Page 17 of The Laird's Wicked Game

The laird of Dounarwyse filled the doorway.

Kylie’s heart kicked like a mule against her ribs, even as hot shame washed over her. Had he been listening in on the other side of the door?

“Do my sons have the manners of goats?” he roared. “How dare ye answer Lady Grant thus!”

High spots of color had risen to his cheeks, and his eyes had gone a dark, murderous green. Both his sons visibly wilted in the face of his anger.

Kylie rose swiftly to her feet, her hands coming up to placate him. “All is well, Maclean, I—”

“I was on the way to my solar and heard a ruckus,” he cut her off before turning his wrath upon his sons once more. “Yer mother and I didn’t bring ye up to mock others!”

“Sorry, Da,” Ailean said weakly. Next to him, Lyle had gone pale and had started to tremble.

“I made it clear ye shall both study French,” the laird replied, his voice still harsh. “And I told ye to heed Lady Grant in all things.”

“I was just playing,” Lyle squeaked, his lip quivering now.

“No, ye were jesting at another’s expense … and as punishment, yer brother won’t be having a riding lesson this afternoon.”

Both boys jolted at this. “Ye promised!” Ailean burst out, his disappointment too great to be borne.

Despite that she wasn’t feeling charitable toward either lad at present, Kylie’s chest constricted.She knew how much Ailean had been looking forward to his first proper riding lesson with his father. Both lads had talked of nothing else over the past days.

“I promisednothing!” The laird moved farther into the lady’s solar, looming over the bairns now. They both sank down in their seats, wilting under the force of his wrath. Lyle made a choking sound then, tears spilling from his blue eyes and trickling down his cheeks. Meanwhile, his elder brother trembled, his face taut with disappointment and anger he was trying hard to leash. “And unless ye learn some manners, ye’ll be spending yer afternoons mucking out the stables instead of doing as ye please.”

Maclean glanced Kylie’s way then, his gaze spearing hers. “If they act up again, come straight to me,” he ordered roughly.

Swallowing, she nodded—even as humiliation scalded her. Hades take him, the man was heavy-handed. How did he expect his sons to concentrate on their French lesson now? Teaching the lads was hard enough as it was without his interference.

It appeared such matters didn’t concern the laird at all, for a moment later, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the lady’s solar, leaving a brittle silence behind him.

Alone with the lads, Kylie didn’t speak for a while. Lowering herself back down onto the bench seat, she watched her charges try to compose themselves.

Lyle was sniffing while his elder brother was scrubbing at his cheeks. Their faces were both red, and she imagined her cheeks also burned like embers. The laird’s reprimand had scalded them all. In the aftermath, it was tempting to crawl into a corner and hide.

Lord, how she wanted to. In truth, she was tempted to rush out of this solar, head straight up to her bedchamber, and start packing.

But she wouldn’t. Not yet, anyway.

Clearing her throat, Kylie stood up once more. “I think we’ll finish a little early this morning,” she announced. “Go and play for a bit before the noon meal while I tidy up here.”

Both lads regarded her warily, as if expecting a rebuke to be added to her words. But none arrived.

They departed from the lady’s solar as Kylie deftly packed away the boards and charcoal. She then dusted off her hands—noting that they were shaking slightly.

But she wasn’t just humiliated. She was vexed.

Her belly started to ache then. Was this how her new start was to be? She’d spent her marriage putting up with ill-treatment. Would she let this man do the same? She’d only been at Dounarwyse a little over a week, and already she was turning into a mouse.

Deal with this now,she told herself sternly, even as her heart quailed.Ye can’t let Maclean get away with that. If he shames ye like that again, life here will become impossible.

Nausea rolled over her at the thought of confronting him. Shehatedconfrontation. But if she didn’t do this now, she never would.

Gathering her courage, she left the chamber and crossed the landing. However, standing before the door to Maclean’s solar, her nerve nearly failed.

What if he lost his temper again? What if he dismissed her?

Maybe I should save him the trouble and resign.Indeed, things weren’t working out as she’d hoped. Ailean and Lyle didn’t respect her—and now she wouldn’t be surprised if they thought she was weak. Kylie’s pulse quickened. Perhaps she was. She’d certainly overestimated her ability to work as a tutor.