AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We have,” her father nodded. “If ye would like to speak on the contract—”
“I have nay wish to do so,” Ó Riagáin said abruptly. “And I dinnae come to spend time. I’ve come to take the lass to me home where the ceremony will take place in three days.”
“Why so… cut and dry, Ó Riagáin?” Her father asked, his eyes narrowing. “This is me sole daughter we’re talking about. She is nay like a prized horse to haggle over.”
Silently, Ó Riagáin reached into the folds of his kilt and pulled out a scroll which he handed over to her father. “The contract.”
Grimly, her father took and opened it, then read it through. The silence was deafening to her ears and her skin prickled sharply every time Ó Riagáin looked at her, but Olivia kept quiet. Niel let out a long, slow breath. “It’s all here.”
“Aye,” Ó Riagáin replied. “If ye would like to contest any part, ye can come to me home and we’ll discuss, but if ye daenae mind, I would rather be leaving soon.”
It seems he still thinks me faither had something to do with his maither and sister’s abduction.
“The wedding—”
“Shall take place at me home where we can house hundreds of guests,” Ó Riagáin cut in again, “Please, let the lass come with us. I daenae have time to linger.”
Reluctantly, her father waved to a few of his men who bowed and hurried out the room, presumably to get her belongings. Unable to keep quiet anymore, Olivia stood to meet him herself just as her father called for her.
She came to Ó Riagáin, head held high and met his eyes for longer than it was decent. Even in her terror, Olivia would not show him any weakness.
When his eyes flickered with—amusement?— only then did she curtsy. Letting out her breath, Olivia trusted her voice, which thankfully sounded strong. “Laird Ó Riagáin. Pleased to meet ye.”
Her unspoken words were clear, I never thought I’d ever have to.
He took her hand and brought his lips to it, but the feeling was so fleeting she wondered if she had imagined it.
“Me pleasure, Lady Olivia,” he murmured, clearly saying, this is not what I had planned either.
His eyes had gone back to flinty, his jaw hard, and Olivia wondered if he ever stopped looking so grave. Maybe this was why she had heard that he was heartless and cruel—if one looked so stony all the time, why would anyone believe differently?
Ó Riagáin turned to her father, “I think it time for us to leave. Are her trunks ready?”
“Aye,” Niel said while standing to rest his hands on Olivia’s shoulder. “Go get yer coat, dear.”
With a nod, she turned and headed out the door, down the halls and up a level to her room, where her things were gone but she took the lone coat resting on her bed. Then, she shot a look over her shoulder, lifted a section of the bedding and pulled out her favorite pair of daggers before slipping them into her boots.
Her father had not objected to her learning how to throw them, but he had stopped her from learning sword-fighting. She had done it in secret anyhow when he was not looking, at night, with her father’s best swordsmen sworn to secrecy.
Sliding a long pin into her hair, she left the room, determined to find a way out of this thrice-forsaken marriage. Leaving to the outer court, she found her father there, standing ramrod straight and looking anything but happy. An English-styled carriage was waiting for her and Ó Riagáin was standing at the doorway.
Instead of going to him, she turned to her father and said, “Come as soon as ye can.”
He nodded and rested a hand on her shoulder. “Ye’ll be fine, Olivia.”
I hope so.
Looping her arms around her father’s shoulders, she embraced him tightly then pulled away to approach Ó Riagáin, who silently helped her into the vehicle. When the door closed, she saw him effortlessly spring into the saddle of a behemoth warhorse.
“Move out,” he ordered.
* * *
The lass sat as stiffly as a plank of wood, with her eyes staring directly ahead, unaware of the secret looks Conner stole from time to time. She had high cheekbones and green eyes the color of a rich forest just before the rain. Her mouth was full and soft, although the firmness of her jaw and chin hinted at a strong character.
When she had first held his gaze, she had lifted her head slightly in wordless challenge—and oddly, Conner appreciated that. He did not want a shrinking flower around him. It was not fair that the lass’s life would be irrevocably changed because of this meddling king’s edict but at least she was strong enough to make peace with it… eventually.
For once, Conner allowed his attention to drift, and he steered his horse with the barest movements. Goliath was attentive to the smallest tap of his heel or tug on his reins, so Conner did not have to worry. What did trouble him, though, was what he would do with this lass. He had no room in his life for a wife—though he knew he needed an heir, he had expected more time.
