Chapter 3
“This garden has quite the variety,” Lilliana said in surprise, her hands deep in the soil.
After tossing and turning all night, trying to come to terms with her circumstances, she decided to venture out early to see what medicinal herbs she might find in the castle’s gardens.
She was still determined to help the villagers.
Betsy made a noncommittal sound. “It appears to be bountiful. What do you plan on doing with them, now that the Laird will not let you treat the villagers?” She petted the cat in her arms.
Bramble was quite willing to keep them company, but she was an indoor cat and had no time for mud and herbs.
“Well, since we are to be wed, I will have plenty of time to change his mind.” Lilliana gave Betsy a determined smile, though she felt less confident.
Her husband-to-be was a hard man. Despite the few interactions they had, she could see that.
She suppressed a shiver, thinking of the firmness of his chest when her bosom had been pressed tight against it. She had not been sure if her heart had been racing due to exertion or his proximity.
“Well, miss,” Betsy said, interrupting her musings, “you have always been stubborn. I am sure you will find a way to persuade him.” She smiled silkily, caressing Bramble gently.
“Stubborn? Moi?” Lilliana affected offense as she widened her eyes at Betsy, one hand resting on her lace-covered bosom. She was wearing a gray silk blouse with a lace collar and a brown cotton skirt, her hair pulled back and secured under a cap.
Betsy laughed and bobbed an exaggerated curtsy. “Apologies. I must be thinking of your sisters.”
Lilliana chuckled, shaking her head. “You are impossible, you know that, Betsy?”
She dropped to her hands and knees in the mud, which she knew was not very ladylike, but she was in a rebellious mood and did not see why she needed to act with any decorum when her wishes were disregarded by everyone in her life.
Alright, so maybe Betsy has a point.
Suddenly, she heard growling nearby and froze. For a moment, she thought the growling was coming from her. Heaven knew she was furious enough. But no, she was quite sure her throat could not make a sound that low and threatening.
Turning her head, she found the biggest dog she had ever seen. He was a massive, red-coated deerhound, easily twice the size of any dog she had encountered, and was watching her from beneath the archway. His eyes were dark and intelligent, his coat wild.
“What a beautifully terrifying creature you are,” she whispered into the space between her and the hound.
She slowly got to her feet, waiting to see what the dog would do, while Betsy squeaked with fear behind her and Bramble mewed loudly, claws digging into the fabric of her cloak. Lilliana lifted a hand, bidding them be quiet.
“Rua!”
She started, and her eyes flicked to the voice.
While the booming voice surprised her, she was entirely unsurprised to see that the voice belonged to Kayden, who was walking up just a few meters behind the dog.
The dog ignored its master, inching towards Lilliana with focused intent. She stood as still as possible, watching as it approached.
“He does not seem the type to be tamed,” she said quietly as the dog continued to approach, its sharp teeth bared.
She cast a glance at Kayden, noting that he did not seem worried. She had to assume he wanted this alliance as much as her father did and would not let her get eaten by his dog.
“He will only attack on command, lass. Ye are entirely safe,” Kayden said roughly. “He is just curious.”
The massive hound reached her and began to sniff her skirts before nudging her hand with his snout. She let him sniff her further before scratching behind his ears. Betsy tensed and leaned away, clutching Bramble in her arms.
The dog ignored the movement, letting out a huff of approval before leaning his substantial weight against Lilliana’s side. She saw Kayden flex his jaw.
“He doesnae usually take to people that quickly,” he said almost grudgingly.
Lilliana did not bother hiding the triumphant look in her eyes. “Perhaps he is the only one here who does not mind a sassenach,” she said with a laugh as she looked down and gave Rua a rewarding rub.
Kayden snorted, taking a step closer so he was towering over them. “He wouldnae be the only one, lass.”
She looked up at him, challenging. The sight of him awakened her senses. “Does—What? What is that supposed to mean?”
She gave the dog a proper cuddle just to rub it in Kayden’s face how much it liked her.
His eyes flashed as he took a step closer. “Ye arenae unwelcome here. Ye will find nay enemies within these walls. I have sworn to protect ye.”
Lilliana sneezed hard, forgetting that she was flustered in her annoyance. “Is that why you chased me last night? As if I were prey and you the predator?”
He huffed a mirthless laugh. “Yer faither is a very persuasive gentleman. I have promised him to protect ye. Letting ye wander off into the night in a land ye daenae ken wouldnae be protecting ye, lass.”
She shot him a scathing look. “That gives you absolutely no right to treat me as you did last night. The announcement. The chase. Your rudeness. All of it!”
His gaze was hot as it dropped to take in her heaving chest, then trailed up to her flushed cheeks before meeting her eyes, glaring daggers at him. He gave a small smirk, and she let out a growl. She could smell his scent—a mix of healthy sweat, peat smoke, and fresh air.
“Ye will get used to it.”
Lilliana caught a glimpse of the scar running down his forearm. It was more prominent due to the thick vein running beside it, and the skin peeking from under his rolled-up sleeve was flushed.
She blinked a few times, unsure whether she should move away, taken aback by the heady effect his nearness had on her. She did not want him to see how he affected her, though, so she stood her ground.
“Ye have already raided me garden of all the stores we were growing for the winter,” he admitted after a beat, gesturing to her full basket of herbs.
She stiffened in annoyance at his imperiousness. “I have not! I only just—”
“Either way, ye should have what ye need for now to keep ye inside the castle, until it is time for the wedding.”
“Why?” she asked angrily.
His piercing gaze held hers. “Because I said so.”
“That is not a reason. People are still ill, and there is work to be done. You will let me go to the village and do what I can,” she insisted.
“I daenae take orders from anyone, lass,” he sneered.
Her cheeks flushed. “Then let me be clear: I am not here to be locked away.”
“It is only until dusk, lass. Surely, ye can remain inside. It looks like it will rain anyway,” Kayden said, looking up to assess the sky.
“I do not mind the rain,” Lilliana said before she could even think twice about it.
Kayden did not respond. Just stared longer than was proper, his gaze roaming over her face with embarrassing intensity, no doubt catching her pulse fluttering at her neck. Then he walked away, leaving her and Rua alone in the courtyard.
Betsy sidled back from where she’d been hiding and tsked. “That is a very strange man your father has betrothed you to,” she said softly.
Lilliana shook her head. “I do not know about that. All men like to tell women what to do.”
Betsy giggled. “That is true. I suppose you could do worse for a husband. He is a very handsome, strapping gentleman if you ignore his rudeness.”
Lilliana snorted. “If you say so, Betsy.” Her cheeks heated even as she lied. “I do not see it myself.”
“I will take care of all the details, daenae fash, miss,” Moira said as she patted Lilliana’s shoulder consolingly, as if Lilliana would ever be concerned about such a thing.
In fact, she spent the day writing a strongly worded letter to her father, informing him that she did not appreciate his heavy-handedness. She let him know how betrayed she felt and tasked him with informing her sisters of her fate, since they were expecting her to return.
It was just as she signed her name with a furious flourish that Betsy barged into the room with an ear-splitting yell. “Miss Lilliana! Miss Lilliana! Oh my heavens—I shall faint just now!”
“What is it, Betsy?” Lilliana asked as she stood calmly, folding her hands gracefully in front of her.
“There is—We did not—What will you wear tonight?”
“I am sure it will be fine to just wear whatever I brought, Betsy. Would that not be fine?”
“Oh no—No! What a scandal!”
“Well, what do you propose? It is nearly dusk, and neither you nor I can sew a gown in a few hours.”
“Do not worry,” Betsy blurted quickly, almost too quickly, as if Lilliana was the one distraught by this news. “I will find you something suitable to wear. Just stay right here.” She picked Bramble up from the floor. “Here. Hold her. I will be right back.”
With that, she dropped the cat in Lilliana’s lap and hurried out of the room.
Lilliana looked down at the cat and sighed. “I suppose I should resign myself to this, eh?”
Bramble’s purr seemed to indicate absolute agreement.
They sat in peaceful silence for half an hour before a knock sounded at the door. Expecting Betsy and wondering why her lady’s maid was knocking, Lilliana was surprised to see a stranger open the door.
From the way she was dressed, Lilliana could only conclude that she was a servant. This was reinforced by the awkward curtsy the girl bobbed before presenting Lilliana with possibly the most beautiful gown she’d ever seen.
“From the Laird, miss,” the girl said proudly before laying it on the bed.
Lilliana could only stare at it wide-eyed. “The Laird sent this?” she asked.
“Aye,” the girl said with a nod.
Lilliana wanted to know whose gown this was.
What if it belonged to Kayden’s mistress or ex-wife?
For all she knew, the Laird had been married before.
She pushed away the question of why she might be put out about that.
That is not the point. I just do not want anyone’s… castoffs. Not for my wedding.