Hearts of Highland Fire

Chapter 13

13

Gretna tried and failed to wipe the smile off her lips as she made her way down the stairs and to her chamber, wrapping her arms around her waist. Last night had been amazing, something she had never thought she would encounter and Remy, she couldn’t even think about him without her heart racing. She had touched him intimately. She had allowed him to do the same with her.

And somewhere in the mix she had lost her heart to him.

A sigh escaped Gretna. She was in love with Remy Wallace. It should have felt awkward but it didn’t. All her life Gretna had been searching for love, for that great love that would take over her very existence and give her everything she wanted in her life.

Now she had found it with the most unlikely person, but it didn’t matter. Remy was who she wished for, who she had prayed for, who she had dreamed about. It mattered not that he didn’t have a keep of his own or a lofty title. Now Gretna understood how people fell in love. The other things came second to the feeling that filled her right now. They could live in a hovel and she wouldn’t care.

Besides, Remy was a well-respected captain of the guard and her brother’s closest friend. She knew he had a tidy sum coming to him and they could live in the cavernous keep. Her brother wouldn’t deny that request. After all, she couldn’t very well live in the warrior bunk that Remy called home.

The question was, did he feel the same way? Gretna’s steps faltered and her smile dimmed. What if he didn’t? What if she truly was just another woman in his bed? Wouldn’t he have fought harder to take her innocence?

Not that she would have put up much of a fight to begin with. Gretna knew in her heart that if Remy had taken his liberties, it would have been far more special than she could have with anyone else.

But if he truly didn’t feel the same way, she would be looking at a life without the man she had fallen in love with. Could she bear the pain? If it meant that he was happy with another, could she stand by and watch him enjoy that happiness?

Her stomach lurched. No, she couldn’t. She couldn’t stand the thought of having another soak in his warmth, his smile, his laugh. She would have to leave.

Gretna was so caught up in her own thoughts that she didn’t see James lounging outside of her chambers until it was too late.

“Well, well,” he smirked, taking in her disheveled hair and wrinkled gown. “I wonder whose bed ye were in last night.”

“At least I’m not trying tae hide it,” she fired back, lifting her chin. What she had done with Remy was wonderful and he couldn’t change that fact. “Leave. We are done.” She wasn’t about to even consider being his wife.

He pushed away from the wall, his eyes glittering. “Oh? We are done? Just like that.”

“Aye,” she fired back. “I donna wish tae wed someone who will sleep their way through the staff before our first year is up.”

James chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. “Well, I can assure ye that I have already accomplished that feat, mah dove.”

“I am not yer dove,” Gretna growled. “I am departing for home today.” she didn’t want to waste another moment in that horrid place, with a man who was not fit to be her husband.

“Ye see,” James continued, clearly not at all concerned that she was making demands. “That is wot ye think ye are going tae do, but I am here tae tell ye that ye aren’t going anywhere, Gretna.” He let his eyes rove over her body and Gretna felt bile rise in her throat. “Just think wot it would do tae yer brother if I sent a letter stating that ye have been ruined in mah own keep and broke the sacred vow that we had already decided upon.”

“We havena decided on anything!” she spat out. “I didna agree tae wed ye!” Thank God for that. If she had, then she would be truly in a bind.

James gave her a little shrug. “Perhaps not, but no one save us know that.” He took a few steps forward until there were only a few inches between them. “Yer family would be in disgrace. Mah family has enough funds tae ruin yer clan. It would only take a few months and yer entire clan would starve, Gretna.”

Gretna swallowed. He was right. Many of the supplies came through the McCellan land and if they stopped the route, then Ian would be forced to appeal to others for help. He would be ashamed to do so and their clan would suffer regardless. “Why?”

“Because mah da wants this alliance,” James simply said. “And I am going tae do all that is within mah power tae make it happen, including announcing tae yer brother that I have accepted ye as mah wife.”

Gretna felt all her hope drain away, replaced by fear. “Nay, I willna marry ye.”

“Then ye will disgrace yer brother and yer clan,” James replied, his eyes flashing. “Wed mah and I willna say another word aboot ye being in another man’s bed. I’m assuming it was yer guard?”

Gretna lifted her chin, but she knew that James could see it written on her face that he was right. “Then I will keep mah mouth shut tae yer brother aboot it,” he finished, the smirk on his face telling Gretna that he felt like he had won. Perhaps he had. What choice did she have? She couldn’t allow the clan to suffer for a decision that she had made. No one was going to believe that she had spent the night in another’s bed and not lost her innocence.

“Send yer guard with the announcement,” James said after a moment. “While ye remain here.” When she opened her mouth, he shook her head. “I’m not daft. The moment ye leave mah land, I lose mah control.” He reached out and touched her cheek with his finger, causing Gretna to shudder. “So, mah beautiful bride-to-be will stay behind while we await yer brother’s blessing in return.” His look became lecherous. “And then ye will become mah wife and I will erase any trace of that man’s memory on yer body.”

Gretna felt as if she was going to be ill and not just about sharing a bed with James. He had her by the collar. There was nothing she could do to get out of this disaster she had created for herself. If she fought back, her clan would suffer.

If she accepted, Gretna knew she was looking at a life of misery but what could she do? “Fine,” she forced out, the word bitter on her tongue. “I will remain while mah guard sends the missive, but ye willna lay a finger on mah or I will cut yer throat.”

James laughed, stepping back. “I knew that ye had some fight in ye. I look forward tae meeting that side of ye, Gretna. For now, be the good lass that ye have been trained tae be and all will be well.”

Gretna didn’t move as James walked down the hallway, whistling as he did so. Only when he was gone did she open her door to the chamber and walked in, her shoulders slumped. What had been the best morning of her life had just turned into something that was going to be the end of her life as she knew it.

Slamming the door, Gretna fell against it, tears running unchecked down her cheeks. What was she going to say to Remy? She couldn’t leave now. She couldn’t go home and figure out how to tell him that she was in love with him.

They had no future together. Her hopes of love, of devotion, of a wonderful life, were completely undone now.

Sliding to the floor, Gretna placed her head against her knees and sobbed, her heart broken.