Page 16 of The Laird's Secret Bairn

“I daenae care what is proper, nor do I need to hear a word ye have to say to me about this subject. Skye is too romantic, too sweet, for a marriage of convenience. She’d be eaten alive in a household like yers. I willnae allow her to leave with ye. Me decision is final.”

“Skye’s a grown woman who can make her own choices.” Dougal kept his voice level, though something in him bristled at being told what his betrothed, even a false one, could or couldn’t survive.

Skye would never be hurt under his roof, but Kaden was clinging to the reputation that had followed him since the fire. A reputation he had done little to shake off with his actions for the sake of keeping Elsie’s secret.

“And what exactly are ye offering her? A title? Protection? Or just yer reputation hanging over her like a storm cloud?” Kaden shot back. “Ye can offer her nothing. Ye will only drag her down with ye.”

He was pushing back more than expected, but Dougal was undeterred. He would not leave without Skye.

“I’m offering an alliance. Yer clan benefits as much as mine. Surely ye can see that through yer clouded vision.”

Kaden’s mouth twisted.

Ah, so Dougal had touched a nerve.

He wondered if it was Skye’s reputation Kaden was so concerned about or his desire to save face.

“Our clan does fine without?—”

A commotion sounded from beyond the door—quick footsteps, a muffled exclamation. Dougal opened the door, and Skye stumbled straight into his arms.

He caught her on instinct, steadying her against his chest, and for one absurd moment, neither of them moved. He remembered, with unwelcome clarity, exactly what she’d written about a man catching a lass just like this.

“Forgive me,” she breathed, pulling back, her cheeks scarlet. “But he’s right, Braither.” She turned to Kaden as though nothing had happened. “His clan is powerful. The alliance would serve us well.”

“Our clan is powerful too.”

“Which is precisely why it’ll work. It’s only a betrothal. I can break it off if he proves cruel.”

“Nae if ye’re dead,” Kaden said flatly.

Dougal’s hand moved to his sword hilt before he’d decided to let it. Skye’s fingers closed gently over his forearm, and the gesture alone settled something in him faster than words could have.

“Braither, I promise I’ll be fine,” she said. “And if I die, ye have me permission to kill him.”

Despite himself, Dougal felt his mouth twitch.

Kaden’s gaze dropped to Skye’s hand still resting on Dougal’s arm. She pulled it back at once, and Dougal felt an entirely unreasonable urge to drive his fist through something.

“If ye’re certain,” Kaden acquiesced.

“I am.”

“We’ll visit soon, then. Take some of the guards with ye.”

“Thank ye, Braither!” Skye’s relief was plain.

Dougal extended his hand, and Kaden shook it with the grip of a man conceding a battle he hadn’t wanted to lose.

“Now,” Dougal said, turning to Skye, “can I have a word with me betrothed?”

6

It had never been Skye’s intention to get caught eavesdropping on her brother, but after Emily distracted Freya, she was able to sneak to the room and press her ear against the door. She hated her terrible luck that Dougal himself decided to open the door, stopping her from falling face-first on her face.

That would have been terribly embarrassing in front of the man who was to become her betrothed, even if it was only for a month.

She urgently motioned for Kaden to leave before he could embarrass her further with whatever he’d been about to say. He sighed but gave a slight bow of his head.