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Aindreas crossed his arms. “I received an answer from Laird Cambel three days ago. Just after ye left, they will be with us in ten days' time.”
Laird MacBean’s scowl darkened, and he shoved a finger in front of Aindreas’s face, nearly stabbing him in the nose. “Don’t tell me, lad, that ye went against me. Don’t tell me—“
“And who is this?” came a familiar voice from behind, making a spider-like crawl run down the length of Aindreas’s spine. He slowly turned around, his gaze narrowing on Alisa swiftly walking towards them. Her emerald green skirts brushed the floor. Her head was held high like she was a queen greeting guests in her royal court. She held her hands in front of her while her hair was braided, resting against one side of her shoulder. A thin smile graced her lips as she glanced between Aindreas and Laird MacBean, her sharp gaze making his flesh want to crawl
Daniel followed behind her, his brows furrowed in worry as he looked between the laird and Aindreas. Aindreas noticed his cousin’s gaze settling on his father’s mistress, and his smile darkened as he took note of Daniel’s lips parting. The woman had caught the interest of his cousin, Aindreas surmised while turning his gaze back to the harlot his father deemed to call Blair if that was even her actual name.
Alisa stopped directly in front of Blair, and Aindreas watched as her shrewd gaze took in the pitiful-looking girl. Aindreas would have felt sorry for Blair if she had come to the castle for other reasons. A part of him wanted to put himself between Blair and his aunt, feeling the rise of tension within the elder woman as she clucked her tongue in distaste. Alisa’s stare settled on the tattered hem of Blair’s dress before returning to the girl’s face.
“Do I know ye?” Alisa asked while stepping forward.
His father stepped forward, taking Blair’s shoulders and pulling her behind him. “Nae, ye don’t, Alisa.”
Alisa’s lips twitched upwards in amusement. A look Aindreas had come to suspect meant his aunt had nothing kind to say next. “Oh, really, Duncan?” She tilted her head to the side while his father squared his shoulders as if readying himself for battle.
With trembling hands, Blair grabbed her skirts and dipped into a wobbly curtsy. “My name is Blair,” she said, halting any further argument between his aunt and father. Their gazes turned towards her, and Aindreas took note of the adoration in his father’s eyes.
Aindreas ground his teeth, hating the way his father looked at her, hating the way her voice sounded musical to his ears, like the heavens calling him home. He hated everything about this peasant girl, and yet she did things to him no normal woman could possibly do.
“My lady,” said Alisa in a bitter tone. She turned up her nose, taking a step back as if she was worried Blair’s outdated clothes would taint her garments. “Shouldn’t one of yer station call me ‘my lady’? Isn’t that the way things are typically done?”
Aindreas watched as Blair’s jaw dropped. Her eyes took on the look of a frightened doe being hunted in the wood. She bowed her head, her voice shaking as she said, “Aye, my lady. My apologies, my lady. I meant no-“
“Enough,” said Laird MacBean, stepping in front of Blair. “Blair is my guest. And ye all will treat her as such. She doesn’t need to say ‘my lady’ and the sort.” He turned to Blair, patting her shoulder affectionately. “Ye should excuse my late wife’s sister. Alisa may only be my sister-in-law, but she is very protective of our clan.”
Aindreas bit his tongue to keep himself from scoffing. His aunt hardly cared about anything other than herself. The only thing she truly protected was her place at Castle Lachlan.
“All of ye should treat Blair as if she is part of the family,” he heard his father add.
“Of course she will be,” said Daniel while stepping forward and taking Blair’s hand, kissing it gently. Aindreas rolled his eyes. “It’s a pleasure to meet ye, Miss Blair. I am Daniel, the Laird MacBean’s nephew and Lady Alisa’s son.”
Aindreas smirked and shook his head. So his father was going to be his mistress’s protector, and Daniel was going to pine away for someone who would never care for him. Honestly, he should have known better.
“I fear, Aunt, Father has decided to provide his whore with lodging at our grand estate.” Aindreas’s eyes widened, realizing the words had already left his mouth and were impossible to take back. Blair’s gaze shifted to him. Her brows tenting into a deep scowl, and Aindreas knew he should apologize. He hadn’t meant to sound so cruel. Saying such terrible things were even beyond him, and all he wanted to do was kneel before her and tell her he hadn’t meant it.
Even angry, she was incredibly beautiful. Her eyes glimmered in the candlelight. She held him there, his heart pined before her. He found breathing difficult. Speaking was near to impossible, but his mouth opened regardless of whether or not speech was possible, and he rushed out, “Either that, or he’s decided to take in beggars living off the streets.”
