Page 20 of A Highland Bride Disciplined

She dipped her chin. “Laird Crawford.”

“I see ye’ve been... active,” he said, scanning the courtyard again.

She blinked. “Ye were expectin’ ruin, then?”

“I was expectin’ silence. That’s what I left.”

Scarlett’s lips twitched, but she didn’t smile. “Aye. Well ye should have married an idle bride. I’ll nae sit in wait.”

There it was. The bite.

He rolled his shoulders. “Ye could’ve asked nicely. Sent a letter. Said ye missed me. I’d have returned to ye.”

“I did send letters,” she said sharply. “Monthly.”

“With numbers and ledgers. Flattering.”

She exhaled slowly through her nose. “We’ve more important things to discuss than yer wounded pride.”

Kian cocked his head. “Ye sure? Sounded likeyerswas bleedin’ just fine.”

Her jaw flexed. “I’m nae doin’ this.”

“Startin’ it, are ye nae?”

They stood in the courtyard like dueling generals. Behind them, the keep buzzed on, blissfully unaware that war had quietly resumed at its heart.

Kian took a step closer. “Ye dragged me across the Highlands, Scarlett. Barked orders at me like I was one o’ yer scullery boys. Tell me, what was so urgent ye couldnae give for a proper invitation?”

“Because ye never answer!” she snapped, voice low but sharp. “And I wasnaegoin’ to beg. I’d rather die than beg anythin’ of ye.”

Kian stilled.

That one struck deep.Die?

She didn’t blink. Didn’t soften.

He forced himself to breathe evenly. “I had business.”

“Ye had achoice.”

Another pause.

He held her glare, unflinchingly, until the silence pressed heavily between them. It was Scarlett who shifted first, stepping forward with a cooler tone. “There’s somethin’ ye need to see. And I’d rather speak inside.”

Kian gave her a long look, then gestured toward the keep. “Lead the way,Lady Crawford.”

He saw that a blush crept up her neck, as if she wanted to say something more but instead she hastily turned, skirts brushing against him as she passed, her shoulders square and spine straight like she carried the entire clan on her back.

And maybe she did.

They walked in silence through the wide doors and into the main hall. Kian scanned everything as they passed. There were all new tapestries, better lighting, floors scrubbed cleaner than he remembered even in his mother’s time.

“Morag tell ye to polish the stone, or was that yer idea?” he asked, casually.

“I told Morag she could run her halls like a damned queen if I ran the clan like a Laird.”

Kian snorted despite himself. “That sounds like treason.”