Chapter 14

14

Taking Offense

W illiam studied the financial papers on his desk, ensuring his affairs were in order. In the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Dakota standing outside. Whipping his head around, he stared at her, enamored by her beauty. He had thought that by ignoring her and keeping his distance, he’d be able to cast her from his mind. Yet, it had been torture for him as he caught her drifting through the halls of the castle. Or inhaling her fragrance in a room she had just come from.

The light of the sun struck against her skin and hair. His chest tightened as he leaned forward. Jealousy struck him as he noticed how eager she had become waiting for the carriage to pull up. A part of him wanted to bolt from his chair and rush to her side. He wanted to know exactly who had come for her and why.

The rapping on the door didn’t draw his eyes off Dakota. Nor did the creaking of the door as it opened.

"M’Laird," Mrs. Portsworth whispered as she entered. The sound of her steps irritated William.

"What is it ye want?"

"The Lady’s family has come for a visit," she said. William couldn’t deny that he felt slightly relieved by the news. Although in the back of his mind, he knew there was no reason for alarm or to suspect his wife of any treason, knowing who had come settled his nerves.

"Shall I make up the guest rooms for them?" Mrs. Portsworth asked.

"Nay," William growled almost instinctively. He pursed his lips into a tight line and dropped his shoulder. "Perhaps maybe ye should. They are after all kin now. Set them up in the east wing. And see that the cook prepares the best meal he can. I willnae have them thinkin’ we live so modestly."

William’s attention shifted back to the window. He squinted his eyes as a third person emerged from the carriage. The face was somewhat familiar to him. He was certain he had seen the plain-looking girl before. Perhaps in a fleeting moment, but as he watched Dakota stumble back with shock on her face, his heart sank. Immediately he knew who had come.

"What is she doin’ here?" William asked more to himself than to Mrs. Portsworth. The maid craned her neck and spied around William to catch a glimpse of the people outside.

"And who exactly is that?" Mrs. Portsworth asked. "Would ye prefer I nae make up a room for them?"

"Delilah," William said her name as if he were fearful of calling on a vengeful spirit. "Nay. Make a room for them all. I’ll nae have my wife thinkin’ we favor anyone. Nor do we want to put anyone out in the cold."

William stared out the window, dumbfounded to see Delilah there. He once had hoped that she would be his wife. After all, she was quiet and poised. Nothing about her caused anything in him to stir or become unsettled. The more he stared at her with Dakota next to her, the more he realized how grateful he was to have Dakota as his wife.

Dakota had a spark to her that rattled him. She was soft and kind. Even as her sister emerged from the carriage, she kept her demeanor. A smile curled up William’s lips. Delilah, compared to Dakota, was but a watered-down version of who he wanted. Sure, Delilah carried herself well, even in the face of persecution from Dakota. But Dakota was brave and unflinching.

As he watched Dakota’s family disappear into the house, William dropped all he was doing and hurried out of the study. The chatter from the visitors filled the rooms and bounced off the walls. William braced himself for the onslaught of Delilah’s voice as he watched from the shadows, observing them.

"This is quiet the house ye got now, sister," Delilah said. Her voice was dull and did not touch his soul the way Dakota’s did.

"Thank ye, sister," Dakota answered. "Would ye care for a tour of the property? There’s many things to be seen. William’s family has done a remarkable job on preservin’ their legacy. Ye’ll find nay better tapestries or carvings in the whole county."

William’s eyes widened as he listened to Dakota praise the surroundings and his family’s things. He never thought that she had become invested in this place and spoke with such reverence about each painting and trinket that it stunned him.

"What is this old thin’? Have ye nae gone around and cleared the place of his old effects?" Delilah asked. "I would have thought to make this place my own by now."

"It is my own and my home," Dakota said harshly . William watched as Dakota carefully pried the vase from Delilah’s hands and sat it back on the table. "Yer touchin’ bits of history in this house. Everythin’ serves a purpose and has a story behind it. I’d appreciate it if ye’d show a bit more reserve before handlin’ things that ye know nothin’ about."

"And what exactly is the significance of that ugly vase?" Daisy asked. William wanted to bolt from the shadows and scold the child. But as he fought against his better judgment, Dakota stepped forward with a stern expression.

"That vase has been in the family for over two hundred years. It was created by William’s great-great-great grandmother. She had it commissioned after the Battle of Bannockburn."

William stepped back, utterly shocked. Although Dakota had only been under his roof for a few weeks, it was clear she had taken to heart all that she had learned. Pride swelled within him as his heart fluttered and skipped within his chest.

"Does everythin’ here have a story behind it?" Dominic asked.

"Walkin’ through these sacred halls is like steppin’ back into history," Dakota said. "And while ye may want to think these things are ugly and serve nay purpose the truth is, I’m now a part of their legacy and history. I’d thank ye kindly if he’d nae sour them."

"Well," Delilah said as she cupped her hands in front of her. "Perhaps ye have forgotten where ye come from."

"Yer mistaken, I ken where I come from," Dakota said. "And I ken that my union with the Laird will nae be forgotten in future generations."

"All right," Dominic said, stepping between the sisters. "What say we grab a bite. Travelin’ certainly stirs an appetite."

"If it’s food ye want, then come, I’m sure the servants will whip somethin’ up for ye all. But best to ken dinner is served at five sharp," Dakota said with a smile. William swallowed hard and slipped back to his study.

He paced the room, mulling over what he had witnessed. Never in his wildest dreams had he thought Dakota would be so passionate about his family. It amazed him how much she knew and had made his family her own. The revelation floored him. As did Delilah’s comments. He never thought Delilah would have been the one to scorn his family. Yet, the evidence was clear and the more he thought about it, the more he realized how grateful he was to have Dakota as his wife.

"M’Laird," Mrs. Portsworth said as she entered. "Dinner is served in the dinin’ room."

"And what of Dakota? Is she there?"

"Aye, as is her family. They are waitin’ on ye."

William nodded and paused as Mrs. Portsworth exited. He wondered how Dakota would respond to his tardiness. A smile slipped over his lips as he took his time sorting through the paperwork on his desk. Only when he had everything sorted, did he leave his study and made his way to the dining hall.

"M’Laird," Dakota said as she rose from her seat the moment he stepped into the room. He eyed her without saying a word and took his place at the head of the table.

"Everythin’ smells so wonderful, does it nae?" Daisy said, smacking her lips.

"I’m sorry I’m late," William said as he noticed Dakota’s eyebrow arch with suspicion. "Was held up by most pressin’ matters of state."

"The Laird need nae explain such things to us," Delilah chimed in as she shuffled her seating to William’s left side.

"I trust yer journey here was uneventful?" William asked as he studied Delilah’s face. She smiled as her cheeks flushed red. He couldn’t help but wonder how it was that she was able to sit there by his side without shame or remorse.

"That it was," Dominic said as the servants swiftly came around to serve the meal. "In fact, I daenae think there is a more borin’ strip of land in all of Scotland."

"And I see that yer well," William said to Delilah. For a moment, William thought he heard a gasp escape out of Dakota.

"I am," Delilah said, leaning closer to him. "And I must apologize to ye for all that transpired between us."

"Aye, well," William said, swallowing hard. "I suppose things happen for a reason, do they nae? And I’ve never been one to force or impose someone do anythin’ they daenae want to do. But pray tell, what exactly stole ye from the occasion? Ye realize yer sister worried sick about ye."

"I went to the country to spend time wit’ one of our aunts," Delilah answered as she glanced at the food on her plate. William watched her intently. A nagging sensation in the pit of his stomach gnawed at him. He was convinced she was lying to his face. And the more time he spent with Delilah, the more reasons popped into his mind for having Dakota as his wife.

"So, Laird Rottrich, what news of our faither’s lands? Do ye have plans for it? Or is it to sit as barren as my sister does by my side?" Dominic asked. William covered his mouth as the boy jerked from pain, and Dakota cleared her throat. He couldn’t help but wonder if Dakota had pinched or kicked her brother under the table for such a line of questioning.

"If ye must know, I thought perhaps growin’ some crops in that region," William answered.

"The best crops for that area is barely. Of course corn and potatoes grow incredibly well there too," Delilah chimed in as she batted her eyes at William. "And perhaps wit’ the crops one could go on to make whiskey, which I’ve heard is a thrivin’ business endeavor."

"Ye seem to have a good mind for business," William praised.

"That she does," Dominic said.

"And is that why ye all have come? To propose a business deal usin’ yer sister’s influence to gain an audience wit’ me?" William asked. He glanced at Dakota. Her eyes widened as she tried not to let his words shock her.

"We would never," Daisy answered swiftly. "We came because of the letter Dakota sent."

"What sort of family would we be, if we left our sister in such a state?" Delilah asked in a sing-song voice that grated on William’s nerves. "I was merely makin’ a suggestion as to what the land could be used for. Small talk, nothin’ more."

"It sounded as if ye were implyin’ I wouldnae ken what to do wit’ the land," William said as he grabbed his cup of wine and took a long swig .

"I’m sure my family meant nay disrespect," Dakota said through clenched teeth.

"Of course we didnae," Delilah said, causing William’s attention once again to shift back to her. Although there was an ease to speaking with Delilah and a charm about her, William clearly had no interest in the woman. She was far too proper, too plain to hold his interests. Dakota, on the other hand, was like the sea, rolling and flowing under the calm surface. It drove William wild, wondering what Dakota thought about her family coming.

"So, tell me, Delilah, have ye found a suitor?" William asked as Daisy and Dominic’s eyes flickered to Delilah.

"Nay," Delilah answered with a soft smile on her lips. "I’m afraid there has nae been any calls since I left ye on our weddin’ day."

"I would imagine nae. Suppose that act solidified yer stance on marriage. After all, what man would want a woman he couldnae control?"

"On the contrary, I believe a wife should serve her lord and master to the best of her ability. To be honest, I’m surprised ye havenae sent Dakota away," Delilah said. William’s eyebrow arched as his back went rigid. "She’s always been the one with the sharp tongue and has struggled wit’ the idea of servitude."

"Do ye even ken yer sister?" William asked as the room fell silent. "After all, actions certainly speak louder than words. And from where I am sittin’, Dakota not only rose to the occasion in yer stead, but her strength makes her a worthy partner for any man."

"Please, M’Laird, ye misunderstand me," Delilah said as she reached across the table and placed her hand on William’s. "I’m statin’ that my sister is far better suited for a man who can handle her. And clearly, since ye have nae sent her away, ye must be a very strong and able man."

In the corner of William’s eye, he noticed Dakota settling in her seat. There was a reddish tint to her cheeks that thrilled him. It wasn’t Delilah he longed for, nor was it Delilah that caused the passions within him to stir, it was Dakota. Although she sat still and quiet, William knew something was turning within Dakota, a storm brewing within her as she sat and watched her sister.

"Dakota mentioned ties to Robert de Bruce," Daisy said, trying to break the tension growing in the room.

"Aye, my family has such ties," William said. "And it would seem now that Dakota has ties to it as well."

"I couldnae help but notice a vase in the hallway," Delilah said, withdrawing her hand from William. "A small floral vase that caught my eye. Was that nae commissioned for yer family from that period?"

A smirk stretched across William’s lips as he studied Delilah. He took a sip from his cup and nodded. "And how would ye ken of such things?"

"History fascinates me," Delilah said with a soft bashful giggle.

William shifted his attention to Dakota. He couldn’t help but notice how pale her face had become. A reddish hint grew around the green of her eyes, setting them on fire.

"If ye all would be so kind," Dakota said as she pushed her plate away . "I think I will retire. I’m nae feelin’ so well at the moment. But I implore ye all to enjoy yerselves. And we shall be reacquainted come mornin’.