Chapter 19

Chapter Nineteen

Blair had to admit, there was a lot about the new clan that seemed…mismanaged. There were clansmen dirty, drunk although it was only midday, stumbling through the center of the village. There were foreign merchants selling goods. There was hunger and sadness everywhere, and the smell of sickness stung her nostrils, even within the carriage. However, even with all of that, the enormous castle, banners, and perfectly polished guard made it seem almost like royalty. Blair knew better than that, though. She knew that her luck had not suddenly turned, and with every enchanting view, there would be something dark awaiting her. That was how her life had gone ever since her father died.

As the carriage came to a stop, Blair took in a deep breath, pressing her hand to the corseted top of her dress. Her skirts were thick and quite beautiful, a shock to her, since she hadn't assumed her uncle would go to such lengths for her. Then again, it wasn't for her. He had probably pulled something from her mother's old boxes and had it tailored. That would almost make it better for Blair, but she knew that her cousin had burned all of her mother's things shortly after her death.

Callum opened up the carriage door and extended his hand to her. She pushed out the last of her worry, leaving it in the carriage to be taken back to her uncle, and stepped out onto the pebbled ground. She nodded at Callum, smoothing her hands down her skirts and pulling her cape closed in the front. She wasn't used to corsets, even those sewn into the white flowy fabric of her tunic. She felt almost improper, even though she was dressed like most Highlander women those days.

"Hello, ma lady," the servant said, giving Blair a timid smile. "My name is Clara, and I've been assigned to assist ye in anything ye might need or want."

Blair smiled kindly at her and nodded. The two turned toward James, who had been speaking to the guard. Blair noticed the guard's demeanor as he stared curiously at James. It was almost as if he recognized him. She figured that it was a possibility since James had cryptically said that his brother lived in the castle. It was likely he was a guardsman too.

Blair followed James and Clara up to the doors, and into the castle. They headed around to the library where her future husband was waiting for them. As Clara announced them, Blair put her hand to her stomach, feeling the nerves go wild. James went first, as was customary in situations like Blair's. Customary enough, at least. Usually, the Laird would present her, but she wasn't important enough for her uncle to do so, and she was glad. If it weren't for James walking in front of her, she was sure she would have passed out right there.

Entering the large room, Blair found it lacking in terms of what she assumed a library would look like. There were large animal skin rugs on the floors, a sitting area, a long wooden table in the center, and scrolls rolled and piled on shelves against the walls. Nothing seemed organized, but everything was very clean. Blair turned her gaze back to James' back, as they stopped in the center of the room. Her future husband was standing by the fireplace, but Blair couldn't bring herself to look just yet.

She could hear him turn and clear his throat, but he stayed silent. Instead, James, who looked taller and broader than before, spoke. "Hello, brother."

Brother?

Blair's head whipped up as James glanced back at her. She opened her mouth, but shut it again, realizing where she was. James took a step to the side, revealing Laird McFerguson. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and muscular like James. His face, though, was more squared in the jaw, and his hair was long, pulled back at the nape of his neck. His eyes stayed perched on James, a look of bewilderment on his face. The Laird shuffled his feet for a moment, resting one hand on the hilt of his sword at his side, and setting the other one arrogantly on his hip.

"Well, look what the old Scottish dogs dragged in. My little brother. What's it been brother? Nearly eight years?"

"Somethin' like that," James replied.

Blair noticed that while the conversation seemed cordial, there was an undertone of animosity in both of their voices. Shifting her eyes between the two of them, Blair tried not to look too shocked. She had so many questions, though. Why would James leave a leadership role in his own family clan? Why had he left? Why did it seem like he wasn't actually welcome? Why hadn't he told her?

"And this must be my prize," McFerguson chuckled.

James took a long, deep breath and turned toward Blair. "Yes. May I present the Lady-to-be."

Blair immediately shifted her focus to the Laird. She curtsied just as she had been taught by her mother many years before. "Nice to meet ye, my Laird. My name is Blair."

He stalked forward and stopped, one hand on his chin the other across his waist, as if he were inspecting a piece of furniture just brought to his study. Blair stood perfectly still as he circled around her. She had felt a lot of ways in her life, but nothing like the way she felt that moment. The only thing she could compare it to would be a butchered hog hung on a hook for someone to buy for a holiday dinner. Everything in her wanted to cover her body, but she didn't, and instead looked up at James. His steady gaze was the only thing that kept her from crumpling into a pile.

As Angus, the Laird, circled back around, he noticed Blair staring at his brother. He narrowed his eyes and glanced back at James, smirking. "I see, dear brother, you have developed a friendship with my bride."

Blair immediately looked down. James stood stern though, not wavering in his demeanor. "I've known her since she was young, aye."

As the Laird's finger grazed down Blair's cheek, she stiffened. Angus chuckled. "I have to admit, I didn't know ye were part of the clan. It does add to the pleasure of this exchange."

James' lip twitched. "Ye did always like to claim everything fer yer own. It's no real surprise ye consider people within yer pool of possessions."

Angus groaned, rolling his eyes. "I can see nothin' has changed in the years you've been gone. Always whining about things not bein' fair."

James shook his head. "No. I never complained about things not bein' fair. When our father was ill, who took care of him and this clan? I did. You were too drunk or too busy to care. At least not until he passed and ye found being the Laird of the clan so enticin'."

Angus squeezed Blair's cheeks. "That's right, ol' James is such a hero. When I took my rightful place, what did he do? He ran. Ran away to his new little clan, and left the people here fer me to keep afloat."

Blair winced at his touch, but she didn't dare say a word. She had a very hard time believing that James would just leave. There had to be more to it, and from the look of rage now washed over James' face, she could tell things were getting heated. However, unlike her experiences with her cousins and uncles, Blair watched as James gathered his decorum, his eyes shifting back to the frightened look on her face.

Angus waved his hand at James and shook his head. "We're not here to debate this." He turned to Blair, having released her cheeks. "We're here fer my new soon-to-be wife. Unless she has something to add."

Everything in Blair wanted to stand up for James. She wanted to tell Angus how kind and chivalrous James was. She wanted to tell him how he couldn't ever compare to a man like James.

Angus grabbed her arm and lifted both brows. "Well?"

Blair stood, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. If she didn't stand up then, she knew she'd never get out from under the thumb of men like her uncle. The only thing that caused her pause had nothing to do with fear of pain or worse. It was her sisters, the three beautiful girls waiting for her to rescue them. How was she supposed to make a choice between her blood and her heart?