“Ye’d be surprised by how appearances can be deceiving. So, ye’re a runaway?”
She hesitated. “Aye. From me uncle.”
He crossed his arms. “And what’s yer name, runaway?”
She bit her lip. Giving her name felt like handing him a blade to slit her throat. But lying might lead to worse consequences.
“Lavina,” she revealed. “And this is me sister, Maisie.”
“What’s yer clan?”
She hesitated again. “Does that matter? We’ve left it behind us. If ye want us to swear fealty to ye, then we will. Please, we cannae go back.”
Her answer seemed to intrigue him.
The Laird studied her for a moment longer, then turned to his men. “Take them back to the keep. Make sure that the young one is given dry clothes, food, and rest. As for the other, see that she’s brought to me study. There are a few questions I have for her.”
“Let me take a guess as to why ye’ve brought trouble to me lands.” Theo stirred the dying embers of the fire and watched as they danced in the air.
Glancing over his shoulder, he eyed the girl. She had the face of an angel, round and full of life. It was the defiance in her gaze that stunned him the most. She was no doubt a fighter, a kindred spirit of sorts.
She flinched the second his gaze met hers. And why wouldn’t she? He had elicited the same response since he was eight. It was the scars that ran down the side of his face.
“Please,” she mumbled, before letting out an unintelligible series of vowels.
Theo could only assume she was cursing him. For what, though, he wasn’t sure. Propping the iron poker beside the fireplace, he turned around, allowing the flames to dry his soaked back.
“Now, give me a moment. I’m sure I heard yer story before,” he said, wagging a finger at her. His eyes narrowed, and a crooked grin tugged at the corners of his lips. “Yer uncle wants to marry ye off to someone ye cannae stand to be with, and ye ran away, as that was the only means of escape.”
He studied her, hoping to catch her tells. He didn’t like the fact that she was so adorable. The way her hair clung to her neck and shoulders stirred his desires. But more so was the way her dress hugged her every curve, leaving more than enough for his imagination.
She lowered her head, her gaze shifting to the fire. “Nae me. Me uncle would never allow me to disgrace our family in that way. Nay. He wanted to marry off me sister to the oldest laird in all of Scotland. I couldnae hear it. She’s barely of age. Nae even a woman, really, and he wants to…”
She paused, refusing to let the words do any further damage.
“We need a place to stay until I can figure out where to go. Please, me sister doesnae have it in her to leave now. She needs to rest. Just give us until she can stand on her feet again.”
Theo straightened. “And why should I allow ye to stay here? What value would ye bring to me clan?”
“Me sister can read, as can I. She’s good with her studies and is a tender hand with livestock. And I can help with the sick. I’ve studied herbs, and I instinctively ken me way around a kitchen.”
“Aye, I’m sure ye do,” Theo said absentmindedly.
She could have been talking about the weather for all he cared. It wouldn’t have mattered one bit what came out of her lips, for she would find a way to bewitch him.
“And what is that supposed to mean?” Lavina demanded, tilting her head to the side.
Theo’s chest tightened the second he caught her indignation.
“Nothing,” he answered with a wave of his hand and moved swiftly to his desk. “It’s nae important. What is important is the answer to me next question. Now, I want ye to be open and honest. What would ye say to marriage?”
CHAPTER FOUR
“Ye’d ask that of me?” Lavina whispered, her voice thick with disbelief. “The audacity…”
Her chest rose and fell quickly. It had to be a nightmare. This couldn’t be real. Yet the musky scent of burned oak and lingering cigar smoke confirmed it wasn’t some fever dream.
This was their ancestral home, and the walls were closing in on her.
