Chapter 2
C aroline found herself face to knee with Laird Knox.
The proud man towered before her. He was built like a mountain. His strong legs were parted. A tartan cloak was wrapped around his waist and stretched across his chest in a sash. The clan emblem hung near his heart. The silver clasp depicted the profile of a raven. Its eye was made of an iridescent jewel. It was an inanimate object, but Caroline couldn’t help but sense an element of savagery from it. She sensed the same thing from the man himself.
His arms were long, his biceps swelling with strength. His chest was broad, his neck thick, his jaw chiseled. His thick mane was as black as a starless night, while his blue eyes veered towards gray. There was an intensity to his gaze that added to his aura. It radiated around the room, making everything else pale in comparison.
This was his land, his Keep, and he was the focal point. Her throat ran dry and fear trickled in her veins. Her sisters were still bound, gagged, and blindfolded on either side of her. The worst fate would have been to be hauled in front of her uncle, but this was a close second. She could almost feel the noose tightening around her neck.
When the day began, she wouldn’t have believed anything could be worse than learning that her father had died during the night. But here she was, and there was no guarantee that the Gilmour daughters would outlive their father by more than a day.
However, Caroline did not have it in her to be meek. It was her fault that they had been captured. She should have been more cautious, and should have been quicker in discouraging Nessa from stealing the food. Desperation and fatigue had been their downfall, but while there was breath in her lungs, she would do everything she could to ensure the safety of her sisters.
She jutted her chin out and lifted her gaze to meet his eyes. Strands of hair brushed against her cheek. Her jaws ached from the tight gag, and her hands were still bound behind her. The knotted rope bit into her skin.
“What dae we hae here? When I was alerted that trespassers were in our midst, I dinnae believe they could be as fair as ye,” Laird Knox began.
The words rolled out of him in an ominous deep voice, like the first stirrings of a storm on the distant horizon, the kind that Caroline had always wished would blow past without incident. He reached out a hand and placed a finger beneath her chin. He gently turned her head from right to left, his gaze never leaving her.
She drank in the rest of the room. They were in a receiving hall. The ceiling was high, the walls were adorned with banners and shields. There were two, long tables either side of the room, accompanied by dozens of chairs. Two guards stood by the entrance, while a third was directly behind Caroline. Between Knox’s legs, she caught a glimpse of an impressive high seat, stately and grand.
“Dinnae ye know the rules, lass? Hae ye nae heard the warnings about what happens tae trespassers on my land?” His words were slow, deliberate. His voice rose slightly as he asked the question.
She was not sure if he expected an answer or not. The wrong word might cost Caroline her life. Then again, silence might bring about the same result. It was a horrible thing to have her fate so dependent on the whims of powerful men.
“I wasn’t aware we hae entered yer territory. It was dark and we made a mistake. I apologize on behalf of myself and my sisters,” Caroline swallowed her pride, making herself sound as beseeching as possible. She arched her eyebrows to the middle of her forehead and widened her eyes, hoping to appear as helpless as possible so that he might pity them—if his heart had any room for pity.
Knox drew his hand back, sliding it beneath her chin. He stroked his own jaw and bit his lower lip in a pensive stare.
“Ye want me tae believe that three lasses like ye were out this late at night? The forest is nae a place for people like ye, especially when darkness falls. And ye are nae peasant girls, that’s for certain,” he paced back and forth as he spoke, leaving her vision.
She could feel him behind her. The weight of his gaze made her spine tingle. Nessa said something, but her words were muffled. She struggled against her bindings, but it was no use. He returned to stand in front of Caroline, but this time he crouched down on his haunches so that they were at eye level.
“I think ye hae better tell me yer story, lass, and then I’ll decide what tae dae with ye.”
As he waited for her to begin speaking, he reached out an expectant hand. It only took a moment for a servant to rush forward with a mug of wine. The liquid was thick and dark. He took a gurgling gulp. His lips were stained crimson. A thin line trickled out of the corner of his mouth.
He wiped it away by bringing his forearm across his face. His eyes were unblinking. Caroline wondered how many people had thrown themselves at his mercy and confessed all their sins just by virtue of that intense gaze.
Her mind worked quickly. The Gilmour and Knox Clans had long been rivals. She couldn’t be certain that being honest with Laird Knox would ensure their safety. He might well ransom them back to his uncle. She decided it was better to divorce themselves from their family name, for the time being, at least. But because she lied quickly, there was an element of truth to her lie.
“Please take pity on us. We hae naething left in the world. We are daughters of a merchant.” She hoped this would help explain their fine clothes. “We were traveling when bandits set upon us. They dragged my father out of the carriage and beat him senseless. They took all of our belongings without any hesitation. They set loose our horses and then they… They killed him. He’s dead. Our father is dead, and we hae naewhere else tae turn.”
Her voice hitched with emotion as she reached this part of her story. Tears filled her eyes and a choking breath rose in her throat. The Laird continued to look at her. He tilted his head from side to side, as though he was trying to peer beyond the tangible world. Caroline allowed her eyelids to drop in a blink. Her halting breath shuddered.
“Ye were set upon by bandits, and ye expect me tae believe they let the three of ye get away? Ye dinnae hae the look of warriors. Why would they let ye leave?”
“I dinnae stop tae ask them,” Caroline bit back in a terse tone, but immediately realized she could not afford to be so free with her tongue. Laird Knox reared back and arched an eyebrow. He took another long sip of wine, smacking his lips together.
“Perhaps they thought the three of ye would be tae much trouble,” he mused, a slanted smile appearing on his face. If he weren’t so terrifying, he might have been handsome, she thought, although it was only a flash.
“They took what they wanted,” Caroline continued. “Cleary, they valued gold and trinkets more than us.”
“Then they are nae very clever bandits,” he murmured, his gaze shifting between Caroline and his sisters.
Panic flared within her heart as soon as this happened. She spoke quickly, wanting his attention focused on her rather than Nessa and Tara.
“Perhaps that is why they are bandits,” she said dryly. “As soon as we were given the chance tae run, we did. We dinnae give much thought tae the direction. We wanted tae get as far away from them as possible, and that led us here.”
“Aye, where ye attempted tae steal from my men.” His tone was neutral rather than accusing.
“We were hungry, tired. We just wanted a morsel. If ye would be sae kind as tae give us shelter for the night, I’m sure we could find some way tae repay ye. And we would never be shy about spreading word of yer kindness in the future.”
At this, Laird Knox laughed. It was a low rumble that started in his gut and then shook over his entire body. He brought his cup to his lips again, but hesitated to drink until he had stopped laughing.
“Dae ye think I want people tae believe I’m kind? Then I would hae all kinds of wastrels coming tae my door, begging me for shelter. This is nae an inn. If ye knew anything about me, ye would know that I dinnae give away anything for free,” his voice lowered to a growl.
“As I said, I’m sure I can repay ye,” Caroline gulped.
She didn’t want to think about what kind of payment he might require. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, bracing herself for these next few moments because they were going to define the rest of her life. She was battling with the odds, however, for it didn’t seem as though Laird Knox had any shred of compassion within his heart.
“And how would ye gae about daeing that? The bandits stole everything from ye. Or did ye hae payment of a different kind in mind? Are ye willing tae barter yer sisters?” he asked.
He reached down and tugged the blindfolds away so that he could look into their eyes. He pursed his lips in an approving look. Caroline was incensed. Her fingers twitched, and her wrists rallied against the knots, but the rope held firm. Pain pressed into her, scratching her skin, making her eyes water. But she gritted her teeth.
“ I will repay ye,” she emphasized. “They hae suffered enough already. They are just lasses.”
“And ye are a woman?”
“I can be whatever ye want me tae be,” she averted her gaze as she said this, ashamed at how low she was willing to stoop.
Her stomach churned and emotions curdled inside her. Gone were the dreams of marrying for romance, love, and virtue. Now she was having to debase herself, but she promised she would have done anything for Nessa and Tara. At first, she thought this meant dying, but there were other cruel fates, and she would embrace them all if it meant shielding her sisters from the same.
For their part, Nessa and Tara widened their eyes and shook their heads, trying to express themselves.
“It seems they hae something tae say…” Laird Knox reached towards Nessa’s gag.
“I speak for them. I am the eldest. Ye only need tae listen tae me,” Caroline whipped her head around again.
Laird Knox paused. Caroline held her breath, only exhaling when the Laird withdrew his hand.
“Whatever ye want, I will dae. If there is a task ye need completing, then I shall dae it. If ye would like me tae sing or dance, I will dae that as well, anything for the guarantee of shelter for the night, and a hot meal. We dinnae mean tae enter yer territory. Surely ye can see that it was an honest mistake? Or dae ye nae think we hae been through enough taeday? Whatever ye dae, it cannae be any worse than the bandits,” the words poured out of her mouth in a torrent of emotion.
Laird Knox’s nostrils flared. “Ye dinnae want tae test me on that,” he warned.
He rose to a standing position again and tilted his head back, draining the cup dry. He dropped it on the floor. It landed with a clang. A servant rushed to pick it up. Laird Knox rubbed his hands together.
Caroline wanted so badly to say something, to find some magic combination of words that would persuade him to take pity on them, but they clotted under her tongue and she remained silent. Laird Knox paced before Caroline, thinking out loud.
“But if bandits are operating in or near my territory, then they need tae be taught a lesson. Did ye get a good look at the men?”
“I’m afraid nae. It happened tae quickly, and they obscured their faces.” Caroline thought about creating fictitious descriptions of men, but what if they turned out to be accurate and innocent men were punished because of her description?
“And where will ye gae if ye leave here?”
Caroline glanced towards her sisters. “Anywhere we are safe. I will seek shelter and work and try my best tae put this matter behind us. Father always wanted us tae continue the family trade, but I dinnae see how that is possible now.”
“He must hae been a brave man, or foolish, tae take his lassies along the Highland roads. I’m nae sure I would dae the same if I hae daughters. Then again, fathers dinnae always make the wisest decisions. Some never get a chance,” he seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, but quickly collected himself.
He lowered himself into a crouching position and studied her again. He tugged at her shawl, which was loosely wrapped around her shoulders. She gasped as her neck became exposed. His eyes widened.
“It seems as though the bandits dinnae get their hands on all yer valuables,” he reached up and pinched the thin chain that hung around her neck. The outside of his fingers rested against her alabaster skin.
The touch was unexpected and sent a searing heat rushing through her body. She seized entirely, tension tightening her supple skin. Breath was stolen from her throat. He touched where her neck melted into her shoulder, so near to the hollow of her throat, which fluttered as she gulped. He tugged at the chain and something moved beneath her clothes. The family emblem was revealed.
She knew from the look on Laird Knox’s face that she was doomed.
He snarled and wrenched the emblem from around her neck. The thin chain snapped, and he pulled it away, holding it in his palm.
“ Gilmour ,” he hissed.
He closed his fist around the emblem as if he could crush it, but then he hurled it with all his might against the far wall. It clanged and then dropped. Caroline closed her eyes. That emblem had been given to her a long time ago by her mother. She remembered how her mother had gently clasped it around her neck, the gesture tender and loving.
The emblem was a tufted vetch, a wildflower prevalent in Gilmour lands. The brooch was long, the petals splayed out in an arc rather than around a central bud of pollen. Layers of petals following each other along the central stem as though they were climbing a ladder and trying not to jostle each other. While the natural flower was violet, this brooch was silver.
As long as ye wear this, ye are protected from evil , Caroline had been told.
She had also been told how it meant that she was responsible for representing the clan, and it was her responsibility to conduct herself with grace and nobility, a task that she had striven to uphold. She had never taken off the emblem since then, not even to bathe. Yet now it had been cruelly stripped from her neck, and it offered no protection at all.
Laird Knox seemed to shift before her eyes. He radiated fury. The air around him shimmered, and his skin became a shade of red. His nostrils flared, and his eyes flashed with an intimidating glare.
“Ye would dare lie tae me? Liars are worse than thieves. I should string the lot of ye up now and be done with ye,” he spat. “Or, better yet, throw ye intae a fire and watch ye burn. That’s the fate that anyone possessing that emblem deserves,” he jabbed a finger in the direction of her emblem.
“Please, I dinnae mean tae deceive ye. We are in danger. There’s?—”
Laird Knox bent down and grabbed her chin. It was more shocking than painful, and it caused her to fall in silence. His breath was warm, his voice low.
“Ye should know that I dinnae care about yer story. I dinnae care what happened tae ye. Ye are a Gilmour, and any Gilmour is unwelcome on my lands. Ye are wretches, the lot of ye.”
He let go of his forceful grip and her head twisted to the side. He walked up to his servant and grabbed the mug, as well as the jug of wine. Then, after a moment of considering the two items, he shoved the mug back into the hands of the servant and drank from the jug directly. The wine poured down his chin and spilled on the floor like drops of blood. He slurped loudly and then belched. His body was angled away from Caroline, as though he couldn’t even bear to look at her.
“Take them away. I dinnae want them in my presence. It’s tae late tae think clearly. I will decide what tae dae with them in the morning. They could make for valuable prisoners, or kindling,” he growled.
Neither option was palatable for Caroline. She and her sisters were hauled to their feet. Caroline couldn’t bear to look at them. She had failed them. In the absence of their parents, she was supposed to take care of them, to protect them, and she had failed.
They were now at the mercy of a man who saw them as the enemy, who would not listen to reason, and had no room for compassion in his soul. They might as well begin counting the hours of their dwindling lives, for their fate would soon be sealed, and she was certain that it would be written in blood.