Chapter 6
“Try and look a little less displeased, dear,” Daphne said as they stepped into the entrance hall of Castle McLaughlin. “You’re going to have a lovely home here.”
“If it helps, it’s not the castle that displeases me,” Melissa whispered as their luggage was carried into the hall by a few strong men.
Castle McLaughlin was just as impressive inside as it was on the outside.
High stone walls with simple ceilings and large chandeliers gave the impression of quaint elegance, something that Melissa hadn’t been expecting at all.
She’d pictured the famous rake living in something more akin to a cave, rather than an elegant castle.
The sparse decorations seemed to fit his personality: handsome, ordered, and never out of place.
A single portrait of Daniel hung on the wall just before the stairs that led to the upper floors.
He wore a bright red kilt with black boots and a black coat, decorated with many medals and emblems from war.
She had to admit that he cut a handsome picture with a fierce look of control in his deep brown eyes.
His toned muscles had been perfectly captured in the painting.
Even through the layers of fabric, a person could see that he was a well-built man.
“He’s quite handsome, isn’t he?” Daphne asked as she examined her daughter’s face from the side.
Melissa quickly turned her head to look around at the servants coming for their things. “Yet too important to greet his guests, apparently,” she said sharply in an attempt to divert her mother’s attention from the fact that she’d been admiring his looks.
“I am afraid Me Laird is feeling ill this morning.” A lady that appeared to be in her late fifties stepped forward with her hands clasped in front of her in a respectful manner, narrowing her eyes at Melissa as she spoke.
“Me Laird has given strict instructions to make ye feel at home until he comes down himself.” She tilted her head back defiantly as if her words were final and not to be trifled with.
“I’m sure Daniel is still resting from his long journey,” Daphne cut in quickly when she saw that Melissa was about to speak. She knew all too well that Melissa would give the woman a sharp retort that would make matters worse.
“Aye, Me Lady.” The woman curtsied. “Me name is Isla Horn. I am head maid, tasked with running the castle an’ keeping everything in order.”
Melissa surveyed the woman from head to toe in her dark grey dress and apron.
Her hair was a light peppery grey with streaks of black, pulled back in a tight bun at the back of her head, eliminating any kind of wrinkle that may have been on her face.
A short, stubby nose sat above a pair of thin lips that looked as if they would disappear altogether if she pressed them together.
Isla Horn returned Melissa’s look with equal amounts of judgment in her dark brown eyes, which were nearly black now. “Tea an’ ale will be served in the dining hall once everyone had been shown to their rooms,” she said coolly. “Some bannocks have also been prepared.”
“Now, doesn’t that sound lovely?” Daphne looped her arm through her daughter’s. “Perhaps Isla would give us a tour of the castle while the luggage is being taken to the rooms,” she added kindly. “I’m sure there is nobody who knows the house better.”
“It would be me honor.” Isla curtsied again. “That is if the future lady of the house wishes it so?” She raised a thin eyebrow and looked at Melissa.
Hesitating for a second, Melissa summed the lady up. “I think my mother had a fine idea, but only once I’ve had a chance to freshen up,” she said pointedly. “The journey was long; I need some time to rest.”
“As ye wish, Me Lady.” Isla bowed before leaving. “I will go an’ oversee the handling of the luggage.”
Melissa resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the lady as she passed. She could see that they wouldn’t be getting along in the future. The maid was just as tiresome as Daniel with all of his rules and moral codes.
Shaking her head, Daphne guided her daughter away from the entrance. “It’s ill-advised to make an enemy of the lady who runs your house, dear,” she advised. “You will want her to be on your side, trust me on that.”
“She started with me first,” Melissa retorted.
Daphne sighed and shook her head. “Oh, dear, I can see that we’re off to a rough start already.”
“I think you might be living in a fairy tale if you thought that we would have any other kind of start, Mama,” Melissa said in exasperation.
Her mother and sister had begun to get on her nerves with all of their well-meaning advice.
“The marriage will be one of name only, there will be no need for me to get along with anyone, not even the head maid.”
“You might find life a little easier if you accepted some advice,” Daphne said gently. “Passions can burn bright, even when you aren’t expecting them to.”
Taking a deep breath, Melissa descended the steps of the castle, walking over to the yard that led to the gardens. Daniel had yet to make an appearance as the rest of the family waited for him before starting their supper. He’d been missing in action all morning while the family settled in.
Growing tired of waiting for him, Melissa had decided to take a walk.
Her mother had insisted she wear her emerald dress with the swooping neckline and embroidered skirt, all in an attempt to gain the favor of her future husband.
Melissa had argued that she didn’t care what her future husband thought of her, yet even Avery had insisted that she make an effort.
Her hair flowed loosely down her back in long golden strands, bouncing as she walked.
Picking a path that led away from the castle and into a small cluster of trees, Melissa sought the solace of a small pond that lay in the hidden alcove.
The surface of the water was black, shimmering in the light of the beautifully bright moon.
The surrounding birch trees seemed as if they had purposefully been planted in a semi-circle, hiding the garden from view.
A single stone bench sat beside the water with a cluster of Burnet Roses growing freely to the side on an old log.
Picking one of the flowers, she took a seat on the bench and sniffed the delicate fragrance.
Insects chirped in the peaceful silence of the night, allowing her to relax and let down her guard.
“Those are me favorite,” Daniel suddenly said as he came to her side. “They remind me of simplicity in life.”
Immediately feeling a prickle of irritation at the way he had snuck up on her, she lowered the tiny white flower to her lap. “I wouldn’t think that the famous rake with all of his rules would have a favorite flower.” She glared at him.
He was dressed in a black coat and cream breeches with brown leather riding boots. “Even wolves take time to stop an’ smell the flowers,” he responded calmly.
Melissa could see that he was trying his best to be civil and not bicker with her, a fact that made her want to annoy him even more. “Now you’re an expert on wolves as well as rules?”
“Exactly what rules do ye think I have?” he barked back. “Yer always accusing me of having rules. Just because I like to live me life in a certain way?”
“I don’t know.” She gave a mock sigh as if she were thinking hard. “Watch where you are going, don’t spill any ale…” she said, mimicking his voice.
He cut her off quickly. “Those arenae rules, lass. Those are all a matter of common decency an’ good sense.”
“All right.” She stood and faced him. “How about ‘don’t start supper until the host has arrived,’ and don’t pretend you haven’t tasked your head maid to keep an eye on while you aren’t around.” She narrowed her eyes at him and tilted her chin defiantly.
“Again,” he began, obviously trying to bite back his irritation.
“Waiting for the host is just good manners, an’ I dinnae blame Isla for wanting to keep an eye on ye.
I would have done the same thing, although I cannae say that I gave her any instructions regarding ye.
” His temper rose slightly as he spoke, returning the irritation that she felt toward him.
“Manners?” Melissa barked back. “Is it good manners for a host to leave his guests waiting?”
The corner of his mouth lifted into a mischievous smile. “Yer nae me guest.” He took a step forward. “Last time I checked, ye were me future bride, nae just a guest.”
“Don’t you dare tease me,” she said hotly, flinging her hair back over her shoulder. “You aren’t as charming as you think.”
“Aren’t I?” he asked with a small laugh, looking down at her as he took yet another step forward until he was right in front of her face.
“No, I can honestly assure you that you aren’t,” she said stubbornly, her heart beating a little faster at their close proximity. She could smell the woody musk of the soap he had used to bathe. The smell was pleasant and attractive to her great dismay.
“I can assure you that there are hundreds of lasses who would beg to differ.” He winked at her, then smirked.
“Do you take pride in being an insufferable rake?” she asked, taken aback and repulsed by his admittance of being a man who proudly professed to never marry.
“Aye, it’s one of those rules ye like talking about,” he said almost huskily as his eyes darkened. “I’m always proud of who I am.”
“Well, I can assure you,” she repeated the word, lending emphasis to her point. “I am not one of those women.” She turned from him, determined to have the last word and leave.
As quick as a flash, Daniel reached out and gently gripped her arm, turning her back to face him again. “Are ye sure, lass?” he asked softly, pulling her body slightly closer to his until they were nearly pressed against one another but not quite touching.
“I…” she stammered for a second, taken off guard by the feelings of heat that emanated from her core, spreading through her body like a wildfire that couldn’t be tamed. “I’m sure,” she managed after swallowing the nerves that suddenly rose in her chest.
“We may just have to do something about that, then.” His voice was barely above a growl as he drew her closer, using the back of his fingers to trace a line over her jaw.
Feeling a strange kind of fluttering in her stomach, she looked into his eyes. The golden flecks in the brown of his irises reflected the moon and beams of light that bounced off the water. She couldn’t help but get lost in the intensity of his gaze.
The moment seemed to linger on for an eternity as he placed his finger beneath her chin, gently tilting her face toward his as his lips drew closer, warming her own as they parted slightly, acting completely of their own accord.
Melissa shut her eyes in anticipation as her chest rose and fell with every breath that she took.
Her mind was screaming that she didn’t like him, but her body was keeping her firmly rooted to the spot, responding to his touch with equal amounts of heat.
Her skin tingled as he dropped his hand, running his palm over her exposed arm and the small of her back.
“We cannae do this,” he suddenly said, his lips mere inches away from hers.
Her eyes shot open as she looked at him in confusion. “What?”
“Our marriage will be one of convenience only.” He let go of her arm and took a step back. “We can never lie together as husband and wife.” His eyes were clouded with darkness.
It took her a few minutes to break the spell he had cast over her before she came to her senses. “As if I want to have anything more to do with you than what I’m forced to,” she retorted, her breaths still coming in quick succession from the heat that had flowed between their bodies.
“Yer free to do whatever ye wish once we are married, an’ I will do the same,” he said calmly. “Ye dinnae have to worry about me ever forcing ye into me bed.”
“Good,” she scoffed as he turned to leave. “We are both on the same page, then,” she managed without letting on how shaky she felt.
Giving her a single nod, he turned and left her beside the water, his long legs taking massive strides as he walked away without looking back.
Sinking onto the bench once again, she watched him leave.
Her feelings were a tangled mess of yarn she struggled to understand.
It wasn’t as if she had wanted him to kiss her, but she hadn’t pulled away or told him to stop.
There was also the pang of hurt she had felt when he’d all but rejected her as his wife.
Isn’t that what she wanted? She felt the question echoing in her mind as a small breeze picked up, blowing the strands of her long hair across her face.
Haven’t I wanted him to keep me at bay? Leaving me to my own devices while our marriage stands in name alone?
Her body felt shaky as she struggled to bring her breathing back to normal.
Avery and her mother had tried to warn her that something like this could happen, even when a couple hated each other as much as she and Daniel clearly did.
Yet, she had been too stubborn at the time to listen to what her sister had to say.
Taking a deep breath, she faced the water once again, noticing the single white flower that had somehow made its way to the center of the pond. The white flower that Daniel had said was his favorite.
She’d be lying if she said that the flower hadn’t caught her eye from the start as well, but was it possible that two people as different as they were had something in common, after all?