn like a raging bull, but Autumn had grown accustomed to Keira’s antics. As such, she sidestepped the attack, and tried to stifle a laugh as Keira sailed into the door. The wretch rallied quickly, however, and turned to face Autumn, while huffing and puffing in a petulant fury.
“If ye’re of high society, ye should ken that love doesnae mean anythin’. Buildin’ alliances and joinin’ clans are all that matter. Flynn will see that, once ye’re out of the way,” Keira rasped, clearly thinking better of another attack. Or biding her time. “And he willnae have the chance to abdicate his position, either. If he tries, Leighton dies.”
Autumn froze. “Pardon?”
“I dinnae mumble, ye witch.” Keira’s expression darkened. “As for ye, if ye’re nae gone from this castle by tonight—”
“You will kill me?” Autumn filled in the blank, but Keira’s vicious smirk told Autumn that, somehow, she was mistaken.
“Nay, Miss Montgomery. I willnae kill ye. I’ll send men to that nice manor of yers, and I’ll see to it that yer sweet little sister and yer old ma and da are punished for yer misdeeds, in yer stead.” Keira’s awful laugh shredded the nerves that Autumn was barely clinging onto. “I already ken where to find it, and there are soldiers waitin’ for my signal. Do ye think ye can outride them? Ye’d have trouble, with yer horse lamed.”
Autumn’s eyes widened to the whites. “What?”
“Oh, I havenae done it yet, but if ye daenae leave within the hour, I’ve got soldiers in the stables too. They’ll see to it that she doesnae ride again, if ye disobey.” Keira’s grin bordered on insane. “So, what’s it to be? Will ye sacrifice yer family and yer horse, and possibly Master Leighton, and try to succeed against me, or will ye be wise and leave?”
Autumn’s shoulders sagged. Not five minutes ago, she had reasoned in her mind that she would have done the same as Natters, if she were in his position. Now that she was, the decision was agonizingly simple.
“Och, and it goes without sayin’ that ye’re nae to tell a soul about this. If ye do, I’ll carry out every last one of my threats.” Keira chuckled oddly. “I wouldnae have anyone thinkin’ me capable of such things, least of all my betrothed. Make an excuse to postpone yer scheme, say yer farewells, and daenae come back from yer manor. Ever.”
Autumn struggled with the well of emotion that rose up her throat and swirled in her chest. “And what if he should come to find me?”
“He willnae,” Keira said simply.
“Why is that?”
Keira looked infuriatingly smug. “If he attempts to, I’ll tell him yer wee secret.”
“Secret?” Autumn swallowed, unsure of what Keira could know.
“Aye.” She observed her fingernails. “That yer beloved brother is a captain in the English Army. He might be fightin’ on the Continent, but Flynn doesnae have to ken that.”
The air rushed out of Autumn’s lungs. “How do you know that?”
“I had one of my men ask yer sweet ma where he could be found. Poor thing told him Orwell had gone to fight in France.” Keira took a step toward Autumn. “But that willnae matter to Flynn. Ye’re the sister of his enemy. That’ll be enough to stop him comin’ for ye.”
At the sound of her brother’s name, spoken by this cruel wench, Autumn knew she had been soundly defeated. In truth, it was a secret she should have told Flynn herself, but she had not known how. Every time she had tried, she had feared the very thing that Keira was now using against her—that he would hate her for it.
“Make me one promise,” Autumn murmured.
Keira canted her head. “What might that be?”
“Do not tell him of that if he does not come for me. Allow me to give him a reason to forget me, instead.” Autumn paused: her heart so heavy and sore it felt as though it was being dragged through to her feet. “And let me have one last moment with him, before I leave for good. If you grant me that, I will make sure he never wishes to see me again.”
Keira twirled her hair around her forefinger, taking her time to reply.
“Very well, but only if ye leave directly after,” she said, at last.
Autumn inclined her head. “I will.”
