Chapter 4
The whole castle seemed to have fallen quiet, save for the crackle of the fire. Ava tried to make sense of what she just heard. Finlay never mentioned a child in the family.
“Nephew? Is it…” notThe words refused to come out.
Ava knew that Finlay had siblings, but he had never mentioned a nephew besides the one who had died in the fire. Still, it would not surprise her to learn that he had a secret son.
“Ah, me braither never said anythin’. Of course, he didnae. Maybe that’s the one thing he’s done right…” Caden trailed off.
Ava had no idea what he was talking about.
“The lad’s name is Nathan. He’s a sweet little boy. His maither—me sister—died in a terrible fire.” Caden shook his head.
Ava’s mind was reeling. How could Finlay not have told her about his nephew being alive?
“Would ye mind elaborating? I thought the child died in the fire with yer sister.”
“Aye, we wanted everyone to believe he had. We needed him to be safe while our clan was still at war.”
“I see. So ye want me to become a second maither to him?” Ava was growing impatient. She had had enough surprises for one day.
“Among other things.” Caden chewed on his cheek. “Frankly, ye must follow all of me rules.”
“I will hear them out first and then decide. I may have a few to add meself.” Ava pressed her fingers to her temples to ward off the coming headache.
Caden smirked and lifted a finger. “First, ye must help the little lad speak.”
“Speak?” Ava was quite confused.
Caden leaned over and pressed his finger against her lips. “Second, ye must never interrupt me.”
Ava felt the fury rise in her chest, but motioned for him to continue.
Caden removed his finger from her lips. “Three, ye must nae bother me, seek me out, or demand to speak with me unless it’s about me nephew or the castle.” He waited for her to say something, but she just stared at him. “Four, ye must give me another heir.”
How dare he?
Ava nearly spat fire. “So ye did want to trap me in this marriage, then!”
Caden crossed his arms. “Ye seemed desperate enough to marry as well. This is the perfect solution for both of us but it seems ye daenae ken what’s good for ye.”
“Excuse me for nae trusting a complete stranger!”
“I am nae a stranger to ye, lass.” Caden ground his teeth.
Ava shot to her feet. “Ye are! We havenae spoken since we were children!” she snapped. “I dinnae even recognize ye. I mean, I would have never thought ye’d become so big and strong and annoying. Let alone dangerous!”
“Ye think I’m big and strong?” He had the audacity to smirk.
“Did ye miss the annoying and dangerous part? I find it rather wise nae to trust ye. Wouldnae ye say?”
“I think it is rather foolish, actually.” Caden rose as well.
“But ye seem more desperate than me to be married, what with yer little games.”
The pressure in her head grew. She was irritated that she had to crane her neck to look him in the eye.
“Careful, wife.” His voice was low, filled with ice and determination.
“I havenae agreed to yer terms yet,” she scoffed.
“Ye will. I will tame ye,” he whispered, his voice too smooth to be voicing a threat .
“I am nae a horse to be tamed,” she shot back.
“Of course, ye arenae. Ye’re much more wild and free,” Caden whispered, tucking a wild lock behind her ear.
When did he get so close?
“Before we make any agreement, I should remind ye that Finlay and I were going to have a white marriage.” Ava backed away and sat down, pursing her lips.
Why am I insisting on this? He was pretty clear. He wants heirs. And as a Laird, he should have them.
She had never made love before and had not planned to with Finlay—or with anyone else, for that matter. Her friend dallied with many women, and he wanted to keep it that way.
“We agreed that as long as he doesnae expect me to… perform me wifely duties, he could do as he wished. Love whomever he wished. We would still live separate lives and be man and wife in name only.”
Silence ensued.
Ava cleared her throat and watched as her words sank in.
Caden slowly sat back down. “That’s too bad. Like I said, I expect ye to perform yer wifely duties. ‘Tis our duty to the clan, and me nephew, to have a real family.”
“Right.”
Ava did not know what else to say. Her plan had been perfect, she’d forever be free. But her current husband had so many rules and expectations she started to wonder if it would have been better to let her uncle marry her off to old Laird MacAinsley.
Then she took Caden in. His haunting eyes, his full lips, his strong arms.
Well, no. It would not have been better with old Laird MacAinsley.
She could tell there was something else that Caden wanted to say.
She was not sure she was ready to hear it.
“I’ll bet the poor child needs someone less intimidating to spend time with, instead of an insufferable man like ye. Perhaps that’s why he willnae speak,” she said instead.
Caden’s nostrils flared. “Rule Number Five, ye willnae talk back to me. Ye will obey me.”
She pushed to her feet, glaring daggers at him. “I’d rather die.”
Caden smirked, before slowly standing. “Ye might like it,” he whispered in her ear.
She wanted to slap that stupid mask, and his cursed half-smirk, off his face.
But somehow she stood rooted to her place, breathing hard, unable to look away.
“Of course, ye have nay choice but to accept. I’ve already given ye the freedom of me title. It’s yer duty as me wife and lady of me clan to obey,” Caden said this flatly but to her, it sounded like a challenge.
“Ye are trapping me in this marriage…” Ava fought back angry tears.
“What can ye do about it, lass?” His eyes glittered.
Panic clawed up her throat. “I want an annulment.”
“If we get an annulment, ye’ll just have to go back to yer uncle and marry whoever he picks. It’s nae like Finlay will take ye.” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “It’s done, lass. Ye’re mine now.”
She glared at him. She hated that he was right, and she hated how her heart beat faster just because his body was almost touching hers.
She’d blame her anger for it. Still breathing hard, she sighed and started pacing.
It seemed that she had to choose whom she’d belong to, because as a woman she could apparently not belong to herself.
At least she’d be protected. She’d still be free in some ways…Or at least she hoped so. And then, there was one thing she still needed to fight for. One person who was still innocent in all of this.
“Fine. I accept. As for yer rules, I wouldnae want to see ye or talk te ye even without them. And as for the heir…” A blush bloomed in her cheeks. “I willnae lie with ye unless ye promise me something.”
“Name it.” His body was a solid wall of muscle, taught like a bowstring ready to snap.
“Me uncle wants to marry off me sister Thalia, too. I only agreed to marry to stall him. Since our faither isnae around to stop him, nay one will stand up to him. I want her to be protected from this and be able to choose who to marry… if she wants to marry at all. Second, I will be free to do as I wish. I willnae be trapped like some poor indentured servant. If ye agree, then I’m yers. ”
To her shock, he softened a little. “I’ll take care of everything. I’ll give ye and yer sister a monthly allowance that ye can use however ye want.” He sighed and fingered a lock of her hair. “This isnae yer cage, me dear. I told ye, ye have freedom as the Lady. I mean it.”
“Aside from yer rules,” she breathed.
“Aye. So, do we have an agreement?” He offered her his hand.
“Aye, me Laird.”
She tried to shake his hand, but instead he lifted her own to his lips, while still holding her gaze.
Her skin burned where he kissed her.
“Well, then, welcome home, me Lady.”
How one woman could get under his skin so fast would forever be a mystery to Caden. Usually, he did not care what others thought of his intentions. However, with Ava…
She had agreed to his rules, and he had agreed to hers. So why did he still feel unsatisfied with their conversation? He had gotten what he wanted, after all.
Maybe it was that damned green dress that made him want more. Maybe taming her would not be enough. When she looked at him with those eyes, he wanted to possess her.
And he could not afford that.
He forced himself to focus his attention elsewhere.
Back at the grove, she sat next to him, eating her dinner in silence while ignoring Finlay, who was still trying to get her attention.
“Would ye care for another dance, me Lady? I promise this one will be safer,” Caden found himself asking.
“Do I have a choice?” she muttered to her dinner plate.
“Do ye remember me rules?” he whispered in her ear, feeling the lightest tickle of a red strand against his forehead.
He leaned back to see her reaction. Her cheeks turned a magnificent shade of pink that complemented her so well.
“Of course, as long as ye remember mine,” she replied in a hushed tone.
The corner of his mouth quirked up as he extended his hand toward her. Her thin fingers wrapped around his rough ones, and he felt his heart skip a beat.
He guided her to the clearing and led her through a slow ballad. The fiddlers and flutists winked at him as he swayed with her.
The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in hues of deep purple and orange that reflected in her green eyes. Her scent wrapped around him like a spring morning wind.
Caden had not drunk much, but he felt intoxicated. Maybe Finlay had made him drink more wine than he remembered.
At the end of the song, he looked down to see Ava staring up into his face. She was the first person in years who was seemed more interested in his eyes than what was under his mask.
They cleared their throats at the same time.
“I…should get a glass of wine. Excuse me, me Laird,” she said and started walking away. Perhaps their little dance hadn’t affected only him after all. He watched from the clearing as she approached the table.
The moment she reached for her glass, he saw movement from under the table. At first he thought it could be a cat, but he should have known better.
After only a moment, out popped Nathan, his three-year-old nephew.
“Oh! Ye scared me!” He heard Ava gasp, as her free hand fled to her chest and she set her glass back down.
“I thought ye were a little kitty!” She teased.
The little boy just stared at her.
Caden decided it was now time to make the introductions, so he walked up to the table.
Upon seeing him, Nathan’s expression turned from curiosity to fear, and he ran away to his nursemaid. Of course. Much as he hated to admit it, it was obvious that the child needed to spend time with someone who actually knew how to act around him. Better company, as Ava had put it.
He drew to a halt next to her. “I see ye met me nephew. Nathan. As I’m sure ye noticed, ye’ll need to be patient with him. He doesnae do well with more than one person at a time.”
Ava nodded. “He’s just scared. As soon as he feels safe, he’ll start acting differently. Ye’ll see.” She sipped her wine, watching the little lad’s retreating figure.
“I certainly hope so…” Caden could not take his eyes off her, and it was beginning to bother him. This marriage could not work if he could not stick to his own rules. Separate lives, that was what he wanted. He had no intention of caring for her. He really should not. He cleared his throat.
“I had a room prepared for ye. I’ll see ye tomorrow—to discuss Nathan’s care in more detail.”
Ava turned to face him, a quizzical look on her face. “Why are we nae going to the same bedchambers… as per yer rule?”
His heart leaped into his throat. He notdid not dare cough.
His eyes fled to Finlay, who was still watching Ava with a wounded expression.
In that moment Caden found he did not want to sleep with his wife. Yet.
Surely, desiring the lass was not the same as caring for her. But desiring yer bride when she was clearly still hurt by yer brother’s rejection…That would not do.
When she stopped avoiding her friend, when she did not care that he betrayed her any longer, when Caden would be able to possess every curve, every breath…Only then he would claim her.
“I willnae claim ye until ye stop feeling hurt by other men’s actions, lassie. Until then, a maid can show ye to yer room.”