Chapter 6
The next morning, Aiden walked through the stone corridors of his family’s castle, his boots clicking against the cold, hard floor. He had been searching for Katie for a while, and his frustration was growing.
When he finally reached their quarters, he found her sitting by the window, wrapped in a blanket and staring out at the rolling hills.
The soft afternoon light illuminated her features, casting a gentle glow on her raven hair and making her look more serene and beautiful than he’d ever noticed before.
He entered the room abruptly, catching her off guard. “Katie,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady. “We need to talk. Ye’ve been hidin’ away in here for too long.”
Katie turned to face him, her expression a mix of weariness and defiance. “I’m tired, Aiden. I came here to protect my reputation, but I will not be a trophy for you to parade around whenever you decide to pretend to be kind to me. I refuse to be made a fool of.”
He could see the exhaustion in her eyes, but also a steely determination that intrigued and frustrated him. He walked over to her and, without giving her a chance to respond, grabbed her hand and pulled her from the chair.
“Ye need to come with me,” he said, guiding her roughly toward the study.
Katie resisted, but he was insistent. He led her down the hall, his grip firm but gentle. When they reached the study, he opened the door and ushered her inside.
The room was richly decorated, with dark wood paneling, heavy drapes, and an imposing fireplace. A large tapestry hung on one wall, depicting the intricate family tree of Clan MacNiall, woven with vibrant threads that traced their lineage through the centuries.
“This is what matters,” Aiden said, gesturing toward the tapestry. “This is the legacy I need to uphold. It might seem like a charade to ye, but it must appear real. I cannae afford any mistakes.”
Katie’s gaze shifted from the tapestry to him, her face reflecting a mix of hurt and anger. “So, you want me to keep up this charade while you’re indifferent to everything? Oblivious to the adoring eyes of Lady Mary or your maids? Do you think I’m stupid?”
“What are ye talkin’ about?” he asked, exasperated. “I dinnae understand. What do me maids or Lady Mary have to do with anythin’?”
“It’s clear that you’ve been careless with your affections,” Katie accused, tired of always backing down.
“You’ll show your favor to anyone but the woman to whom you’re pretending to be betrothed!
I didn’t come here to ruin anyone’s life.
I was only trying to protect my reputation, but now I can see it wasn’t worth it. ”
Aiden’s jaw tightened. “Ye’re nae ruinin’ anyone’s life. I dinnae want Lady Mary or me servants.”
“Then what do you want?” Katie’s voice trembled. Her words hung heavy in the air as Aiden struggled with his own emotions.
“Dinnae ask me that,” he responded, all his muscles tightening instinctively. He took a step toward her, and her eyes widened.
“Why not? Do you even know what you want?”
“I do, but if I do what I want, yer precious reputation will be in tatters.”
“What does that even mean?” she sighed, the hurt in her expression making his heart stutter.
“I think ye ken, and ‘tis drivin’ me insane,” he explained, his voice low, their bodies dangerously close.
“You can’t have me,” she protested, her eyes narrowing. “You’re rude, unkind, demanding, and painfully careless with my feelings. I don’t desire you in any way, My Laird.”
“I dinnae think you mean that lass,” he responded, his hands circling her waist, pulling her against him.
The bright pink blush on her cheeks made him smirk as he leaned in, his lips hovering over hers.
“Unhand me…”
“And if I refuse?”
“I’ll scream.”
“Truly?” he asked, his lips trailing over her cheek and jaw before they caressed the soft skin of her neck. “Scream, push me away…”
“Stop…”
“Ye’re flushed, and ye’re breathin’ so heavily. Is it too much for ye, Me Lady?”
“It’s because of you,” she replied shyly, the sweetness in her voice drawing him in.
He held her close, the warmth of her body against his own sending a shiver through him.
He wanted to protect her, wanted to stop hurting her, but no matter what he did, she became upset with him.
He pulled back, looking into her eyes, and she sniffled as his finger rose to brush away the tears lingering on her lashes.
She froze at this, her big eyes reflecting the pain he felt inside for hurting her once again.
His lips hovered over hers, and for a moment, it seemed they would kiss.
He desperately wanted to kiss away the sorrow and bring her nothing but pleasure.
The things he would do to this young, supple, fiery woman would make the most heinous sailor blush.
The air was charged with tension, and he was about to lose himself in her when a knock at the door made them jolt.
Katie pulled away quickly, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and a touch of disappointment.
She walked briskly to the door and opened it to reveal Aiden’s middle brother, a tall man with a knowing smirk.
“Ah, there ye are,” Oliver said, glancing between Katie and Aiden with a look of mild amusement. “I was lookin’ for ye both. Dinner is almost ready.”
Katie forced a smile and stepped aside to let him enter. “Aiden is inside,” she said, her voice steady despite her inner turmoil.
She gave Aiden one last fleeting look before slipping out of the room and down the hall, disappearing around a corner.
Aiden watched her leave, his frustration mounting. He wanted to follow her, to explain everything, but he was interrupted by his brother’s arrival. The door shut behind them with a heavy thud, and Oliver’s smirk widened as he took in the scene.
Aiden turned to face him, his expression a mix of irritation and helplessness. “What do ye want?” he snapped.
His brother’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Just checkin’ in on me dear braither. I see ye’ve been busy.”
Aiden’s fists clenched at his sides, and he turned away, his anger simmering just below the surface. His brother continued to smirk as he settled into a chair by the fireplace, leaving him to wrestle with his conflicting emotions as he poured himself a whiskey.
“Everyone in the castle kens what ye’re up to, Aiden,” Oliver said, his voice carrying a sharp edge. “And ‘tis nae workin’.”
Aiden stared over at him, irritation seeping into his voice. “I dinnae ken what ye’re talkin’ about. Ye wanted me to find a lass to wed, and I brought ye one.”
Oliver’s gaze flicked to the door, where Katie had left only moments ago, her absence a fresh reminder of the tension that lingered in the air. He raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Indeed, and a fine one at that. So, when do ye plan to wed her?”
Aiden’s jaw tightened, his irritation evident. “That’s none of yer business. Need I remind ye who the Laird is?” His voice was cold, the whiskey in his glass offering no comfort against the dim reality of the situation.
Oliver’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn’t press further. “Very well. But ye should ken, everyone is talkin’ about this engagement. If ‘tis nothin’ more than a farce, it’ll become obvious soon enough.”
With a final, disapproving look, Oliver turned on his heel and left the room, the door clicking shut behind him. The silence that followed was filled with the weight of unspoken words and unresolved tension.
Aiden stood alone, his gaze fixed on the closed door. He could feel the mounting pressure of his family’s expectations and the strain of the engagement pressing down on him. His frustration was palpable, his heart aching with a mix of regret and helplessness.
The room was quiet aside from the faint crackling of the fire in the hearth.
Aiden took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.
He poured himself another glass of whiskey with a practiced hand, the rich amber liquid sloshing into the glass.
He raised it to his lips, savoring the warmth that spread through him, a temporary distraction from his tumultuous thoughts.
As he took a long sip, he reflected on his conversation with Oliver and his earlier encounter with Katie.
The image of her hurt and frustrated lingered in his mind.
He knew she had been trying to help, but her words had only served to remind him of the walls he had built around himself. Walls he wasn’t ready to break down.
The room felt colder now, despite the fire’s warmth. Aiden’s frustration simmered beneath the surface, mingling with a sense of guilt and confusion. He couldn’t keep up the pretense forever.
He took another long sip from his glass, the fiery liquid offering a fleeting escape from the mounting stress. He needed to face the reality of his situation.
He couldn’t help but feel the growing distance between himself and Katie, as well as the increasing tension with his family. Finding a solution would be challenging, indeed.
The silence in the room was a rare companion for Aiden.
The fire crackled softly, and the shadows danced on the walls as if mocking his inner chaos.
He had just poured himself another glass of whiskey when the door creaked open and Griselda entered.
Her presence was both comforting and alarming—she had an uncanny ability to vacillate between warmth and severity with just a glance.
“Aiden,” she said softly, stepping into the room with a weary grace. The look in her eyes was a mix of sadness and anger, a blend that only heightened Aiden’s discomfort. “We need to talk.”
He set down the glass and sighed. “Maither, ye’re welcome to join me for a drink, but I’m nae sure there’s much to discuss.”
His mother moved closer, her gaze fixed on him intently. “I’ve heard the whispers, Aiden. The whole castle is talkin’ about this betrothal. ‘Tis nae just gossip—‘tis a matter of concern.”
Aiden forced a calm expression, though he felt the weight of her words. “What do ye want to ken?”
She took a seat across from him, her demeanor shifting to a mix of sympathy and frustration. “How did ye come to choose this English lass? Surely there are other women better suited to our family.”
He hesitated, not wanting to reveal the true nature of their engagement. Instead, he chose to fabricate a story that would shield his intentions.
“Katie is… well, she’s remarkably well-connected and pleasing in many ways. ‘Tis a strategic move, really.”
His mother’s lips curled into a small, knowing smile. “A strategic move? Aiden, ye ken I can see through yer stories. I ken when ye’re lying.”
Aiden’s jaw tightened. He didn’t want to delve into the truth, knowing it would only complicate things further. “There’s nothin’ to worry about. This is how things are.”
She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing with a mix of disappointment and curiosity. “So, ye’re nae really plannin’ to marry the English lass, are ye?”
His silence was his answer, but his expression hardened.
“Ye should be careful then,” she said, her voice tinged with concern. “Ye dinnae want her to think this betrothal means anything. ‘Tis clear enough to me that this is all just pretense.”
Aiden’s eyes flashed with irritation. “She kens exactly what this betrothal is,” he said darkly, his tone underscoring the gravity of the situation.
“Do ye?” his mother shot back, her voice sharp and laden with unspoken worries. “Do ye really understand what yer actions mean for her and us?”
Before he could respond, she stood up and walked toward the door, her departure as abrupt as her arrival. “Think carefully, Aiden. This could have consequences ye didnae expect.”
With that, Griselda left, the door closing behind her with a definitive thud. The room felt colder in her absence, and Aiden was left grappling with the weight of her words. He stared at the closed door, the flickering firelight casting long shadows over the room.
He sank into his chair, the whiskey forgotten as his thoughts churned.
His mother’s concerns echoed in his mind, intertwining with his doubts and frustrations.
The betrothal was supposed to be a strategic necessity, a mere formality, but the complexities of emotions and expectations had become far more entangled than he had anticipated.
As he sipped his whiskey, another knock sounded at his study door. It was a light knock, and he hoped that Katie had returned.
“Come!”
When Mary walked through the door, he felt a wave of disappointment.
“Me Laird,” she spoke softly, greeting him. “Am I disturbin’?”
“I was about to go find me betrothed,” Aiden responded, rising from the desk.
“Ah, aye, the Sassenach.” She nodded.
Aiden didn’t miss the revealing outfit she was wearing.
Her neckline plunged and showed off the milk-white of her breasts, the red shawl around her shoulders failing to cover her or the expensive gold necklace she was wearing.
It was a desperate move, something to draw his attention, but all it did was anger him. She had nothing on Katie’s beauty.
“Me betrothed,” he corrected, jumping to Katie’s defense.
“Of course, Me Laird. I meant nay disrespect.”
“Then why are ye here, Lady Mary?”
Having known Mary for most of his childhood, he knew she had always been interested in him, and her mother had made it clear for years that theirs would be an ideal match.
“I only meant to commiserate, Me Laird. We can all see ye’re unhappy with this match, though what compels ye to honor it, we cannae understand.”
“First of all, Lady Mary, ye ken nothin’ about what I feel,” he declared, squaring his shoulders. He could see the fear flash in her eyes as he stepped closer. “And secondly, yer presence here, in me castle, is undesired. Ye should prepare to return to yer home with yer family.”