Chapter 4 #3
Panic seized her. Was he asking her to retire so he could perform his husbandly duties?
She could not put it off forever but even another hour would give her some reprieve.
“I wanted to speak to yer sister before I go inside. Is that her right there?” Pointing in the distance, she started to walk away from him, but he snagged her elbow.
“I passed my sister inside not two minutes before,” he said softly in her ear. “Doona avoid me, Sloane. I am yer husband now.”
“Aye, but ye have many people celebrating yer marriage and ye shouldna ignore them.”
“Our marriage.”
Turning her face toward him, she arched her eyebrows. “Doesna feel much like this is about me or us. If it were, perhaps yer clan might have a kind word or two for me. If ye will excuse me, I believe I will head inside.”
Lachlan didn’t say a word as she pulled her arm away from him and hurried away. She had no plans to speak to his sister or anyone else for that matter, but she needed a few minutes to herself.
“Trying to leave the festivities early?”
Embarrassed at being caught, Sloane turned around and tried to smile at her father.
Since the wedding, Errol hadn’t said a single word to her, either to comfort or congratulate.
Considering that her father never paid her any heed, it shouldn’t have surprised or hurt her, but it still left a strange ache in her chest. Just once, she yearned to hear some kind words from him.
“Father. I wasn’t trying to sneak out. I just wanted a moment of quiet.”
“Ye have had quiet all yer life. ’Tis time to do yer duty to yer people. Come. We must talk.”
Hoping that he might have some words of wisdom for her, she followed him inside. He drew her into a small private meeting chamber and closed the door. “Sloane, I need ye to know that yer people still need ye.”
“My people?” Confused, she glanced out the window at the blend of the clans below. “Ye mean the Fentons? But I am a MacFarlane now, at yer insistence.”
“Aye and the MacFarlanes are good people, but ye must not forget yer first family. These next few months are crucial between the clans. This alliance for peace…”
“So, there is a feud.” Sloane shook her head. “Father, I doona understand. Are we at war?”
His eyes glittered in the dark as the light from the bonfire cast a hazy glow from the window.
“This alliance for peace is only solidified when Freya MacFarlane weds Gair Brisbane. If that doesna happen then yer union with MacFarlane is for naught. Ye must keep an eye on Freya and report to me if there is anything that ye think might get in the way of that union.”
“I doona think ye have anything to worry about. Freya MacFarlane seems to be a sound woman. She will want to do what is best. I cannae see her rebelling against her brother’s wishes. Besides, Freya willna have a choice, will she?”
“My daughter. Perhaps I have kept ye in the dark for too long,” Errol muttered as he shook his head. “Freya was to be married before. Last year.”
“Aye, I know.” Sloane swished her skirts. “This was to be her dress. I am happy that the marriage was canceled when Lachlan realized her groom would not make a good husband.”
“Is that what they told ye?” Her father snorted in derision. “Freya MacFarlane is a light skirt who spreads her legs too freely for men.”
Sloane gasped and pressed a hand to her stomach. “Father, these are our hosts!”
“Aye and now they are family, so ye must know the truth. The reason that Freya’s wedding was canceled was because her groom found out about her tendencies.
In order to keep her reputation intact, Lachlan paid the man to leave and fabricated some story.
It may fool the likes of Gair Brisbane now, but three months is a long time.
If Freya steps out even once, Brisbane will have reason to refuse to wed her.
If that happens, Lachlan will be most angry.
He could take that anger out on ye for he was forced to wed ye for nothing. Do ye see where I am going with this?”
She did and it made her feel sick. What Freya did with her body was her own business, but Sloane didn’t understand a woman who wouldn’t do whatever was needed to protect her clan. “What do ye wish of me?”
“Simply keep me apprised of her comings and goings. Send me letters privately when I am not here, but I will visit. Once I know how Freya spends her time then I will know how to proceed. Remember, Sloane, ’tis important that we protect ye and protect the peace.
” He gripped her shoulders. “I have asked nothing of ye prior to this, Sloane. Ye must not let me down.”
“I willna.”
This was the first time that her father counted on her for anything and she wanted to make him proud. Keeping an eye on Freya would be easy and Sloane always wanted a friend. She would make sure that Freya behaved herself until her marriage.
Leaning over, Errol kissed her forehead. It was the only time she’d ever remember him showing any type of affection, and hope blossomed in her chest. Maybe her father was ready to finally begin a relationship with her after all. Nothing would make her happier.