Page 10 of The Highlander’s Tempting Touch

She didn’t really believe that her father had agreed to betroth her to anyone, let alone anyone as rude and coarse as Alistair MacDuff. Even so, he seemed far too confident as he carried her through the crowd toward her father’s castle.

As they neared the gates, Alistair set her on her feet. Niamh glared at him, then strode up to the portal. “Send word tae me faither that I wish tae speak tae him in the receiving room, at once. ‘Tis urgent.”

“Aye me lady. And yer companion?”

“He’s nae me companion, but he will join me faither and I.”

“Aye.” The guard bowed and hurried away. Niamh gave Alistair an icy glare, then turned and stalked across the courtyard to the main part of the castle. Alistair followed a step or two behind her, seemingly unconcerned.

There was no telling where her father might be, with the festival in full swing. As the laird, he attended many events and had several tasks to manage throughout the day. Unable to wait, she turned to Alistair. “Tell me what ye were talking about, earlier. What did ye mean by saying that ye were me betrothed?”

Alistair sighed, his face set in an expression of resignation. His voice was soft with something she thought might be regret when he answered. “I meant what I said. I met with yer faither tae discuss an agreement between our clans. He needs ye wed, fer reasons o’ his own, and I’m in need o’ a wife tae appease me clan. He didnae want tae make ye feel forced, so the contract was that I wouldnae introduce meself as yer suitor, but rather attempt tae court ye without revealing the contract.”

“Then why…?” She could feel tears stinging in her eyes, and refused to let them fall. She’d not give him the satisfaction.

Alistair shook his head, and she saw a flare of self-recrimination in his eyes. “I lost me temper and spoke in haste. I didnae intend tae break the terms o’ the bargain so soon.”

He stepped closer to her. “I dinnae ken if it matters tae ye, but the courtship was meant tae be honest. I’ll give ye me word on that.”

“I dinnae trust yer word.” She swallowed hard against the aching hurt in her chest. “Ye ken I didnae want tae be wed, clearly, so how could ye plan anything other than tae bring me tae the altar against me will, sooner or later?”

Alistair grimaced. “The plan was tae win ye and convince ye tae agree tae wed me o’ yer own will. Tae that end, the contract was meant tae be a promise that nay one would interfere in me courtin’ o’ ye.”

“But why?” She heard her voice quavering, and her hands ached with how tight she’d clenched them into fists. “Why would me faither agree tae such a thing?”

“That’s somethin’ ye should be asking him.”

She had every intention of asking her father, but now she had a bigger question in mind. “And ye... everything ye said and did... it was just a ploy tae win me over? Ye didnae mean any o’ it?”

Was the kiss just a deliberate ploy as well, rather than the accident he claimed it was?

For the first time since he’d dragged her away from Grace, Alistair looked uncomfortable. “That’s nae true…”

“But ye just said ye planned tae meet me. How could ye mean aught if ye planned everything? How can I believe any part o’ our encounter was truth, rather than planned?”

Alistair’s eyes sparked with something that might have been irritation or apology. “The meeting was planned, but that doesnae mean that everything was.”

Niamh bit her lip, torn between wanting to believe him and her own inability to trust a word from his mouth. “I cannae trust aught ye say.”

Alistair stepped forward. “Niamh, I promise ye, I didnae lie…”

“Ye’ve nae spoken one word o’ truth since I crashed intae ye! It was all a lie, planned by ye and me faither!” Her voice cracked and rose to a shout, but she couldn’t bring herself to care.

“Niamh? What are ye shouting for? What is it that’s upset ye so?” Her father Bruce came in at that moment, concern on his face. For one moment, Niamh’s heart leaped with hope.

Then his eyes landed on Alistair, and a frown creased his brow. “Laird MacDuff? What are ye doing here, with me daughter?”

He knew Alistair. Niamh felt her heart shatter, even as Alistair bowed and spoke in an apologetic tone. “She kens about the agreement between us.”

She wanted to see disbelief or outrage on her father’s face. She wanted him to demand that Alistair explain his disrespectful words. Instead, she witnessed the worst thing she’d ever imagined seeing on his face. Resignation, and apology.

Her knees felt weak as she faced him. “Faither... what... ye couldnae have... ye didnae... did ye?”

Her father grimaced. “Ye werenae supposed tae find out about the arrangement like this. I’m sorry Niamh.”

“How could ye? Ye kent I didnae want tae get married! How could ye arrange a betrothal behind me back?”

Her world was shattering around her, betrayal filling her blood with ice. She’d never imagined that her father might actually stoop so low. “Tell me why?”