Page 3 of The Mad Highlander

3

I ris sighed heavily as she examined her reflection in the floor-length mirror. The purple dress she had chosen for the occasion brought out her bright green eyes and accentuated her sun-kissed skin.

Is this honestly what things have come to?

She reminded herself of her brother and why she was going ahead with the betrothal.

It’s all for Ashton.

Her heart pounded furiously in her chest as she tried to calm her nerves. Her heart skittered with fright when a knock sounded at the door.

The door swung open lightly when she didn’t reply, revealing the chubby face of one of the older maids. “Laird McCabe seeks yer presence, Me Lady. He says the Laird O’Brien is almost here.”

Iris took a deep breath and whispered a silent prayer in her heart.

“Aye, I will be with him in a moment,” Iris replied calmly, swallowing the feelings of panic that rose in her chest.

“Aye, Me Lady. Ye do look pretty, I must admit.” The maid offered a few words of encouragement with a sad smile on her lips. Her usually jovial smile was darkened with sadness that only proved to heighten Iris’ fears. The entire castle had heard by now that their lady was to marry the mad laird.

Iris worked up the courage to turn and face the maid. “Thank ye, Maudie. How is the Laird? Have ye seen him?” Her palms began to sweat as she asked the question.

“Ye mean Laird O’Brien? O, he is fine... Me Lady.” Maudie shifted from foot to foot as she stepped out from behind the door. Her dark brown eyes were filled with all the things she wasn’t saying.

He’s a monster.

“Ye have seen him, have ye nae?” Iris asked again with a deep breath, allowing the maid some time to regain her composure. Everyone in the castle had been on edge since hearing that a visit from the mad laird was to be expected.

“I have, Me Lady.” Maudie seemed to suck in an uncomfortable breath.

“So, what kind of a man is he? Does he look as dangerous as all the rumors say?” Her heart skipped a beat as her mind conjured up images of a mad laird.

“Me Lady, I think it best if ye see the Laird for yerself. I dinnae wish to make ye any more nervous than I ken ye are.” Maudie forced a smile, but the gesture didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“I guess there is nae use in waiting any longer; lead the way.” Iris took a final deep breath and followed the maid from the room.

Maudie seemed to fidget as she walked, glancing nervously at Iris from time to time as they made their way through the castle. “Maudie, will ye nae tell me what ye ken about Laird O’Brien? Ye are safe with me. I promise I willnae tell a soul if ye tell me,” Iris probed her gently, needing to know more about the man she was to marry.

Maudie’s eyes filled with fear as they darted around the passage in search of anyone else. The fear that emanated from her being filled the air, sending a shiver down Iris’ spine. Is he really that bad?

“The mad laird is said to be a heartless man, Me Lady; he cuts down all who dare oppose him. None have survived once they have crossed his path on less than favorable terms.”

Iris felt her body tensing with every icy word from the maid’s mouth. She had heard all the stories about his past, but they somehow still managed to chill her bones. “Go on,” Iris urged her, needing to know more. There had to be some morsel of information that she hadn’t heard about her husband-to-be.

“Me Lady, I cannae continue for fear of me life,” Maudie pleaded with her.

“I willnae betray ye, Maudie; ye are safe with me,” Iris promised.

Maudie took a moment to consider, chewing the inside of her cheek before nodding. She looked around to make sure no one was in earshot. “There’s a lot I’ve heard about the Laird, but the thing that frightens me the most is his temper and fits of anger. Promise me that ye will nay make him angry.”

“Of course, I willnae,” Iris stated.

“Aye, but ye have to be very careful. From what I ken, he becomes enraged at the slightest thing, and it has driven him to do terrible things in the past.” Maudie sucked in a sharp breath and held it.

Iris swallowed hard as they neared the entrance hall where Tristan was waiting for them. She already knew everything that Maudie had mentioned. The mad laird had killed his family for the title and money. Yet she had been hoping that something else was there. That there was even a sliver of hope that would redeem him to her. Had he never done anything honorable or even pleasant in his life?

She felt her heart drop into the pit of her stomach as they neared the large wooden doors.

Two guards dressed in green and white plaid kilts stepped aside, pushing the doors open.

This is it; beyond those doors is the man I am going to marry.

Her breath caught in her chest as the doors swung open to reveal the figure of Tristan standing alone.

“He’s nae here yet, Me Lady,” Maudie whispered to her as if she could read her mind before curtsying and hurrying away.

“Iris, ye look lovely.” Tristan smiled broadly and came toward her with his arms splayed open before kissing her cheeks.

She frowned as she accepted his greeting. How could he be so cheerful when he was about to hand her over to the wolves?

“Ye dinnae have to be scared, Iris. Maybe he’s nae as bad as he looks,” Tristan whispered as he embraced her.

“Nae as bad, ye say?” Iris whispered, trying hard to hide her confusion. Was he trying to cheer her up by pretending that nothing was wrong? She had expected him to be just as anxious as she was.

“I invited the Laird here so that ye may spend some time with him under me supervision. Ye dinnae think I would just let him leave with ye, did ye?” He tried to cheer her up again with a wink.

“I cannae say that yer words are cheering me up, Tristan. There is still time. Is there really nae other way to save Ashton?” She attempted one last ditch effort before her fate was sealed for good.

“What else was I supposed to say, Iris? Ye ken as well as I do that there is only one way to save yer brother.” He shook his head sadly and gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze.

She examined his face and the tired bags under his eyes. Perhaps she had been mistaken in thinking for a moment that he didn’t care. Being the Laird and having to make such difficult decisions couldn’t have been easy for him. She let out a heavy sigh and met his gaze.

“I’m scared, Tristan; what if things go horribly wrong? What if I am giving meself to a horrible man, an’ we cannae even manage to save Ashton?” She swallowed hard and tried to hide the fact that she was trembling.

Tristan held her gaze with a veiled look in his eyes, hiding his true feelings beneath the mask of a leader. “Nothing will go wrong. Laird O’Brien wants a wife. He will protect ye; we have to believe in that.”

The moment between them was broken when a guard rushed forward in a panic. “He’s here, Me Laird. The mad laird is here.” The fear in the man’s voice reached his eyes, causing Iris to lift her hand to her throat. Tristan dismissed the man with a nod and turned back to Iris. “This is the moment. Remember why we are here an’ why we are doing this. Ye need to impress Laird O’Brien. I ken it willnae be easy, but he needs to fall in love with ye for all of our sakes.” The urgency in his voice caught her off guard.

He’s just as panicked as I am.

They both turned to the open doors as bagpipes announced the arrival of their guest.

Her heart thudded furiously as she began to picture all manner of deformities. Was he covered in scars from all the battles he had fought in his time? Did he have a face that reflected the darkness that surely dwelled within?

Her mouth dropped open a fraction of an inch as one of the most handsome men she had ever seen in her life stepped over the threshold. His muscles bulged beneath the white cotton shirt. A fine map of scars snaked up his hands and forearms, yet none of them seemed to reach his face. Laird O’Brien seemed to possess a face that had been sculpted by the gods. His jaw was strong and chiseled with a light layer of stubble. Yet it was his eyes that caught her attention rather than the sculpted muscles of his legs or even the tanned skin.

Those daring fierce blue eyes sent a shiver of pleasure down her spine despite the danger that oozed from every pore of his being. They seemed to stare directly into her soul, causing the breath in her lungs to still in her body.

“Laird O’Brien, it’s good to see ye so soon again. I trust ye didnae have any trouble on the way here?” Tristan stepped forward and offered his hand, speaking to the man as if he had known him all his life.

The mad laird tore his gaze away from Iris and shook Tristan’s hand.

Why doesn’t he say anything?

Iris felt a wave of heat run through her body as he glanced back at her, his eyes sweeping over her figure as if he were undressing her. She felt a strange pang of guilt set in. What did it say about her if her body reacted to the mad laird? Did it make her a bad person that she found herself being drawn to the air of mystery that surrounded him?

“If you would like to have a drink while your men settle in, I will accompany you to the dining hall. We’ve had our finest guest chambers prepared for you. The servants will do all that they can to make your men comfortable during your stay.” Tristan broke the tense atmosphere after clearing his throat.

Laird O’Brien tore his gaze away from her once again and blinked a few times as if he had been under a spell. “There will be nae need for a room or any of yer hospitality,” he said bluntly and looked at Tristan as if he were seeing him for the first time.

The deep notes of timber in his voice sent a visceral response throughout her body as she hung on to his every word. His voice matched his bulking figure, causing her chest to rise and fall rapidly with every breath.

“I don’t understand?” Tristan’s brow creased into a frown as he looked away, pulling his hand back after a brief shake.

“I didnae come here on a social visit. I am here to collect me bride.” His eyes wandered back to Iris and rested on her chest, causing a deep blush to spread over her cheeks and creep up the back of her neck.

“Surely your men would like to rest. We thought you would be staying for a while. I ken that Iris would like to spend more time with ye before ye take her away from her home.” Tristan stumbled over some of his words as he rubbed the back of his neck, looking just as concerned as Iris felt about the change of plan.

Laird O’Brien cracked his neck as he moved his head from side to side. “I didnae say that I would be staying. Me men an’ I need to return. It’s nae just yer clan that has come under attack. There have been rumors that the Murdochs are planning to attack us soon.” He gave off the air of someone who always got what he wanted.

Her pulse raced as he glared at her cousin. Laird O’Brien gave off such a dangerous aura of power that it wasn’t hard to believe that he’d killed his father and brother. The look of sheer determination on his face declared the fact that he wouldn’t be taking no for an answer.

“It will be pleasant for us to stay here a while before we leave for yer castle, Me Laird,” Iris tried. “Ye must be tired after yer journey.”

“Tired from ridin’ a horse?” Laird O’Brien waved his hand dismissively in the air. “Nay, we will leave now.”

The room grew even quieter as Tristan’s face darkened, and a veil fell over his features as he set his jaw. “Of course. I would like to persuade ye to stay, but I can see that ye have made up yer mind. Will ye have a glass of ale with me while Iris packs her things?”

No.

“Have ye nae prepared a feast in honor of Laird O’Brien?” Her voice cracked as she tried to beg her cousin. “It wouldnae be right to only offer ale without food.”

“Laird O’Brien, ye must stay for some food,” Tristan said half-heartedly.

“Have ye nae heard a word I’ve said? A glass of ale, aye! I have food back at me castle.” Laird O’Brien crossed his impressive arms over his broad chest.

“Aye, whatever ye wish,” Tristan said as if he were a servant and not a laird himself.

Iris felt all the heat leaving her body as Tristan gave in to the man’s demands. Would she have no time at all to prepare for her new life? He began to seem more of a beast to her again as her heart thudded in her chest. Looking up, she realized that he had been staring at her.

“Me men will take all of yer cousin’s belongings to our carriages. We will nae be back any time soon.” Laird O’Brien spoke directly to Iris this time.

“I see you have come prepared. I was hoping for a bit of a smoother transition for me cousin with more time to prepare,” Tristan spoke bitterly, and Iris began to wonder and hope if he was having second thoughts about handing her over to such a cruel and unfeeling man.

Cayden turned back to him with a fierce glare that made her heart skitter with fear. “Yer cousin doesnae have anything to fear while she is under me care. Nae harm will befall her while she is me bride.”

His words made her swallow the panic that rose in her chest. Was that a threat? She wondered if he was inadvertently trying to tell her that she had no choice in the matter.

While she is me bride.

His words seemed like a thinly veiled threat to her that made her throat run dry. Did Tristan not say that there would be war if she didn’t give in to all of his demands? What would her life be like now with a beast that would command her every move for the rest of her days?

“Yer cousin has until the sun sets ’afore we leave. She has until then to pack all of her belongings; anything that gets left behind will remain here.” Cayden met her gaze once again and stared into her soul.

“An’ what if I leave anything behind that I truly need? Am I to be given over to a life of wanting because I was forced from me home with short notice?” She felt her courage rising despite the pounding of her heart.

Cayden’s eyes flashed with something that could have easily been mistaken for enjoyment. “Take anything that cannae be replaced if ye have any items of yer family or heirlooms. Everything else ye need will be purchased for ye as soon as ye arrive at Castle O’Brien. There is no need for yer maid either. The servants will all be at yer beck an’ call.”

His words caught her off guard. She had been expecting him to reprimand her for talking back to him, but he had seemed impressed instead.

“That’s a mighty generous offer. I think Iris will be more than happy to accept.” Tristan turned to her with a warning glance, waiting expectantly for her response.

“Thank ye, Me Laird. Yer offer is mighty kind. I shall be grateful for as long as yer me husband.” She caught her breath again when his eyes bore into her soul. She bit back the rest of her words when Tristan glared at her.