Page 17 of The Highlander’s Auctioned Virgin (Auctioned Highland Brides #3)

Elinor studied herself in the mirror, thoughts swirling in her head over and over.

She only managed to get a few hours of sleep before she had to rise at the first cry of the rooster. A part of her thought she would be able to sleep for much longer, but it was impossible. Not with the tasks that lay ahead.

She would officially announce her impending nuptials today. That meant all that remained were the preparations.

She stared at her dark hair and blue eyes, filled with remorse and doubt. What if this was another mistake? What if she had just resigned herself to another hopeless marriage with another dangerous man?

Ciaran was different. She tried telling herself that, but a part of her didn’t believe it. The part that seemed to see nothing but a killer every time she laid eyes on him.

He was charming and seemed to respect her and listen to her. He was everything she wanted in the auction, yet her mind wouldn’t give her peace.

What if he was only doing all of this to usurp her? What if this was his way of stealing power, and he would only become worse than Murdock?

Murdock had been married before her, and she was almost certain that he was not horrible towards his previous wives—at least in the beginning. The stories she had heard insinuated that. He only became a monster after each wife was unable to give him an heir. Then, he killed them out of frustration.

Ciaran had indeed mentioned that he didn’t want a child, but what kind of man didn’t? What if he changed his mind down the road, and she was unable to conceive? Would he change as well? Would he become a monster, too?

The thoughts continued to swim around in her head as her reflection stared back at her, baring all her insecurities and self-doubt.

A hesitant knock interrupted her reverie, and Thomas walked in, his boots clicking loudly on the floor as he closed the door behind him.

“M’Lady,” he greeted, stepping fully into view.

Elinor gave him a brief nod.

“Are ye ready to make the announcement?”

“Is anyone ever?”

“Dinnae worry, ‘tis just an announcement. Ye’ll live through it. And I’ll be by yer side the entire time.”

Elinor gave him another brief nod and turned back to the mirror.

“He’s admirable. And he doesnae dismiss me when I’m talking, so I’ll say ye’re on the right path.”

“Ye think he’s better than Murdock?”

“Any responsible man is better than Murdock.”

Elinor nodded.

Of course, Thomas wasn’t wrong. She had known this would happen since yesterday and had slept with this in her mind. So where did this pounding pressure suddenly come from?

Apart from Anna and Jackson, who else would be at the table?

“Let us see. Me, Katherine, and the remaining lairds.”

That pulled Elinor out of her thoughts. She had not realized she had asked the question out loud.

She looked up at Thomas, half-hoping that he was joking for some reason.

“What do ye mean, the remaining lairds?” she asked, her eyes narrowed.

“I mean the ones who havenae left yet. Just a few. Ye’d be surprised to ken how many of them intend to have a proper conversation with the Hound. I mean, most of them intend to hire him to kill someone for them, but it is interesting, nonetheless.”

She shifted her gaze to the mirror. “I suppose I’ll have to find a way to include them as well.”

“I daenae doubt for a second that ye’ll be able to do that,” Thomas assured.

Silence fell between them for a moment, only punctuated by Elinor’s shaky breaths.

She looked at Thomas through the mirror, all her self-doubt creeping back up.

“I’ve been trying to determine what could be worse than a man who kills people, but I cannae. What’s worse than a killer, Thomas?”

Thomas shuffled his feet. “Well, the good thing about this marriage is that we’re going to find out. And if he eventually turns out worse than Murdock, I will murder him meself.”

Elinor chuckled. “I thought ye admired him.”

“Nae at the cost of having another tyrant rule the castle.”

Thomas bowed his head and stepped out, leaving her to her thoughts once again.

She took a few more deep breaths and let her auburn hair fall down her back. Then, she turned away from the mirror and walked out.

Ciaran watched Jack approach him and heaved a sigh. This was about to get incredibly exhausting.

“Laird MacTraigh,” Jack greeted. “It is great to see that ye’re still here. A part of me thought ye would be disqualified from Lady MacAdair’s challenge.”

Ciaran raised his hands. “Well, I’m still here, as ye can see.”

“Let us go. I intend to join the family for breakfast this morning.”

Of course, he did.

They made their way to the dining hall, where others were already sitting at the table, waiting patiently for Elinor to join them before the maids began to serve the food.

Ciaran studied the faces. Jackson, whom he had met the previous night. Beside him sat a woman with glossy red hair and a slightly protruding belly. He could see the resemblance to Elinor. It was faint, but it was there and enough for him to conclude that she was her sister.

Five other lairds sat on either side of the table. Their eyes flicked up when he arrived, and they gave him brief nods of acknowledgement. He reciprocated and settled into his chair.

“I must ask,” Jackson began as he sat in the chair beside him. Just me damn luck . “How are ye finding MacAdair Castle so far?”

“Cold,” Ciaran replied, his tone sharp. “And other times, it’s too hot. But daenae worry, ‘tis nothing I cannae get used to. I have seen worse.”

“Have ye?”

“Aye,” he responded.

He looked at the people around the table one more time. The healer, who looked everywhere but in his direction. Jackson, who gave him a sly smile after waving to him. Then Elinor’s sister and the other lairds.

The door to the dining hall creaked open, and Elinor walked inside.

His eyes flicked to her, and he was immediately spellbound. She was wearing a pale blue dress that shimmered like ice in the morning light. Her hair hung down her back in soft waves, and the stony glare on her face brought out the blue of her eyes.

Evidently, he was not the only one watching her, yet his eyes remained on her as she made her way to the head of the table, where she rightfully belonged.

The maids walked in shortly after and began serving the food : turkey, butter, toast, coffee, and berries.

Low murmurs filled the air as spoons clinked against plates and jugs of water thudded against the table. They all ate in silence, and he could not help stealing a few glances at her once in a while. A few times, she would look at him, but with an unreadable expression on her face.

What are ye thinking, Elinor?

He was intrigued by the fact that she was one of the few people he could not read just by looking at them. It would have been infuriating if he meant to kill her.

After breakfast, the real business began, and everyone knew that the instant Elinor rose to her feet.

“Thank ye all for coming,” she started, her voice low but steady. “As ye all ken, Laird MacTraigh was declared winner of the auction yesterday. This means I’m marrying him, as promised. The wedding shall take place here in the castle a week from now.”

Murmurs rippled through the table. Ciaran ignored them and focused only on her.

“The purpose of the delay is to give Laird MacTraigh’s people time to join us for the event.

A missive was sent to them this morning, right before breakfast. As for the lairds who have decided to stay, I would like to thank ye for yer patience.

If ye attend the wedding, it will only strengthen our clans’ alliance. Ye will take priority over others.”

Silence ensued this time around.

“Does anyone have any questions? And by anyone, I daenae mean ye, Jack.”

Mild laughter swept across the table while Jack looked around, his hands raised in mock innocence.

Ciaran watched Elinor stifle a smile before clasping her hands together.

“Now, if ye’ll all excuse me, I have something I need to attend to.”

She stepped back from the table and turned to make her way out of her dining hall. He followed almost immediately.

He was about to gently tap her on the back when he felt someone’s hand curl around his arm. He turned around and came face to face with her red-headed sister. She slowly lowered her hand to her side and rested the other on her belly.

“Greetings. I am afraid we havenae been properly introduced,” she started. “I am Anna.”

Ciaran swallowed. “Ye must be Elinor’s sister.”

“That I am. And ye daenae have to introduce yerself. I would have to be living on the other side of the world if I didnae ken the Hound.”

“It’s Laird MacTraigh. Or Ciaran, if ye want.”

He turned around, hoping Elinor had been stopped by someone else and was still somewhere in the corridor. But no. She was gone.

Maybe he could still catch her before she returned to her quarters or left the castle.

“Ye have to come with me to get yer portrait done,” Anna said, snapping him back to the present.

“Now?”

“Aye, now.”

“I am certain we have time for that.”

“Nay, we daenae . The quicker we get that man’s portrait off the wall, the better for all of us,” Anna insisted, her voice firm.

Ciaran cocked his head. “Ye daenae look like ye’re going to take nay for an answer.”

“Nae even a little bit,” she confirmed, folding her arms over her chest and giving him a stern look.

Ciaran threw his head back. What was it about Elinor’s siblings not being intimidated by him? Almost every other person was afraid of confronting him, except for them.

“Alright. Alright,” he relented. “I’ll do the damn portrait.”

“Good. Now, come with me, please.”

Anna grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the door that led directly to the gallery. He would have to catch up with Elinor later, then.