Page 14 of The Cruel Highlander (From Enemies to Marriage #3)

CHAPTER 13

“Miss, there’s a Margaret here to see ye,” one of the servants said, finding Valorie later in the castle’s library. She had been exploring the castle this afternoon after her little visit with Aiden and Willow. Aiden must have stayed holed up in his study because Valorie had been everywhere, and she had not seen him since.

Since Aiden did not deign to give her a tour, Valorie took it upon herself to thoroughly wander and search each room. She had found many interesting things, but this library was probably her favorite.

Hundreds of volumes — in various languages and topics — filled the bookshelves around her. The walls were a lovely deep green, and comfortable, luxurious, chairs filled the room — perfect to read in. Valorie would definitely be spending a good amount of the next year in this room.

“Oh Margaret! Wonderful — yes, we can have tea in here?” The last bit came out a little like a question, and Valorie chastised herself for the uncertainty. She knew better than to allow any doubt to show, especially now as the supposed Lady of the castle.

“Aye, of course. I’ll bring her here and get some tea for ye both,” the servant said. Valorie would need to learn their names as soon as possible.

“Thank ye!” Valorie called to the retreating servant. The library was not a typical receiving room for guests, but Margaret almost certainly was not here on clan business.

“So, another betrothal then?” Margaret joked a few minutes later as she entered the library. The young woman had her eyebrows raised and a slight smile on her face.

“Aye,” Valorie laughed. “How did ye find me anyway?”

“I called on ye at home, and yer mother told me where ye were — so I just took the carriage here instead!”

Valorie laughed again “Well, here I am! Come sit!” Margaret made her way into the library and took a seat in the wide chair across from Valorie, making herself comfortable. The two women had bonded over a shared love of literature, and Valorie watched as Margaret eyed the shelves eagerly.

“Ye’ve certainly found the best room in the castle,” Margaret commented, her eyes still tracing the titles around the room.

Valorie too looked around the room dreamily. “Aye, and on me first day too — I’ve already seen at least ten new titles that I’m dying to get started on.”

“Ye will have to pass along any worthy ones.”

“Of course,” Valorie promised. The two of them continued chatting about the last shared book they had read before Margaret got to the topic she was clearly dying to discuss.

“So — the Laird O’Donnely, eh?” Margaret asked meaningfully as the servant came back to pour them both some tea and set out a few small biscuits to enjoy. Valorie waited patiently for the servant to finish before responding. Everything she said in the presence of the servants was liable to get back to Aiden, at least until they knew her better.

“Aye, Aiden,” Valorie answered after the door to the library closed behind the servant.

“So, what is he like?” Margaret grinned excitedly; she was leaning forward in her seat and looking at Valorie with wide eyes. Clearly there was a lot of interest in information about the mysterious and feared Laird O’Donnely. Valorie could just imagine the other women dying to know more about Aiden — he was obviously handsome, but so few people knew anything about him, aside from his reputation, which only increased their interest. He was the perfect mystery man.

Valorie took a slow sip of her tea, dunking the biscuit a few times, leaving Margaret in suspense. Finally, she cracked a wide smile and began to tell Margaret all about Aiden.

“He was brooding and serious of course, but only at the beginnin’. The fearsome and cruel reputation seems mainly to be idle gossip,” Valorie said conspiratorially.

“With me, he’s been playful and funny. At me Faither’s castle, we spent the day jokin’ and competin’ with each other. Even when he was bein’ utterly loathsome, as he often was, I was still havin’ fun. Can ye believe that? With a laird?” Valorie laughed.

“He’s very smart, and he cares so much about his clan — that was obvious, oh and his laugh! His laugh is amazin’ if ye can get him to laugh, it’s a wonderful sound…” Valorie trailed off when she looked up to see Margaret was now sitting back in her chair, her mouth hanging open.

Valorie cleared her throat a little and said, “I mean, he’s tall and very handsome, of course…” Was that the more appropriate answer? Everything else seemed far more important to Valorie.

“Right,” Margaret paused. “He sounds wonderful, Valorie, really… I was just surprised is all. We are talkin’ about the same man right… Laird O’Donnely?” Margaret asked with a nervous chuckle.

“Aye, Laird O’Donnely, Aiden — He is nae the ruthless or vindictive man that everyone makes him out to be!” Valorie said fiercely.

“I’ve just heard a lot of stories…” Margaret started.

“Aye and they were just that — stories! I’m sure ye’ve heard plenty of stories about me as well!” Valorie argued harshly.

“I certainly have, and they were all true,” Margaret teased.

“Well, they are nae true about Aiden, and ye should really get to ken someone before making assumptions.” Valorie huffed with finality.

“Aye, ye’re right, Valorie. I really was just shocked is all. But ye’re right; I’m sorry,” Margaret apologized, looking at Valorie sincerely.

“It’s all right, Margaret.” The pair sat in a companionable silence after that, drinking their tea. Valorie’s anger had faded with her friend’s apology. She needed to remember too that no one knew Aiden the way she did. Prior to their day together, Valorie had all the same thoughts about the mysterious Laird O’Donnely.

“Ye ken — I’ve never heard ye talk about anyone the way ye talked about Aiden. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever heard ye so passionate about anythin’ except maybe yer independence!” Margaret noted with a laugh, breaking the silence.

“Aye…” Valorie was unsure what to say; she hadn’t entirely meant to make it so obvious to Margaret what she thought about Aiden, but once she started talking everything seemed to flow out quite quickly.

It was the first time she had really been able to talk to someone else about Aiden, and there was just so much about Aiden that everyone should know.

“Ye seem happier here though,” Margaret continued, saving Valorie from having to stutter out another response.

“Do I?” Valorie asked curiously.

“Aye, I didn’t see ye with yer first betrothed but at Kenneth’s, at least, ye seemed like ye were lookin’ for a way out. Ye seem… at peace here.”

Did Valorie feel peaceful here? She definitely didn’t feel trapped the way she had with her other betrotheds, but that was probably because she already had an exit plan with Aiden. There was no need to feel trapped when it was only a fake betrothal. That was likely what Margaret was picking up on.

“Mhmm, I like it here,” Valorie answered honestly.

“Will we actually get a weddin’ this time?” Margaret joked.

Valorie did not want to lie to her friend, but she knew this was one secret she needed to keep. So, she laughed good naturedly and said, “It certainly seems that way. Now, tell me what I missed at the feast last night; I’ve been dying to hear about it!”

With the attention finally off Valorie, she relaxed into her chair with her warm cup of tea as Margaret regaled her with all the stories and gossip from the night before. Thankfully, Margaret required very little input from Valorie because she was hardly listening. Fiddling with her teacup, all Valorie could think about was Margaret’s comments.

Was she happy here?

* * *

Aiden couldn’t believe this was where he found himself. Standing outside his own library with his ear pressed to the door. The irony was not lost on him that he was now in the exact position he teased Valorie for not that long ago. Now, he was on the outside of a conversation he desperately wanted to hear.

Flynn’s words were rattling around in Aiden’s head, and he decided he needed to see Valorie. He had come searching for her when he heard her chatting with another young woman.

He was planning on going in, he really was, but then he heard the other woman ask Valorie what she thought of him. And it seemed like the perfect way to clear up everything he was confused about.

If he knew what Valorie thought of him or their kiss, then he could proceed accordingly. Maybe it didn’t even matter that Aiden couldn’t stop thinking of the lass or that he was desperate to have her back in his arms. If she wasn’t feeling like this, Aiden had to know.

Aiden heard bits and pieces of Valorie’s response, “He was brooding and serious… with me he’s been playful and funny… we spent the day jokin’ and competin’… I was still havin’ fun… he cares so much about his clan… His laugh is amazin’…”

So, Valorie thought he had a nice laugh? Aiden had never given a lot of thought to whether it was nice or not, considering he never used to hear it.

That first night on the balcony his laugh was rough from the lack of use, but being around Valorie gave him a lot of practice. Aiden did not expect the lass to speak so highly of him, but even more shocking was what he heard next.

Valorie was… defending Aiden to her friend. Quite fiercely and loudly in fact. That same ire that had been directed at Aiden only a day ago was now in defense of him.

Her friend was commenting on all of Aiden’s less than desirable traits, at least the ones he was known for, and Valorie was vehemently opposing her. Hearing it filled Aiden’s chest with a warm glow. One that he hadn’t felt since he was a boy.

Having the lass on his side as opposed to against him was… unexpected, but Aiden desperately wanted to keep Valorie there. She was a force to be reckoned with, so it was no wonder that her friend backed down and apologized quickly.

The two women sat in silence for a while, and Aiden thought the conversation might be over, but then he heard Valorie’s friend again. She must have been closer to the door because Aiden could hear her a lot clearer.

“Ye seem happier here though,” the woman commented, but Valorie’s response was muffled. “Aye, I didn’t see ye with yer first betrothed, but at Kenneth’s, at least, ye seemed like ye were lookin’ for a way out. Ye seem… at peace here,” the woman continued saying to Valorie.

Aiden took a step away from the door in surprise. Was Valorie already happy here? Could he possibly make this luminous woman happy? He needed to hear if Valorie responded, so he quickly pressed his ear back to the wood in time to hear Valorie say, “Mhmm, I like it here.”

The other woman joked about whether there would be a wedding this time around, and Aiden listened raptly for the answer.

“It certainly seems that way,” Valorie said laughing before she changed the subject back to Highland gossip.

It certainly seems that way. Was Valorie simply continuing their ruse? Everything else the lass had said to her friend had seemed passionate and pulled out of her, like she was speaking from the heart. Was this true as well then? Did Valorie see them actually getting married?

Aiden was reeling from everything he had overheard when one of his servants approached the library door with a smile.

“Do ye need anythin’, me laird?” the young man asked, still with a bright smile.

“No, no, I’m just passin’ by,” Aiden said coughing lightly. Now the servants would all be talking about Aiden eavesdropping on his betrothed. Great.

Aiden quickly took off down the hallway. Maybe he could get Flynn to come back — there was so much more to consider now.