Page 56 of Taken By the Highland Villain
CHAPTER 24
The rideback to MacFinn Castle was silent, and Valerie was content for it to be so, lost in her thoughts as she was. It had been some time since she had last thought of Archibald, and though she cared little for the memory itself, she did cherish the laughter it had elicited.
The warmth of smiles and laughter suited Jude well, far better than the dour appearance he usually sported. And yet the smile was such a fleeting thing.
She had hoped, when he asked her to remain a while longer and offered to show her what was clearly a private and important spot for him, that it meant he was reconsidering his decision. That he might ask her to stay, and ask her for more than empty words and falsehoods, such as the fake betrothal he had suggested the night before.
But Jude was nothing if not stubborn, and his refusal to risk his heart was as unwavering as the day she’d first arrived at MacFinn Castle.
Perhaps it is just as well that we didnae make love. It is hard enough to contemplate goin’ to another now, I dinnae think I’d survive if I had to face it after being allowed to love him properly, as a woman loves a man.
The two of them rode into the courtyard of MacFinn Castle. Valerie blinked at the sight of an unfamiliar horse, still saddled and waiting by the stables, but she thought nothing of it until an unwelcome voice greeted her cheerfully from the castle doors.
“There ye are! I was beginnin’ to worry that ye might have… run away again.”
“Laird MacOlley.” She struggled to find words to say, but Jude found them for her.
“What are ye doin’ in my castle? I told ye, ye’re nae welcome here.”
The words were practically a snarl, the anger and dislike in them thick and heavy enough to be mistaken for stone.
Laird MacOlley, however, only smiled, completely undeterred by Jude’s anger.
There was a cold, vicious smugness in his eyes as he replied, “Och, why would I nae be? When my sister went missing yesterday, her husband asked me to help him find her, so I did. I was surprised when her tracks led here, but, of course, I couldnae turn away once I kenned where she was.”
Valerie wanted to snarl, too. She’d seen what Laird MacAllister had done, and it was clear that neither husband nor brother cared one whit for Ailsa. She swallowed back her anger, knowing it would do no good, and adopted a neutral tone.
“Yer concern does ye credit, My Laird, but surely ye ken that yer sister is safe—though fair weak and unfit for travel.”
“Aye, I saw as much when I spoke to her upon my arrival.”
There was an expression of mock sorrow on his face that Valerie didn’t believe any more than she would have believed a pooka’s offer of a ride.
Nay, I’d rather ride the pooka. At least then I’d ken what I was in for, and the only thing I’d need to fear was how it would try to kill me.
Laird MacOlley was speaking again. Valerie refocused her attention on the conversation just in time to hear him say, “… in yer care, Laird MacFinn, while I escort Valerie back home to her kinfolk.”
“I beg yer pardon?” She blinked at him. “I never said I was ready to return.”
“But of course ye must be. I ken from the servants that ye’ve finished yer work for Laird MacFinn. And I heard that yer betrothal was also nae formalized, so my claim and my right to present it to yer braither-in-law are still intact.”
How did he ken? Ailsa…
The lady’s stricken expression the night before flashed through her mind, and Valerie knew, with a sick sense of certainty, what had happened.
Moira would have had nay reason to keep them from speakin’. Ailsa must have told him the truth about me and Jude. He might even be holdin’ something over her, like he is with me. If that’s the case, then she likely told him that I was plannin’ to return home today.
Valerie was tempted to bluff, perhaps even make up another lie, but she could see the smug self-assurance in Laird MacOlley’s eyes. He knew the truth, and if she tried to say something different, he would know for certain that she was attempting to avoid fulfilling their agreement.
And then war would come to Clan MacKane. And now, through her actions, most likely to Clan MacFinn as well. She couldn’t let that happen.
Valerie forced a smile on her face. “Ye’re right, of course. I had almost finished packin’ when Laird MacFinn asked me to go out on a last ride with him.”
“Then ye’re ready to return? Nay more delays?” Laird MacOlley’s tone was smooth and bland on the surface, but Valerie heard the impatience and barely concealed menace underneath.
“Aye.” She nodded. “It willnae take more than half an hour for me to be ready. And my horse is already saddled.”
“As is mine,” Jude gritted out.