Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

"How was the cèilidh the other night?" Valorie's mother asked as the pair worked together in the castle garden. Valorie had not had the chance to discuss the evening yet with her mother.

Valorie wasn't sure yet if news of the attack on the balcony had spread, so she had spent the day prior avoiding her mother and father. She didn't want to give her father any new reason to chastise her. Of course, Valorie knew nothing that happened that night was her fault, but any gossip could be disastrous right now. Valorie was acutely aware of her reputation after ending yet another betrothal.

"I had the best time. Such a joyous occasion for the Doyle clan," Valorie replied diplomatically.

When neither of her parents sought her out yesterday, either with concern or scorn, she decided to wait and to see if anyone brought it up to her. She had cried out for help, but Aiden was quick to deescalate the situation that night. He dealt with the other laird swiftly and quietly. It was possible no one else heard or knew what had happened.

When she wasn't worrying about what came next, Valorie was oscillating between seeing flashes of that laird's cruel face taunting her and then to the strong way Aiden had removed the threat. Both memories kept her heart racing but for very different reasons.

Valorie was struggling to forget the sickly smell of the elder laird as he pinned her against the railing, but she was equally unable to forget the sight of Aiden's forearm straining against the other laird's throat. Raised to respect strength, the sight was… admirable. Late at night, she chased away the more frightening memories with ones of Aiden.

"Aye. A bairn is always cause for celebration," Valorie's mother said quietly.

Grace Grant had a soft type of strength. At first meeting, Valorie's mother seemed gentle and almost meek, but Grace Grant loved and protected her people just as fiercely as her husband did. The two of them had made Clan MacCrimmon into a feared and respected land.

Valorie's strength was not as quiet, but she admired her mother deeply. When she was young, Valorie could always count on her mother for comfort and advice. As the only child of the laird, she was always a little separate from the other children in the clan. Despite her bubbly personality, Valorie often found herself alone even when in a group of children for lessons or training. She was always just a little bit isolated from the other children.

In moments when the loneliness threatened to overcome Valorie, her mother was always there with a hug and a warm cup of tea. When Valorie was criticized for talking too much and acting too much like a boy, her mother reminded her of all the ways she shone.

Since Valorie didn't reply to her last statement, her mother continued, "I saw ye talkin' with Margaret."

"Aye, she was tellin' me about the lairds her family are pushin' on her. They want her to wed a strong laird as soon as possible," Valorie commented.

Talking with Margaret always made Valorie immensely grateful that Clan MacCrimmon was as respected as it was. Yes, she was expected to wed a laird, one who she likely didn't love, but at least Valorie had a couple of years as a woman first. Small mercies.

"Mmm, anyone she fancies?" Valorie's mother asked.

Her mother had gotten lucky. Over the years, initial attraction had bloomed into a deep and loving partnership between her parents. They gave Valorie hope, but she still wanted to make the choice for herself.

"Nay, ye ken how they are," Valorie sighed.

"Aye, and what about ye? Any lairds catch your interest?" Valorie didn't respond, not particularly interested in discussing Aiden, but her mother was not swayed, "I saw ye dancin' with one handsome lad."

"Hmm, Kenneth?" Valorie questioned, pretending she didn't know exactly who her mother was asking about. Her mother was accustomed to Valorie's tricks though and merely continued to work in the garden.

It appeared this would be another conversation about her lack of a betrothal. Her mother wanted Valorie to have a choice, but both women were running out of time to be picky.

Sighing Valorie said, "Aye, Laird O'Donnely."

"Mmm."

Valorie rolled her eyes at the lack of response. This was another favorite tactic of her mother. She knew that Valorie would eventually tell her whatever information she sought as long as she was patient. As a child the lack of response drove her crazy, but now, she counted on her mother's patience. Sometimes, Valorie just needed the space to think through her feelings before speaking.

Unfortunately, Valorie was still unsure how she felt about the laird. She was positive though that she was not looking for another betrothal, regardless of how Aiden made her feel. The way Aiden's forearm muscles tightened as he protected her or the smell of him as he held her close were simply not relevant.

"He was a very skilled dancer," Valorie said tentatively as she continued pruning the Scottish Bluebells in front of her. They were her favorite flower with their delicate lavender-blue blooms. The garden was glorious this year; Valorie loved seeing everything in full bloom.

"Aye, ye made a striking pair," her mother agreed.

That was indisputable. Aiden was striking. But in Valorie's experience, lairds were all the same. She hadn't met one yet that would allow her the independence she so desperately wanted. Valorie wanted a partner not a keeper. There was a world out there to explore, and she planned to see it.

"Aye… Ye ken of Laird O'Donnely?" Valorie was curious to know what her mother thought of Aiden. She truly believed her mother would not let her wed someone dangerous, and Aiden had quite the reputation.

"I do. He's a strong and fair laird from what I've seen. A good man." Interesting. Perhaps her mother knew something that Valorie did not. Or maybe she was just far more optimistic.

"Ye've met him before, then?"

Not looking up from the plants her mother responded, "Aye, briefly." Not a lot of information to go on.

"People say he's horrible and cruel," Valorie prodded.

"Aye, and they say ye're fickle."

Valorie snapped back, "So, because I have my own mind, I must wed a beast?" Were her only options old lairds or cruel ones?

"Nay, I simply meant to point out that the opinions of others are not always true," Valorie's mother calmly explained.

"Aye, ye're right, apologies, Mother. But he's still a laird."

"And he's here," her mother said.

"What!" Valorie exclaimed, looking from her blooms to see a tall figure on horseback approaching the castle. It was hard to tell for sure from this distance, but Valorie recognized the familiar strong body. Aiden was in fact rapidly riding up to the castle.

Valorie and her mother stood, wiping the soil and leaves from their dresses, ready to greet the guest, who was none other than the laird she should probably avoid.

What is he doin' here? Is he here to inform Faither of the situation from the other night or some other reason?

Valorie watched him approach, fiddling with the fabric of her dress and smoothing out the material. When her mother noticed her fretting, she glanced over at Valorie with a raised eyebrow. Valorie immediately released her dress and forced her hands into a normal position.

Aiden slowed to a stop in front of the women and gracefully dismounted. His hair was windblown from the ride, and it only served to enhance his wild and rugged appearance.

Valorie looked Aiden in the eye with a smile as he strolled towards them. It didn't matter why he was here; she would meet it head on.

"Greetings, lassie," Aiden said to Valorie. He held her eye for several long seconds before turning to her mother with a respectful nod. "Lady MacCrimmon."

"Laird O'Donnely, it's an honor. Please, come inside. Can I ask why ye have come?" Valorie's mother greeted. Valorie was also desperate to know the answer to that question although she attempted to maintain a neutral smile.

"I need to speak with Laird MacCrimmon on some business. We were interrupted the other night." Aiden looked harshly back at Valorie as he said this, seeming to blame her for the interruption. It wasn't Valorie's fault that laird had cornered her!

"Of course, let us show ye inside to Duncan's study."

With that, her mother turned towards the castle, Valorie and Aiden following behind her. Valorie glared quickly at Aiden to her left, but he just smirked, keeping his eyes trained ahead, appearing ever the serious laird.

Valorie's mother led them to the doors of Laird MacCrimmon's study and knocked lightly.

"Aye, what is it, Grace?" Valorie's father called from inside.

With a small smile back to Valorie and Aiden, her mother called out, "Laird O'Donnely is here to see ye, Duncan." Valorie heard fumbling and a crash from inside as if her father was eagerly rising and making quite a mess while he did. Must he be so obvious? Valorie surely would have made the other laird wait.

Almost immediately the door swung open, and Valorie's father looked around excitedly. When he saw Aiden standing beside Valorie, he smiled and cleared his throat.

"Aye, Laird O'Donnely, come in." With a pleased look at his wife and a chastising one at Valorie, he led Aiden into his chamber and closed the door.

Valorie looked at her mother expectantly. Grace winked and gestured in a ‘go ahead motion.' Pleased to have her mother's endorsement, Valorie pressed her ear to the door in an attempt to eavesdrop. She would have done it anyway, but it was nice to not be scolded for it.

Shockingly, Valorie's mother joined her at the door.

"What, I'm curious too!" Grace whispered to her, and Valorie giggled. For too long, Valorie couldn't hear any of what was being said inside the room. She heard the murmurs of talking but couldn't make any of it out.

"Can ye hear anythin'?" Valorie asked quietly.

"Nay," her mother muttered. Shoot. Valorie needed to know what they were talking about; it was almost certainly about her! Aiden had never visited their castle on business before; Valorie surely would have remembered him. Finally, she heard Aiden speaking.

"We dinnae finish our conversation about yer daughter being unwed the other night," Aiden stated.

"What?!" Valorie harshly said, completely forgetting to stay quiet.

Aiden sat in Laird MacCrimmon's vast study, swirling a glass of whiskey. Duncan had generously offered it to him upon arrival. It was helping to calm the flash of rage he'd felt upon thinking about Laird Campbell's hands on Valorie the other night. The reason this conversation had been interrupted at Keira's was not something Aiden particularly liked to think about.

Aiden was prone to strong emotions around this woman because just as soon as the rage had hit him, it faded into something else entirely, something just as powerful but much more pleasurable. Thinking of those thoughts though was not appropriate for a conversation with Valorie's father.

The two lairds sat across from each other in the study and briefly discussed clan business before Aiden brought up the real reason for his visit. Valorie.

"We dinnae finish our conversation about yer daughter bein' unwed the other night," Aiden said.

"What?!" Aiden heard Valorie's feminine voice exclaim from the other side of the closed door. Of course, she was listening. Aiden shouldn't have expected anything less. The thought of her pressed up against the wood had Aiden suppressing a smile.

What was this woman doing to him? He had never had to urge to smile so much around another person. If anything, other people usually inspired additional irritation.

Shaking off that thought, he returned his attention to Valorie's father, who was pointedly ignoring the interruption from his daughter. Aiden was sure this sort of mischief was quite common with Valorie around.

"Aye, she remains unwed," Laird MacCrimmon said nervously with a pregnant pause. "Valorie is a bit too… independent for her own good."

I wouldn't say that, Aiden thought and took a sip of his whiskey and waited for the other laird to continue. Aiden knew Valorie was independent, but he quite liked that about her. Of course, it was what made Valorie perfect for his purposes. Still, he was curious to know what her father would disclose.

"I blame myself," Laird MacCrimmon said with another lengthy pause, "but Valorie has… ended two betrothals already."

Oh, I know. Everyone knows.

It was no surprise really, not once you met Valorie. The lass's bubbly personality simply could not withstand the pressure of most lairds. You couldn't bottle up and hide away someone like Valorie. She was meant to see and be seen. But Aiden was not the laird for that either; he had no desire to see or be seen by anyone besides his family. A lass like Valorie would not want to be holed up in his castle with a worried laird watching her every move.

Even more reasons why Valorie would play her part in his scheme perfectly. They were not a good match, and if Valorie didn't already know this, she would realize it shortly.

"I promise ye, I won't let her leave this time," Aiden vowed, not believing his own words but promising them all the same.