Page 103 of The Dragon Laird’s Obsession

The image of Kerr touching Ailis came unbidden, and a hard knot lodged beneath Gordon’s ribs.

Gordon’s hands curled slowly into fists. “Kerr willnae have her.”

“Only if ye go through with the bindin’ and make her yers.”

Gordon faced his brother now. “And what if I cannae be a husband to her? What if she is miserable for the rest of her days because of me?”

Rowan planted a hand on Gordon’s shoulder now. “She has nay reason to be.”

Gordon swallowed hard again and looked away from his brother. He wanted to believe Rowan. He wanted more than anything to believe Ailis would be content being with him.

Ailis discovered that there was no corner of MacLaren Castle where she could take three steps without someone asking about her binding.

The last thing she wanted to discuss was the binding, especially after how Gordon cast her aside last night. She still burned with embarrassment.

Her cheeks remained warm, but the discomfort ran deeper than that. Her stomach had drawn itself into a tight little knot, and every time the conversation returned to her mind, it seemed to pull tighter.

She pressed her palms against her skirts and tried to hide her nerves while walking down the hallway.

“How many guests are comin’?” Jane asked as they walked the hallways.

“Have ye chosen yer veil?” Marion questioned.

“Will ye wear Sinclair blue?”

“Have ye decided upon flowers?”

“Has the Laird chosen the music?”

The questions seemed to follow her from the kitchens to the great hall and back again until Ailis felt as though the entire castle had decided to marry her before she had even decided whether she wished to be married at all.

By midday, Sorcha rescued her. Or, as Ailis suspected, merely carried her from one sort of torture to another.

The carriage rattled along the muddy village road, the wheels striking stones as Sorcha sat opposite with a basket of ribbons beside her.

“Ye have been strangely quiet,” Sorcha observed with a soft smile when Ailis lifted her head to look at her.

“I am thinkin’.”

“That is usually dangerous. Ye have nae been one for subtle thoughts.”

Ailis narrowed her eyes. “I am tryin’ to understand why everyone seems determined to make me a wife before anyone has explained what bein’ one actually means.”

Sorcha’s mouth twitched. “Ye ken what marriage is.”

“I ken the part where two people stand before a priest and say vows they might nae keep. And then they live together,” she continued, gesturing with a hand to explain her point even though she highly doubted Gordon planned to live with her.

If she went through with this marriage, she would be alone. He had made that clear.

That he wants me gone.

“Aye. When ye are married, ye will live with yer husband,” Sorcha said with a low chuckle. “Ye are a little nervous,” she added and reached for Ailis hands. “The bindin’ is merely three days away. It is natural that ye will be.”

“I am merely wonderin’ if I should do this. It doesnae seem like Gordon wants to be wed to me. He himself asked me to leave just last night.”

Sorcha’s smile faded only a little. “He said those words to ye?”

Ailis swallowed and nodded.