Page 36 of The Veiled Wish of a Highland Bride

Taking one last look at Mia, the woman who now owned his heart, he tiptoed out of her chambers into the hallway, straightening his shirt as he shut her door. He took a few steps away when he heard heavy feet shuffling down the hallway, followed by a man's drunken voice.

“Aye, aye, aye! I w-w-want togoooothere and live like…” the voice said, followed suit by an exaggerated gulp.

Archibald recognized the voice, and the moment his eyes adjusted to the light of the hallway, he saw Bram. Archie had been aware that the man was mean and fierce, brutal with both his wife and his men, but never did he think he was a drunk.

“Todayyyyyis t-the day that my lass left me for a-another!” Bram's voice came out in a slurry, singsong manner.

Archibald wondered what he meant by that, or if he was merely singing in his inebriation. He slipped around the corner as Bram drew closer to him, startled by the fact his chamber was located next to Mia's.

“SooooI am going to fill my bed with lasses who would take her memories a-away.”

Hestood there watching Bram stumble again. The Laird came to a halt in front of his room and attempted to open it. Despite his dislike for the man, Archibald felt sorry for him. How lost must this man have been to not see the beauty before him?

As Archibald waited on Bram to turn the doorknob to his room, he heard a door open and close. The moment he peered around the corner, he felt his heart drop.

Mia stood there in nothing but her chemise, her stance odd because of her ankle, a perplexed look on her face.God, she is beautiful, Archibald thought, but that was not the reason why he felt almost terrified for her.

A few hours ago, she had told him how drunkards affected her, and now she was faced with oneseverelydrunk man. Archie wanted to rush forward and help her, but he knew that if he did he would expose them both.

“Who is there?” Her voice came out shrill, causing yet another wave of worry to rush through him.

Archibald watched, making futile attempts at signaling her to stay in her room. Mia hugged her chest and moved closer to where she had heard the source of the singing. The hallway had no windows, and Archie had to squint to see what was happening.

Mia was now directly in front of Bram, who was still struggling with the door.

“Och! My laird,” she said, bobbing back. “May I help ye with that?” She held out for his keys.

Archie noticed her hands trembling. But Mia was the strongest woman he had ever met. He watched her steady her breath, her chest rising and falling.

“Did I ask for yer help?” Bram said, glaring at her, after which he yanked his hands from hers in an attempt to retrieve his keys. “Why do yedammelass always bother me so when I didnaecallllfor ye?”

Bram had now managed to slot his key in the lock. Archibald could not help but wonder why he kept his room locked. To keep people out or to keep himself in?

Just as he was about to enter the room, Mia spoke again.

“We got attacked by brigands today, Bram, ye ken.”

It did not take Archie long to understand that Mia was trying to appeal to the human inside him. Wounded, Mia had dragged herself towards Bram to try to help him out with the door, yet Bram had barely cared.

When Bram said nothing but merely mumbled a few drunken words to himself, she went on. “My ankle is twisted. The healer said it could have been worse, that I was lucky.”

Mia appeared terrified, most likely due to the madness in Bram's drunken eyes. But what the mansaid next caused Archibald to frown.

“I need me some lassies in my bed this morn, woman. Call me a maid to bring me some bannock, after which she can have her breakfast as well.”

Tears welled in Mia's eyes. “Dinnae ye care? Dinnae ye care that I could have died today! Yer brother too could have died! Why will ye naelookat me?”

She grabbed onto his arm, jerking him into sobriety.

“Get away from me, devil!”

“Nae unless ye look at me. Look at me, Bram,” Mia cried, her hands still firmly around his wrists.

Bram's eyes darkened, and the next thing Archibald saw was a hand raised in the air and sent forward. Mia collapsed to the ground, clutching her face.

The blasted brutehad just hitMia.

Consumed and overwhelmedby the need to save her, Archieleapt from his hiding spot and unsheathed his dirk without hesitation.

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