Page 23 of Highlander’s Wild Lass (Wild McLeans #1)

This is an absolute nightmare.

Ava sipped her tea trying her hardest to keep her mouth shut as the slender man across from her drabbed on. She couldn’t care of his lineage or the fact he was the only son of highly wealthy parents. Being in his very presence was an absolute nightmare. It was barely thirty minutes into the meeting but so far the man made it clear in no uncertain terms his dislike for Ava’s red hair, stating it made her look like a woman of “easy virtues”.

But when he had whistled at Zander and ordered Zander to get him more wine, Ava was at her wits end. It took every ounce of her strength not to snap at the man sitting before her. Flexing her jaw, Ava stole small glimpses of Zander as he scurried about trying to appease the would-be suitor. Ava couldn’t help but wonder how long it would take before Zander unleashed his ire on the man.

“What are yer thoughts of the matter?” the man said, his eyes bore into her with anticipation.

“I beg yer pardon?” Ava asked as she tried to recall the last thing the man asked her.

“Is yer head always in the clouds?” he asked with a hint of irritation to his tone.

“Forgive me, Mr. McKay, I was just admirin’ yer dirk. The hilt is rather beautiful,” Ava lied as she batted her eyes and flashed a polite smile. She sat her teacup delicately on the table and placed her hands in her lap. In the corner of her eye, she spied Zander beside her. Her heart quickened. As much as she wanted to glance to Zander, she remained focused on Mr. McKay’s sloping brow.

“Tis rather remarkable, is it nae? But my word, what are yer parents teachin’ ye?” Mr. McKay gasped as he lifted his narrow chin and glared at her with disdain. Slowly, she drew her attention to Zander, completely ignoring Mr. McKay’s remark.

Zander’s eyes met with hers for but a moment. Ava’s heart quickened as Zander winked as his lips twitched. There was no doubt in her mind, Zander was fighting back a smile. It was in that moment she found herself grateful it was Zander chaperoning her and not her mother. Ava’s cheeks reddened slightly, as she looked away trying to hide it from him.

“Well, this has been most enlightenin’,” Mr. McKay mumbled as he sat his glass on the table and straightened his vest. The moment Ava heard the scuffing of the chair on the floor, she rose as on cue with the sweetest smile she could muster.

“It was a pleasure talking with ye today,” she said, batting her eyes. Although, in the depths of her being, the only thing more pleasurable was the fact Mr. McKay was leaving.

“A privilege, if I might add,” Zander interjected with a straight face that almost made Ava burst out laughing.

Mr. McKay’s face beamed as his hand darted toward her. Before she knew what was happening, Ava found her hand entangled in Mr. McKay’s embrace. Mr. McKay’s hands were clammy and far too soft for her liking.

Swallowing hard, Mr. McKay’s Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat before he drew his eyes to face. “I look forward to marrying ye and making wee babies with ye.”

“How many are we talkin’ about?” Zander asked him.

“The appropriate,” McKay answered quickly.

Before Ava could say a word Zander mumbled, “Enough to make a small army, I would wager.”

Ava glanced to Zander, his face turned a darker red as he fought back the laughter billowing within him. Arching her eyebrow, she glared at Zander. The smile on his face vanished as he cleared his throat.

“That certainly is a lofty goal,” Ava answered, trying to mimic Zander’s straight face. Confusion flickered across Mr. McKay’s face for a moment before he straightened himself. Leaning closer, Mr. McKay moved in to kiss her cheek, but the low growl rumbling from Zander caused him to pause. Ava looked at him, confused. Her eyes shifted to Zander to find his face crinkled in a scowl. Zander looked as if he was ready to rip his heart out.

Ava had never seen him like this before. He didn’t usually chaperone in these meetings, but they spent a lot of time together. Zander was always calm, collected. A little wicked at times perhaps, but never downright angry. Ava wondered what was going through his head.

Mr. McKay released Ava’s hand and gave an awkward bow before he scurried out of the room. As soon as he was gone, Zander handed Ava a cloth and she wiped her palms viscously.

“It’s not enough, I need to scrub my hands,” Ava said, fighting not to throw up.

She could see Zander’s lips twitching as he fought the smile creeping over his lips. She glared at him, but neither could hold a straight face for long. The room filled with their laughter and Ava’s eyes shifted to the door praying her parents weren’t there to hear them.

“Shall I instruct the maids to get ye some water in a basin?” he asked once their laughter subdued.

“Forget it,” she said, sinking into her chair. She threw her head back and stared at the ceiling. Every muscle in her body felt as if she’d been carrying a great weight for too long and finally found relief from her toils.

“Ava, that’s no way for a lady to sit,” her mother said walking into the room.

Zander stood up and gave a slight bow as she walked towards them.

One might think he is a gentleman with the airs and graces he puts on. Just look at him. Does all the right things, does he nae?

Emilia gave him an approving smile before turning her full attention back to Ava. She slipped into the empty seat next to Ava and glanced at the tea pot.

“How did the meeting go?” her mother asked as if she were more concerned by the lack of water in the pot than Ava’s discomfort.

Ava flashed a sarcastic smile as she sat properly in her chair. “Oh, quite well, he is a man with high moral standards. So high in fact, that he cannot be around a woman with hair like mine.”

Emilia’s head popped as she glared at Ava a moment. Ava wasn’t sure if her mother was as put out as she was, or if she was assessing how they might go about changing such a thing.

“But it’s fine Maither, he promised to make babies with me,” Ava said.

Her mother grinned. “Did he now?” There was a spark in Emilia’s eyes that irked Ava. There was no doubt her mother found her irritation a bit amusing.

“Don’t laugh, Maither,” Ava said in despair.

Emilia chuckled as she reached out and stroked her face gently. “I am sorry my gem, but it has to be done, ye have just one suitor waitin’ outside, and we can call it a day.”

Ava looked out the window. The sun was fading quickly, in a few hours night would fall. She sighed, knowing this could be her life until she finally chose a man to be with.

“How are Jackson and Max?” Ava asked.

Emilia sighed. “Yer faither was able to free them, their nanny came to take them home ages ago.”

Ava shifted her attention to Zander as he began removing the empty plates from the table. Their eyes met for a moment and she knew only he would understand the torture she endured.

“Zander will you stay for dinner?” Emilia asked, turning to him. Zander’s eyes widened a moment. Ava found her heart fluttering with the possibility of having him longer than expected. Swallowing hard, Ava found herself a bit anxious awaiting his answer.

Zander gave a quick nod as he flashed a small polite smile. “Will be my honor.”

In a little less than an hour, they were all seated for dinner.

Ava’s suitor turned out to be a fine-looking man. He was well built with a clear complexion. When he first saw her, he gave her the most charming smile.

“I guess ye must be the beautiful Ava,” he said. Ava couldn’t resist smiling back at him. She stretched out her hand and he took it and kissed it tenderly. His hands were nice and dry. He had to be the best one she had seen so far. Yet, the look on Zander’s face could have cut him in half.

“I am grateful for the invitation to dinner, Me Laird,” Mr. Frasier said to her father.

Laird McArthur gave a nod as he sliced through his food.

Ava dug in gratefully to the feast in front of her. Her mother had gone all in, the broth was steaming hot and the aroma comforting. Even the black buns were hot from the oven and were prepared with the utmost care. Her suitor chucked slightly.

“Ye have quite the appetite for a lady,” he said to her.

He sat adjacent to her at the table and just beside her sat Zander. There were a few minutes of silence. Her father tried to break it with a nervous laugh.

“That’s our Ava, she accepts only the best,” he said.

Ava could see her mother’s pleading gaze. Her suitor shrugged.

“I don’t seem to understand ye,” Ava replied calmly, looking at him. She had stopped eating. Her eyes went cold as her body tensed. After a long day, all she wanted was for the chance to have something decent to eat, yet it seemed even that pleasure was stripped from her.

“I was merely teasing,” he said in a stern, disheartened tone.

“Aye, quite the jester, ye are,” Zander said, taking a bite as he glared at Mr. Frasier.

The young man choked on the Arbroath smokie in his mouth. Ava watched as Mr. Frasier patted the corner of his lips and set his napkin down on his plate. Grinding her teeth, Ava tried not to cause a scene, yet, there was no hiding her irritation or anger from her features. The tension in the room was thicker than the fog in the spring. Emilia poured Mr. Frasier a cool glass of water as a small awkward chuckle escaped from her. Mr. Frasier’s face drained of all color as he scanned the faces before him.

“Aye, well. It would seem I must be on my way, nay? M’Laird, it was most pleasurable dining with ye,” Frasier said in a stiff, dull tone before rising. Ava watched as Mr. Frasier bowed slightly and left. The sound of his footsteps echoed in her ears.

A thick silence filled the room. Ava dared to steal a glimpse at her father. The vein in his forehead bulged as his lips twitched. For a moment, Ava couldn’t help but wonder if her father was well.

“Amused, are ye?” Cameron asked as he leaned back in his chair and tossed his napkin off his lap.

“I said nothin’,” Ava answered as she exhaled slowly. Her body trembled as she wished with all her might she could say what was really on her mind. How each of the suitors her parents brought to her were all arrogant and self-righteous. Not a single one of them cared for her, only for what she could offer them.

The rage in her father’s gaze only seemed to harden her resolve about the whole suitor business. If her parents insisted on forcing ill-mannered men on her, she would only return their kindness in full.

“Ye have this notion in yer head that ye can act any which way ye please,” he growled. “Do ye nae realize ye just insulted a Frasier?”

“I daenae care,” Ava answered truthfully as she met her father with the same stone-cold defiant gaze he shot her. “Ye think I’ll simply fall in love with a man just by lookin’ at him.”

“Love? Ye think this is about love? Ha!” Cameron seethed. “We daenae have time for such matters. Now ye’ll be kind to the next bout of suitors or so help me.”

“What’s it to be, Faither? Are ye to flog me or is it the rack?” Ava challenged. Cameron’s fist fell on the table rattling the dishes and glasses. Emilia gasped and held her hand over her mouth. In the corner of her eye, Ava noticed Zander focused on the painting across from him hanging on the wall.

“Ye’ll nae speak to me like that,” Cameron hissed as he leaned over the edge of the table. “And I’ll do to ye as I please. Now get to yer room while I contemplate yer punishment.”

Ava scanned her mother’s face. She knew her mother would never step out of line with her father, and Zander would just as easily lose his position if he said a word. Slowly, she rose from her seat, defeat pounded against her as she glared at all of them. A pain of rejection and betrayal stabbed her heart as she moved around her chair and pushed it to the table.

“Mark my words, Faither, ye may be in a loveless marriage,” Ava growled. “But that will never be my fate.”