Page 41 of His Secret Highland Bride

“That’s how you received that wound to your shoulder, Horace?” Alec snapped.

The man didn’t answer, just stood there with his head lowered.

“It was from my dirk. He’s lucky I only hit his shoulder. These men have brought shame to the MacPherson name. Take them to the dungeon. And hear me now. If I find any of you have touched a woman without her acceptance, you’ll be joining this lot below the keep. I’ll not stand for it. The women of this clan are to be respected. Without them, our clan will wither and die out. They’ll be treated as they deserve. Do I make myself clear?”

The rest of the men grunted their acceptance of his words as two of the larger warriors moved Horace and his cohort toward the dungeon.

“Well, you’ve certainly started off with a heavy fist, brother,” Alec said.

“Would you have handled it differently?” Shane needed to know now if his brother allowed this type of behavior. It would pain him greatly to toss his own blood in the dungeon, but he stood by what he believed.

Alec shook his head. “I didn’t know of it, or I would have already seen to their punishment. However, it would’ve been at the end of a rope.”

He patted Alec’s thick arm, glad they were aligned.

“It is only that you said you didn’t wish to bring attention to yourself. This act will certainly have the keep whispering of ye.”

“So long as there is no confusion over what will be tolerated and what will not. I do not care if a few people flap their gums.” With that, he left Alec to his men and their drills and headed toward his study. But inside, he found Deirdre sitting at his desk, frowning at the books.

“What are you doing in here?” he asked, startling her.

The false smile pulled up, giving her the look of a serpent who had just spotted its next meal.

“I was helping, of course. You’re new to seeing to the ledgers, while I have handled them for years for your dear father.” Her voice was smooth and silky—no doubt she’d perfected it in order to woo men to their demise. A siren of the land.

He made a noise at that. She could take it anyway she liked. “I have no need of your help. In fact, I don’t want you in this room again. Do you understand?”

She gasped in offense as her eyes narrowed on him. For once, he thought this expression might be sincere. He wondered if she even recognized herself when she looked in a mirror. From the very day she’d arrived at Cluny Castle, he’d known the real Deirdre as a conniving wretch. While his father was enamored by her beauty, Shane and his siblings saw beneath her disguise when she’d pulled them aside and threatened to poison their meals if they didn’t obey her.

Shane might have disliked Ronan at the time, but it became clear he was treated no better for being his mother’s blood child. “Leave now,” he said. His own voice had dipped low with the threat.

She crossed her arms and pushed out her lovely, rose-hued lips. No doubt this display had gotten her her way any number of times, but Shane was unmoved. When he turned his attention away from her, she stomped her foot like a child.

“There is the matter of the marriage that needs to take place now that you’ve returned,” she said, giving up the previous ruse.

“There will be no marriage,” Shane answered without bothering to look at her.

“But there must be.”

Her voice cracked, and he feared she might cry. He just wanted her to leave him in peace with his miserable task. “There will not be. And that is the end of the discussion,” he barked, making it clear he was done with the topic. She would’ve been wise to let it drop, but Deirdre was not wise.

“We canna go back on the agreement.” She twisted her fingers, making the rings sparkle in the lamplight.

Folding his hands over the ledgers filled with illegible scratching, he set his most firm look upon her. “I cannot marry, for I’m already wed. You will have to do without whatever bauble or gown you planned to purchase with the dowry, for it is not coming, and if it did, you wouldn’t see a single coin of it. Your purse strings have been drawn and knotted.”

Rage took over her dainty features, her rosy cheeks mottled with red splotches. Her honey-colored hair had shaken loose from its pins.

“It is you who doesn’t understand, you ungrateful whelp. For the dowry was already delivered and is spent. Without the funds to repay the Wallace clan, they will come down upon us and take the castle. So, ye had better find a way out of the entanglement you’ve gotten yourself in so you can do your duty.”

“They paid the dowry already?” Why would they do such a thing? Perhaps they’d seen the wealth in the laird and lady’s clothing and assumed prepayment would guarantee the deal was done.

“Aye.”

“And ye spent it? On what?” Whatever it was would be resold so the dowry could be returned to the Wallace laird.

“A ship.”

“A ship?” His eyes went wide, for he couldn’t believe such a thing were true. “A ship?” he repeated, for surely he’d misunderstood.