Page 7 of The Highlander's Virgin Widow
He stood before her, his frame towering over her, a mildly polite smirk on his lips. His hair was brown, and his eyes were so brown they were almost black.
He had the lightest stubble on his chin, as if he’d shaved it the previous day or sometime this morning. His square jaw reflected the rather smug look on his face. The one Keira wanted nothing more than to wipe off.
“And who are ye again?”
The man’s smirk widened, his eyes glimmering. He turned to Stella as if she would share the amusement.
“Laird Kincaid. I just said that. It was a little too late yesterday, but I did receive the council’s missive, and I thought I’d make it out here as soon as possible.”
“I see,” Keira uttered, her eyes narrowing on him. “Well, I am the lady of the clan, so whatever it is ye planned to discuss with the councilmen, ye may as well discuss it with me.”
Laird Kincaid nodded.
“And ye may stop calling yerself the new owner of the castle. We would both agree that it is quite inaccurate, would we nae?”
Laird Kincaid cocked his head and furrowed his brow. For the briefest moment, Keira studied his face.
His pupils dilated as he held her stare. “That is not what was in the missive. I was told that ye will be surrendering the castle to me. That is why I am here.”
Keira felt her heart stop for a minute.
What?
Stella seemed to share in her shock as well, but perhaps hers was more latent.
“Nay. Ye were asked to come so we can negotiate, nae hand the castle over to ye. That is quite absurd.”
Laird Kincaid nodded. He pulled the letter out of a pouch on his belt and handed it over to Keira.
Her eyes flicked to the letter and then back to him, a second wave of disbelief sweeping over her. She grabbed the missive and unfolded it, reading as fast as she could.
Just like the Laird had said, the missive was indeed a letter of surrender. It included promises of the clan helping his clansfolk as well, especially those who had been displaced in nearby villages.
“This cannae be.”
“’Tis in the letter,” Laird Kincaid reminded her, pointing at it.
“I ken that ‘tis in the letter. I just read it. And I’m saying it cannae be. This wasnae what I agreed on with the councilmen.”
Laird Kincaid stepped forward, his boots crushing some of the roses Keira had planted. Rage surged through her, but she tried her best to contain it. The last thing she wanted to do—at least for now—was give this stranger any reason to believe she was not fully capable of protecting her castle.
“I dinnae ken what to tell ye. I received that missive late last night and made me way up here this morning.”
“Aye, ye’ve mentioned that a thousand times over, Mr. Kincaid.”
“Laird.”
“What?”
“’TisLairdKincaid, nae Mr. I may be out of me castle, but I am nae out of the title.”
Out of a castle…
What in God’s name was this smug man before her—who seemed to be enjoying their interaction and the way it made her spiral into despair more than anything—talking about?
“But the plan was never to surrender the castle. Why would the councilmen do this?”
Laird Kincaid shrugged. “Ye’ll have to ask them.”
