Page 5 of The Cruel Highlander (From Enemies to Marriage #3)

CHAPTER 4

After her outburst, Valorie did not hear much else of what was discussed inside the room. Her mother had left for the kitchens to prepare some more whiskey for the lairds. Valorie, however, was still straining to listen. Now that she knew for certain the conversation was about her, Valorie was desperate to know what was being decided. Another decision made about her life without her input.

As Valorie thought through all of horrible possibilities, the door that held her weight abruptly swung opened. Without the support of the wood, Valorie stumbled a little, nearly falling into the room.

Before Valorie could truly fall, a strong hand caught her by the arm and helped her straighten. Aiden, of course, stood in the now open doorway. Once again, he was her savior. He looked frustratingly good still — his hair was perfectly mussed, and his face had a slight pink tinge to it from the whiskey.

“Careful, lassie,” Aiden said with an amused look.

“Hmph,” Valorie grunted, smoothing the fabric of her dress haughtily. She was embarrassed to be caught eavesdropping but not willing to admit that to Aiden.

“Hear anythin’ interestin’?” Aiden asked.

Valorie huffed with indignation, “Certainly nae!”

Nothing said in that room was interesting — just two lairds with illusions of grandeur dictating the life of someone they thought they owned. Still, Valorie had to listen; Aiden and her father were making decisions about her life in that room! Was she meant to just wait around to be called? For the third time, she was left out of the discussion over her betrothal — something that should have concerned just her and her betrothed.

“Lass, will ye come in? We have news that concerns ye,” Aiden said sweeping his arm into the room behind him. Of course, the information was relevant to her now , after the decision had already been made.

Well then. With her shoulders back and not another look at Aiden, Valorie strolled into her father’s study. Aiden had the nerve to chuckle at her as she passed.

“Somethin’ funny, laird?” Valorie asked under her breath.

“Nay, lassie, just somethin’ in me throat.”

Choosing to ignore Aiden now, Valorie walked into the room where she had spent many hours as a child. Her father sat comfortably in his usual corner chair with his own glass of whiskey. Valorie thought of all the days she spent sitting at his feet, learning and playing. He would quiz her on her geography and math. Or if he was working through clan complaints, he would discuss them with her, explaining out loud about how he planned to respond to each one.

“Ye must always remember, lass, everyone in the clan deserves to have their complaints heard,” he would often say to her when she questioned why her father put so much care into each answer.

“Aye, Valorie there ye are. Good,” Valorie’s father addressed her.

“Faither,” Valorie said respectfully in an attempt to gain some scraps of her father’s favor, favor that he gave so freely to everyone else in the clan.

“Wonderful news, daughter, Laird O’Donnely has asked for yer hand, and I’ve agreed.”

Ye dance with a man one time!

This was Valorie’s nightmare. She had only just ended her latest betrothal. How her father had managed to find another laird to marry her so soon was beyond comprehension.

There must be something wrong with Aiden or his clan that was forcing him to act quickly. Because what about their one dance and the mess on the balcony had brought Aiden here?

Beyond that — would she ever be invited into conversations about her own life? Did no one care to hear what she wanted out of her life? Neither man knew her desires and plans yet they universally decided what her life would look like. Did her father even care about Aiden’s horrid reputation? What if he really was a monster?

Valorie glared between the two grinning men without a word. Let them try and tell her this was cause for celebration, but she would not pretend for their sakes.

“Faither, I will nae…” Valorie started to object, but when she saw her father’s stern face, she paused. It seemed that not everyone in the clan deserved to have their complaints heard, but an idea was forming in her head.

Maybe Valorie needed to try a different tactic. She couldn’t afford to end another betrothal, not with her father’s threat to disown her still fresh in her mind. Aiden might think he wanted Valorie for a wife, but she could certainly change his mind.

“Aiden,” Valorie said sweetly, turning her brightest smile to the young laird, “thank you for considering me as yer wife. But ye are a very powerful laird, and ye must test me to see if I’m worthy of a laird such as ye.” Valorie paused as if considering how to best prove herself to Aiden.

“Perhaps I should make ye a blanket, me laird? Or if that’s not to yer liking, maybe I should weave somethin’ for ye?” Valorie asked. She turned her smiling face to her father; he was watching her out of narrowed eyes. He was already suspicious; she had accepted the betrothal too quickly then. Valorie couldn’t have her father suspecting her next actions.

Aiden shook his head, smirking and replied, “I have heard of Penelope and her suitors, lass. Were ye plannin’ to undo yer work each night as well?”

Penelope was somewhat of an inspiration to Valorie; she had read the Odyssey numerous times, and Penelope was always her favorite. It would have been better if Aiden wasn’t well read, but no matter, Valorie had other ideas.

“Well then, maybe I could come and redecorate your castle? I am quite skilled in decoratin’. Surely, you’d love everythin’ to be… baby blue?” Valorie asked, batting her lashes faux innocently. Maybe she’d make him a matching baby blue léine to wear as a shirt with his kilt. Actually, Valorie would quite like to see him in that color, but that was not the point.

Valorie would be so charming and positive, so sickeningly sweet, that Aiden would beg to send her back to Castle MacCrimmon.

* * *

Aiden was biting his lip harshly in an attempt not to laugh at the lass. Valorie had no choice but to wed him at this point, but she clearly had many layers to her plan to get rid of him. She was quite cunning. In a battle of wits, no laird would stand a chance against Valorie Grant.

Thankfully, in this instance, Valorie’s plan was aligned with Aiden’s. It was clear, Valorie already wanted to be rid of him. Their betrothal would last just long enough for the council to move on, and then he would be left to his own devices once more, at least for a while. He would have to play up the abandoned betrothed a little bit, so no one would force another lass on him.

The plan was solid, so what would it hurt to play along with Valorie’s games a little? Aiden was deeply curious to see what she would do next. Valorie’s attempts at scaring him off were already the most entertaining part of his week.

“Ye ken, ye’re right lass. Not just anyone could be the Lady O’Donnely. She would need to be very special indeed. Perhaps a few tests are in order,” Aiden announced to the room. He was watching closely for Valorie’s response and saw her bristle slightly at the implication.

Aye lassie, let’s see ye prove yerself, Aiden thought.

Valorie’s father on the other hand looked slightly apprehensive. Laird MacCrimmon would have to agree to his trials, but he was clearly nervous about what might happen. Was he nervous to leave his daughter in the hands of the fearsome Laird O’Donnely, or was he concerned Valorie would not pass his inspection?

Valorie still only looked irritated with a hint of mischief. The lass had plans, all right.

“Laird MacCrimmon, would ye grant me leave to assesses Valorie’s strengths before we settle?” Aiden asked the older laird, already knowing what his answer would be.

“Aye, I think ye will find she’s highly accomplished. I trained her meself,” Valorie’s father agreed. Aiden didn’t miss the sharp look he gave Valorie, seeming to tell her without words not to embarrass him.

Valorie subtly matched her father’s ire. It was simmering below the surface, but Valorie was angry. Aiden knew it was at least partially directed at him, and he couldn’t wait for it to burst through. If Valorie was stunning in her joy, he could only imagine what she would be like in her rage.

As soon as her father left the room, Valorie turned to harshly to Aiden and said, “I willnae marry ye, me laird, ye ken that, right?”

Aiden was fighting another smile; Valorie was certainly spirited.

“We’ll see, lassie. Ye do owe me. Or have ye forgotten?” Aiden reminded Valorie of the fateful night on balcony. Aiden had no true intention to collect, but Valorie did not need to know that.

“I havenae forgotten, but we’d make a terrible match,” Valorie argued vehemently.

At Valorie’s declaration, Aiden flashed with anger, feeling desperate to prove the lass wrong.

Not fully understanding his actions, Aiden slowly stalked over to Valorie, never breaking eye contact with her brilliant green eyes. When he stood right before Valorie, his tall frame loomed over her. He brought himself up to this full height and looked down at the lass. Aiden continued to hold her eye until all he could think about was the flecks of gold in them. Ever so slowly he moved his gaze from her eyes down to her lips.

Aiden’s gaze seemed to hold Valorie in place, and he watched with interest as she nervously bit her bottom lip. She was still looking right back at him with undisguised lust in her eyes.

Aiden’s lips were hovering right over hers, but they never crossed that inch of space between them. Rather, he simply continued to gaze at the lass. His eyes followed Valorie’s tongue as it licked her lips once more. Aiden wanted to follow that path with his thumb, and then if he was so lucky, his own tongue.

“That’s nae true. We danced well, dinnae we?” Aiden purred. Valorie’s gaze now dropped to his lips as well as if following the sound coming from his mouth. They both held so carefully still, gazing at each other’s lips, ripe with anticipation about what was next.

The door to the study suddenly opened, and the pair jumped apart, the moment broken. They were interrupted by a servant coming to clean up. Neither of them had closed that gap and took what they both so desperately wanted.

Now standing several paces away, Aiden stared at Valorie. Before he had arrived this morning, he believed that he must have over-exaggerated Valorie’s beauty in his mind. With all of the emotions from the other night, he decided that he was not remembering her clearly. Between the whiskey and the adrenaline, surely some of her appeal was fabricated. But staring at her now, with pink cheeks and her hair unbound, Aiden knew that none of it was an exaggeration.

Valorie was equally as stunning in her day clothes as she had been in her breathtaking dress at the cèilidh. But today, the bright smile that she had worn while she danced throughout the room was replaced by wide eyes and heavy breathing.

If the servant hadn’t interrupted them, what would have happened? Aiden played scenarios in his mind, thinking of the way Valorie’s plump lips had looked as she bit and licked at them. He should be the only one to ever bite that lip.

The servant quickly gathered up the whiskey glasses and was gone again. Before Aiden could attempt to pick up where they left off, he saw Valorie’s expression shutter, the moment truly over. She now wore a sharp mask.

Without a word about what had transpired, Aiden led Valorie out of her father’s study, through the great hall, and back outside. Somehow, he still needed to conduct his little assessment, but all he could think of were Valorie’s lips.

Exiting the castle, Aiden got a moment’s reprieve from thoughts of Valorie to admire the day. Summertime had created the perfect walking weather, and he led the two of them to the gardens where he had admired Valorie, just this morning.

As they walked, Aiden was still mulling over options for his little trials, especially with their near kiss muddling his mind. Aiden glanced over at Valorie and saw a harsh frown marring her face. He wanted to bring back her passion, and if he couldn’t do that through lust, maybe he could have her anger again. He decided to have a little fun taunting the lass with his assessment.

“Aye, so, the Lady O’Donnely would need to be clever and kind, brave and loyal, strong but sweet,” Aiden paused before adding, “Bonnie, of course.”

With that, Aiden slowed his walk and turned to face Valorie. He dragged his eyes over her body in a slow and exaggerated perusal, staring heatedly at her from head to toe, eyeing her tall form and generous curves with clear interest. What had started as a taunt was quickly turning real for Aiden with the memory from the study so fresh in his mind.

Aiden watched as Valorie blushed furiously under his careful inspection, her breath coming in a little faster. She too was clearly still impacted. When he was looking at her face once more, Aiden winked and said, “Aye, nay further testin’ needed there, lassie.”

“Hmph, and how do ye propose we assess the other characteristics ye mentioned?” Valorie asked breathily. She was putting in a valiant effort to appear unaffected, but Aiden could see the way his inspection was causing her body to react. He only hoped Valorie couldn’t see the way he was affected, just being in her presence.

“I have some ideas,” Aiden smirked.

* * *

“How would ye handle a disagreement between councilors over clan policy?” Aiden asked out of the blue as they passed the bed of Scottish Bluebells Valorie had pruned earlier today.

“Would I need to?” Valorie questioned, surprised by the turn in Aiden’s assessment. Aiden’s visual inspection was a lot more like what she was expecting. What she was not expecting, however, was the way she reacted to his gaze and their near kiss in the study. Everywhere his eyes touched felt singed. Valorie needed to get her reactions under control, and whatever this was seemed like the perfect distraction.

“Aye, if I was out fightin’ or otherwise engaged. Or maybe I’ll just be horribly lazy in my old age,” Aiden said in answer.

Despite the jest, Valorie responded seriously, “Would ye nay just place one of yer councilors in charge?”

Aiden paused, seeming to debate his answer, and Valorie found herself eagerly awaiting his response.

“Nay, I would nae choose a councilor — nae if I had a wife I could count on,” Aiden said finally.

“Hmm,” Valorie replied, fairly shocked at Aiden’s response.

“So, how would ye handle that, lass?”

“I suppose I would hear arguments from both councilors. Then I would ask for input from the rest of the council. It would be best if there was a clear consensus among the other members so as not to put the full blame for the decision on me shoulders. I know how dangerous a jilted councilor can be.”

“Aye, very true there, lassie,” Aiden agreed.

As they strolled side by side throughout the grounds, Aiden continued to test Valorie with various clan scenarios. His idea turned out to be a quiz of sorts, and her answers to these questions would apparently allow Aiden to determine whether Valorie would make a worthy wife to a laird.

Valorie was shocked to find that Aiden’s questions were not at all what she was expecting. When they first reached the gardens earlier, she thought he might be inspecting her blooms since he saw her there that morning. But no, not a single question was about gardening, planning a feast, or running the castle.

Despite abhorring the whole idea of wedding a laird, Valorie was invested in this assessment. She wanted to show that she was just as capable as any laird, if not more so. Valorie would prove to Aiden that she did possess all the traits he listed. Especially now that the test might actually challenge her a bit.

Throughout their walk, Aiden asked Valorie questions about clan politics, battle strategy, and negotiations with other clans. But even more surprising than the topics were Aiden’s reactions. He appeared to be listening intently to all of her answers, nodding along and interjecting thoughtful clarifying questions.

Not once did Aiden immediately disregard one of Valorie’s ideas or responses. He pushed her to consider each angle of her hypothetical plans but never laughed at her or her suggestions. He actually seemed curious about her ideas and numerous times praised her ingenuity.

Was it possible that someone else was searching for the same thing that Valorie was — a true partnership?