Chapter 7
Finlay sat in his study, glancing over his papers without reading any of them. He had hardly slept all night, the previous day’s events keeping his mind active and awake. And between the stress and the worry, his thoughts were plagued with images of Thalia.
He shook his head in an effort to clear it, just as a knock sounded at the door.
“Come in,” he called, and was surprised when Ava entered.
“Is now a good time?” she asked.
“Aye.”
He stood as she stepped further into the room. She wrung her hands, looking everywhere but at him.
“All right, out with it,” he said, knowing enough about his friend to know when she was having trouble speaking.
She sighed. “I just wanted to apologize to ye. For losing me temper last night. I was goin’ to apologize to Thalia, too, but she ran off with yer daughter before I had the chance.”
“Thalia’s with Daisy?” Finlay asked, standing straighter.
“Aye. The two of them went off to the gardens, I believe.”
He sank into his chair.
One day. It had only taken one day for Thalia to gain Daisy’s trust. A wave of irritation swept through him. He was jealous, and he was in awe of her. Was there anything that she couldn’t do?
“I see,” he muttered.
Ava continued, “I ken ye were just tryin’ to help, and I ken ye feel protective over her, since she’s me younger sister. It was wrong of me to accuse ye of having ulterior motives. So, I’m sorry.”
“Apology accepted,” Finlay grunted. He would not dare to admit to her how hard he was trying not to have ulterior motives. “Are ye still plannin’ on takin’ her back with ye today?”
“Aye. And I daenae want to hear any more about how ye think it’s a bad idea.”
“‘Tis a bad idea.”
Ava glared at him. “Yers isnae much better, and ye ken it.”
Finlay didn’t argue against that. “I just daenae want her to end up like…”
He couldn’t finish the thought. It still hurt every time he thought about his sister. Out of all of his regrets in his life, she was his greatest. He’d rather die than see another woman go through that.
Ava nodded. “I ken. I daenae want that either. Ye remember what I went through in me own marriage. I’d hoped that Thalia would have the freedom I didnae get to have. But now…” Her voice cracked, and she wiped at her eyes. “I’m sorry. I just daenae ken why me uncle is doin’ this now.”
Finlay shook his head. “There is nay need to apologize. I ken ye’ll protect her, and I’ll help in any way I can.”
“Thank ye, Finlay.”
He stood again, walking over to the window.
He had a small view of the gardens from his study, and he could see Daisy, Thalia, and Rowena out there now.
Daisy and Thalia walked hand in hand back up towards the castle, with Rowena trailing along behind.
Daisy’s smile was the widest he’d ever seen as she looked up at Thalia.
Ava came and stood beside him, watching the scene.
“Thalia’s so good with children,” she commented. Finlay said nothing, so she continued. “Did I tell ye about that time she went ice skating with Nathan?”
“Nay, ye didnae.”
“Nathan wanted to go so badly. I was with child at the time and felt too sick to go. Caden was busy, so Thalia agreed to go with him. But she didnae tell him that she was terrified of the ice.” Ava laughed as she remembered the story.
“She braved it, just for a chance to see him smile. That’s the kind of person she is, and that’s why I worry so much about her.
I worry that she’ll always choose someone else’s happiness over her own. ”
Finlay fell quiet at that. He could see that part of Thalia—the soft, sweet, caring side. But there was more to her. She was fierce and protective.
He thought of the way she had yelled at him when she thought he had been mistreating Daisy, and of the story she had told him about attacking her would-be groom to get away from him. She would do anything to protect the people she loved, but she wouldn’t go down without a fight either.
Another knock sounded at the study door, and Finlay called out for whoever it was to enter.
Peter poked his head in, nodding at Ava. “Sorry to interrupt, but there are… ah… guests who have just arrived.”
“Guests?” Finlay asked. “What kind of guests?”
“Uncle? What are ye doin’ here?” Thalia asked, her eyes flickering between the two men before her.
They were dressed for riding, but they didn’t appear to have a whole army behind them. That was a relief, at least.
“I was comin’ to see Ava, where I thought ye’d be, when a messenger recognized me crest and handed me a very interesting letter,” Archibald said, scowling.
“What kind of letter?” Thalia asked.
Archibald thrust the paper into her face, and she took it. Her eyes scanned the words quickly, trying to process them. She blanched at the words ‘because she will marry me’, and tried to remain calm.
It claimed to be from Finlay, but the handwriting was too squiggly to be his. The letters seemed written by someone who still had to remember what shape they needed to be.
Thalia glanced back for a moment at where Rowena and Daisy still huddled in the corner. Daisy met her eyes for a brief moment before quickly looking away, but Thalia could see the shame in them.
Oh, Daisy, what kind of trouble have ye gotten us into?
“Is this the kind of man ye’d prefer to wed?” Archibald continued angrily. “The kind that cannae even be bothered to write his own letters? Such disrespect! He probably had a maid write this.”
“Aye, I apologize for the disrespect, Uncle,” Thalia said meekly.
She could feel Harrison watching her, those cold grey eyes examining her as if she were nothing but an object to him. His object. She refused to look at him.
There was a clamor as Finlay came down the stairs, along with Ava and Caden. Ava ran straight to Thalia’s side, while Finlay and Caden lingered by the bottom of the stairs.
“Are ye all right?” Ava asked.
Thalia nodded without saying a word.
“Laird MacAinsley,” Archibald greeted, drawing his sword. “Ye’ll pay for yer disrespect.”
“Uncle!” Ava cried.
“Careful, old man. Ye could get hurt playin’ with that.” Finlay’s tone was teasing, but his stance said the opposite. His hand rested easily on the hilt of his sword, and Caden looked prepared for a fight as well. “I daenae recall invitin’ ye to me castle.”
“And I daenae recall givin’ ye permission to marry me niece,” Archibald hissed.
All eyes turned to Thalia, and she flushed under the attention.
“Uncle received a letter,” she explained, holding up the note.
She carried it to Finlay, who snatched it out of her hands. His eyes scanned the words, before he heaved a sigh.
“Rowena.”
The nursemaid bristled. “Aye, me Laird?”
“Take Daisy up to her room, and make sure she stays there until I say she can leave.”
“Aye, me Laird.” Rowena hurried away, taking Daisy with her.
The girl shot Thalia one last look before they disappeared up the stairs.
Finlay waved his hand at Archibald. “Put yer sword away, Laird MacFinn. I daenae want to kill ye. There’s an easy explanation for all of this.”
Archibald did what was requested of him, but he remained suspicious. “There is?”
“Aye. This is just a jest, and I recognize the jester’s hand,” Finlay explained.
Thalia’s heart raced. In an instant, she knew everything that was about to unfold. If Daisy’s plot were exposed now, her uncle would take her back to MacFinn Castle, and she would be forced into a marriage that she could not, and would not, ever be happy in.
She met Harrison’s gaze, and he smiled at her as if he, too, knew exactly what was about to happen. He knew he was about to win.
“Aye!” Thalia blurted, not even knowing what she was saying. “A jest! To… get ye all here as quickly as possible. Finlay had… the maid write this, isnae that right?”
Finlay blinked at her as if he couldn’t understand what she was saying.
“But…” she continued. “We didnae expect ye for a few more days at least.”
She stared up at him, begging him not to say anything to contradict her.
He raised an eyebrow as the words sank in. “Excuse us for a moment.”
He took her wrist, then led her up the stairs and into his study, before slamming the door shut behind them.