There was a tense moment where everything around them seemed to stop, and she quaked in her slippers as she watched Edan’s expression turn thunderous. A few folks were now seated at the tables in the hall, enjoying an early breakfast.
Olivia nearly jumped out of her skin when Edan suddenly turned to them and bellowed, “Out, the lot of ye! Get out now!”
The surprised clansfolk scurried to obey their Laird.
Of course, they would.
Olivia wished she could go with them as she watched them depart hurriedly, some taking their breakfasts with them.
Who in their right mind would disobey Edan?
At last, the hall emptied but for her, Edan, and Greta. The old lady was still seated at the table, watching them both with rapt attention. When Edan turned his thunderous gaze to Olivia once more, she took a step back out of fear.
He followed her and grabbed her upper arm firmly. “Explain to me why he thinks he has the right to come here and propose to ye, seein’ as ye’re already married. To me.” His voice was tight with barely controlled fury.
“Because everyone thought ye were dead,” she blurted out fearfully. “At least, the council did. The councilmen wanted the marriage.”
Edan released her arm and began circling her as a wolf circles its prey, his eyes drilling into her.
Though completely unnerved, Olivia tried not to show it. She moistened her dry lips with the tip of her tongue and forced herself to meet his eyes and maintain a calm façade. She reminded herself that she had not asked for any of this. Taking strength from that as well as her pride, she was determined to show that she was not intimidated.
He suddenly ceased his circling and stepped uncomfortably close to her, looming over her. “And did ye intend to accept this proposal?”
Olivia lifted her chin, looked him right in the eye, and stated clearly, “Nay. I planned to refuse him.”
Edan said nothing to that. But Olivia felt his piercing gaze as though it were hot needles on her skin. He seemed intent on penetrating her very soul, to see if she were being truthful.
Well, let him look. I have nothin’ to hide.
“All right, enough,” he finally said, grabbing her arm once more and leading her briskly down the center aisle towards the hall’s great doors. He halted a few feet away, keeping her close to his side as they waited for Nurkirk to be shown in.
A moment later, the door opened, and a man Olivia knew must be Andrew Morrison, Laird of Clan Nurkirk, crossed the threshold with a spring in his step.
He looked to be in his late thirties and was very well dressed, in a full kilt and a sky-blue coat. He was of medium height and well-built, and he wore his curly blond hair short as if to show off his handsome, light-complexioned features. His bearing was authoritative, but his air of confidence vanished the moment his eyes landed on Edan.
Olivia looked nervously between the two men and immediately noticed that despite Nurkirk’s look of shock and dismay, Edan was very tense. His whole body radiated hostility. He seemed poised, like a steel mantrap about to snap shut.
Without a word, Edan stepped towards Nurkirk, away from Olivia’s side, leaving her feeling very exposed to the unwelcome visitor’s gaze. Like a black monolith, he planted himself firmly in front of her, a few feet away from the other laird. He toweredabove Nurkirk, blocking his path, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
“Nurkirk,” he said, his voice so low and menacing that Olivia shuddered. “I hear ye’ve come to me castle to propose tomewife. Is that right?”
Visibly caught off guard, Laird Nurkirk’s face flushed. But he quickly rallied, responding with a curt nod. “Aberfeld. I admit I’m surprised to see ye.”
Olivia held her breath when she saw how he casually rested his hand on the pommel of his sword. She nervously twisted her fingers at her waist, silently praying the men would not come to blows. When they did not, she exhaled slowly but continued to tremble in the horribly tense atmosphere.
“Aye, I bet ye are,” Edan replied disdainfully. “’Tis nae every day that ye come face to face with a dead man, eh?”
Nurkirk cast a glance at Olivia. “Ye’ve been away for a long time, man. Ye can hardly blame folks for thinkin’ ye werenae comin’ back,” he countered coolly.
But Olivia could tell he was far from calm under the surface. His brown eyes were glinting with suppressed fury. But there was fear there too.
“And ye saw yer chance to take me place and expand yer wee empire, eh?”
Nurkirk lifted his chin. “I only acted on the invitation of the council.Yercouncil. With an absent laird, who can blame yer councilmen for seekin’ stability for the clan through a union with mine?” He cast another glance at Olivia. “Lady Olivia would have also benefited from the marriage, since she was considered to be a young widow. Ye would likely have done the same if?—”
“Shut yer mouth,” Edan growled, brutally cutting him off. “Dinnae ever try to tell me what I would do. And as to me wife, she’s nae a widow, as ye can see.”
He took another step towards Nurkirk, which visibly flustered the man. But Nurkirk stood his ground, nonetheless.
