Eloise clenched her hands at her sides, anger flaring. “I will never marry ye,” she said firmly, though her voice trembled. “Never.”
His smile returned, slower this time, more dangerous. “Ye will,” he said simply. “Or I will see yer family faces death.”
Eloise froze.. “What…?” she breathed, her voice faltering.
Drummond leaned in slightly, his gaze hard and unyielding. “I will burn their lands, take their lives, and leave nothing but ash behind,” he said calmly. “So choose wisely, lass.”
Eloise’s breath hitched, her composure cracking as fear surged through her.
“I thought that would shut ye up,” he added with a sneer, straightening.
Before she could respond, the door opened again, and a guard stepped inside, bowing his head.
“Me Laird,” he said, “we have found the priest. He was deep in his cups, but he is being made ready.”
Drummond’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “Good,” he said. “Then it is settled. Tell him we will need his services at sunset.”
Eloise’s stomach dropped, dread pooling heavily in her chest.
“Nay,” she whispered, shaking her head. “Ye cannae do this.”
But Drummond had already seized her arm, his grip iron-tight as he dragged her toward the door. “I can, and I will,” he replied coldly.
Eloise struggled, trying to pull free, but his strength was unyielding. “Let me go!” she cried, panic rising.
He ignored her protests, hauling her down the dim corridor with relentless force.
They stopped before another door, which he shoved open without ceremony. He pushed her inside so roughly she stumbled, barely catching herself before falling.
“There are wedding clothes on the bed,” he said sharply from the doorway.
Eloise turned, her heart racing, tears already stinging her eyes.
“I expect ye to be ready by sunset,” he continued, his tone leaving no room for refusal. “Or mark me words, yer family will suffer for yer defiance.”
“Ye monster,” she whispered, her voice breaking.
Drummond only gave a thin, humorless smile. “I am a man who gets what is his,” he replied.
Then the door slammed shut, the sound echoing through the chamber, followed by the unmistakable click of a lock. Eloise stood frozen for a moment, her chest rising and falling rapidly as the silence closed in around her.
Slowly, she turned toward the small window, stumbling forward as hope flickered weakly within her. She looked out, her breath catching as she realized just how high she was. The ground below was far too distant, the stone walls sheer and unforgiving. There would be no escape that way. Her shoulders sagged, the last thread of hope slipping through her fingers. She tried the door, hoping the lock would give way, but it did not.
Her gaze fell to the bed, where a gown had been laid out in careful arrangement. It was fine, elegant even, but to her it might as well have been chains. She approached it slowly, her hands trembling as she touched the fabric.
“Nay…” she whispered, her voice breaking completely now. Tears spilled down her cheeks, her strength giving way under the crushing weight of her reality.
“I am doomed,” she murmured, sinking onto the edge of the bed. Her thoughts turned wildly, searching for some way out, some miracle that might save her. But all she saw was Drummond’s cold face and heard his threat echoing in her mind. If she refused, her family would suffer. If she agreed, she would be bound to a man she feared more than death itself.
Her heart ached then, a different pain rising through the fear.
James.
The thought of him came unbidden, sharp and overwhelming.
“I wish…” she whispered softly, her voice trembling. “I wish we had truly married.”
Tears fell faster now, her heart pounding as she pressed a hand to it.
