Page 10 of A Virgin for the Highland Beast
“Aye,” the Laird muttered as his eyes fell on Emma.
She watched the guard’s hand, waiting for it to unsheathe the blade at his hip. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around Isobel as Nora hugged Lydia.
“Clearly, ye’re in danger, and ye’ve unwillingly brought it to me doorstep.” The Laird paused, letting his words sink in before he continued. “I see only one way to ensure yer safety—if that’s truly what ye want.”
Emma swallowed hard, wondering what the guard told him.
Had Geoffrey’s men come to MacRoss Castle in search of them? Would the Laird hand them over and wash his hands of them once and for all? With each passing moment, it grew harder for Emma to keep her wits about her. She hated being in the dark on such matters, but she knew there was nothing she could do to save herself or her sisters except throw herself at the Laird’s mercy.
“Aye,” Emma answered, glancing at her sisters to reaffirm her stance, “we need protection.”
“The only way I can guarantee yer safety is if one of ye marries me,” the Laird announced.
“That’s outrageous,” Isobel spat, shrugging out of Emma’s embrace.
Emma reeled back, her eyes widening in shock. It was certainly not the outcome she had expected, and it was clear that her sisters hadn’t thought of it either.
“Why would ye ask such a thing?” Emma demanded as her heart pounded loudly in her ears.
“It’s simple,” the Laird retorted, his gaze never leaving hers. “It’s either marriage or the glen. I willnae put me people in harm’s way. But if ye become part of me clan, I can protect ye.”
Isobel snorted and started pacing. “This is some sort of jest. Do ye nae see? He’s only offerin’ this because he kens we willnae accept it. He’s a coward.”
“Hold yer tongue,” Emma hissed as she grabbed Isobel by the arm and pulled her away from the Laird before he could do any harm to her.
“Emma, look at him,” Isobel said as she eyed him with malice. “Nay one will marry him, and he kens it. Why else would he suggest such a thing? I dinnae see why he just didnae send us away in the first place. He doesnae want to make the decision, so he gives us a reason to leave on our own.”
“Let me guess, it was Isobel who got ye lot into this mess? She clearly doesnae ken when to keep her mouth shut,” the Laird said sternly.
Emma pulled Isobel behind her to shield her from his hard glare and the sword of his guard.
“Forgive me sister, she doesnae ken what she says,” Emma said through clenched teeth as she flashed her sister a deathly glare, daring her to say another word.
Isobel huffed and folded her arms over her chest.
“Surely, ye’re nae considerin’ his proposal?” Nora whispered to Emma.
“I need to talk to me sisters,” Emma stated, ignoring the Laird’s probing question.
He nodded and glanced at his guard. “I’ll give ye a moment to decide. But me offer and me clan’s protection expire when I come back into the room.”
Emma exhaled as she watched the Laird and his guard turn around and exit the room, leaving the sisters to their frantic discussion.
“Nay way I’m marryin’ that man,” Lydia spoke first, breaking the silence.
Emma cupped her her sister’s face with her hand, hoping to quell the fear lingering in her eyes.
“Emma, this is madness. Ye cannae seriously be considerin’ this,” Nora said. “That’s Laird MacRoss. Ye dinnae ken what he’s capable of. What if the only reason he proposed such a thing was to keep us under his roof and slaughter us in our sleep?”
“That willnae happen,” Emma said, trying to keep her wits about her.
The proposal was certainly a surprise and a solution she had never considered. Yet, she couldn’t help but wonder if there was something more to it than what he was letting on.
“And how can ye be so certain of that?” Isobel asked. “Did we nae see a monster before us?”
“Just because he wears a mask doesnae make him a monster,” Emma said, trying to dispel the fear that hung like a dark cloud over them.
“True,” Lydia chimed in. “But even still, we cannae trust him. Nae after all that’s happened.”
