Chapter 6

6

Negotiations

W illiam pinched the bridge of his nose and stood in front of the fireplace in the study. The fire popped and crackled in front of him, and the heat seared his knees. Irritation tickled his nerves as he glanced over his shoulder to Laird McGunn.

"I daenae think ye understand. Ye promised me Delilah, and instead I get Dakota. Yet yer givin’ me the same amount of land for her? Nay, this will nae dae. I want another five acres."

"Fine," McGunn said. "Five more acres is a fair price to pay. And yer word that ye’ll keep her well."

Heat flushed through William’s body as he looked at McGunn. If only McGunn understood the torment he’d gone through last night. How badly he wanted Dakota. But giving away that information would surely cause McGunn to lessen the deal. After all, William understood all too well the power of influence, and Dakota certainly had enough influence over him that it rattled him to his core.

"Then the deal is struck," William said, extending his hand to McGunn. Shaking his hand, William exhaled and glanced at the window. They’d spent all morning renegotiating the terms of the contract, and it was well past the time William had wanted to leave.

The thought of staying one more night in the same room as Dakota unnerved him. Never in his life had he been so tempted before. Sure, he’d been in several rooms with fine young ladies, but none ever stood up to him, chided him, or held their ground. The others were far too delicate. Not Dakota; there was a fire to her that burned hotter than the sun. She was like an inferno on a cold night that William needed to survive but also couldn’t get too close to without burning himself.

William had expected a wife who wouldn’t taunt him or arouse him in any manner. He wanted Delilah. She was pleasing to look at and kept quiet. Instead, he was given Dakota, a feisty woman that stunned him with her beauty and poise. He knew that if he was going to survive the marriage, he’d have to keep as much distance from her as possible. But with the ceremonies over and the contract in place, he’d have to keep up the ruse of having slept with her so no one suspected that he could dismiss her.

William felt trapped in a corner. The desires burned within as he thought of how Dakota looked with her arms over her head, hair flung about over the pillows last night. His heart raced as her image burned into his brain. Not even the fabric of her shift was enough to hide her body from him.

"I wish ye many sons," McGunn said, patting William on the shoulder and pulling him from his thoughts.

"And daughters," William said, clearing his throat. He walked to the door, eager to get out of the stuffy room. The heat seemed to rise and William craved the fresh air. He couldn’t wait to get out into the open and on the road to clear his head.

"Shall I have Dakota start packin’ her things then?" McGunn asked as he pulled open the door and held it until William walked through. The sun lingered a bit lower in the sky than he had expected. His eyes widened as he bobbed his head.

"Aye, the sooner we get, the better it’ll be. The roads arennae safe at night," William said as he walked side by side with McGunn till they reached the main hall. William’s heart quickened the second he laid eyes on Dakota. Even in her blue dress covering her body, he could only see her standing in her shift, beckoning him to her.

Fighting back the desire to go to her, William marched to the main doorway. Fresh air would certainly clear his mind and flush out the lust billowing like storm clouds within him.

"Go make yerself ready," William heard McGunn say. "Yer laird and master wishes to depart immediately."

"So soon?" Dakota’s voice loomed around William, and he couldn’t help but notice the hint of pain in her tone. He couldn’t blame her, though. It wasn’t like she was a willing participant in any of this.

"But, Faither , please. Permit us to stay one more night. Just in case Delilah shows up. I need to know my sister is well."

William’s chest tightened. He was torn. On the one hand , he understood the importance of family and the concern Dakota had for her sister, but the thought of being in the same room with her another night… well, there was no telling if he’d have the same resolve to keep his hands off her.

"Make ready the carriage," William shouted, hoping his voice carried into the castle for Dakota and the rest to hear.

"Ye heard the man," McGunn said. "I’m afraid yer husband is set on leavin’ tonight."

William marched down the steps to shield his ears from the pleas and weeping that was certain to come. The sound of footsteps behind him caused his body to go ridged. William balled his hands into fists expecting to find Dakota behind him, ready to plead her case to stay. When William turned, it wasn’t Dakota standing behind him but McGunn.

"I ken ye wish to leave," McGunn said. "But yer family now. If ye want, ye could permit another night under my roof. I’ll nae mind if ye dae. Besides, tis late in the day. Surely, ye’ll want to be better rested for such a journey."

"Wit’ all due respect, I have matters to attend to in the morning and cannae linger another day," William lied. "Ye understand, daenae ye?"

"Of course," McGunn said. "Tis Dakota ye see. She wishes to remain to see her sister."

"When and if Delilah comes around again, I’m sure ye’ll have her send word to Dakota," William said. "But I’ll nae stay wit’ my own lands needin’ tendin’ to."

"Aye," McGunn said. "Dakota will be ready within the hour."

"See to it she makes haste," William said over his shoulder. "The sooner we leave the safer we’ll be."

"Me Laird?"

William spun on his heels to find Cameron coming around the corner. He straightened himself and was grateful for the distraction.

"Aye, what is it?"

"Yer carriage is ready," Cameron said. "All that remains is yer bride."

"She’ll be out soon," William said as Cameron studied him. A sinking feeling came over William as he glared at his best friend. "And wipe that smirk off yer face."

Cameron’s eyes narrowed as he tilted his head. "Yer hidin’ somethin’."

"Daenae have a clue as to what yer talkin’ about," William said.

"Tell me then, how was last night wit’ yer new bride? Was she as delicate as a flower? Or prickly as a weed?"

"That is nae yer concern," William said as Cameron chuckled.

"Ye never touched her, did ye?" Cameron asked as William started for the stables.

"Again, nae yer concern."

"What’s this? Dae I see a hint of a blush to yer cheeks?" Cameron teased as he moved to William’s side and gawked at him.

"Will ye conduct yerself?" William scolded.

"Come now, we’ve shared a great many things, why would yer weddin’ night be any different? So tell me. For I had my eye on that lass from the moment we came to the castle."

"What have the servants said?" William asked as they paused at the side of the stable. Cameron glanced around, hunting for any signs of life before turning his full attention to William.

"The older sister, the one ye came to wed is gone. Some say they saw her racin’ off toward the west. Others say she was accompanied by another man."

"I see," William said a bit shocked by the revelation. He never suspected that Delilah would have another suitor. But then again, McGunn wasn’t one to pass up a deal to get out of his debts either.

"What I daenae understand though, is why ye picked another from this clan?"

"Everyone was already gathered here," William explained. "It would wasteful and foolish to have called off the weddin’ when another was readily available."

"I heard she has quite the opinion," Cameron chuckled. William’s eyebrow arched as his face turned stoic.

"When dae they nae?"

"True," Cameron said with a smirk. "But I’m curious as to how yer goin’ to tame that shrew."

"I daenae see Dakota as a shrew. Merely a lass who’s been put in a most inconvenient situation."

"Do my ears deceive me? Or are ye showin’ sympathy to the lass? Since when does the Laird Rottrich care about the affairs of a young lass?"

"I daenae," William said through gritted teeth. "However, our fates are now entwined and I respect her for holdin’ her ground. There’s nae many that will do such a thin’."

"The question is though, are ye pleased wit’ yer choice? If ye havenae bedded the lass, ye could step away from her, right here and now."

"I’ll do nay such thin’," William said. "The deal has been struck, for better or worse, Dakota is mine now. She’s worth far more to me locked in my castle than she is here trapped within her father’s house."

"How much land did ye get?" Cameron asked as Dakota’s voice drifted to William’s ears. He turned to find her standing on the steps, saying her final farewells.

"Enough," William said as he patted Cameron on the shoulder. "Now, get the carriage draw around to pick her up. We leave promptly."

Cameron nodded and took off into the stable as William returned to the castle's steps . He couldn’t help but feel like the odd man out as Dakota hugged every servant she passed. He rapped his foot and stood as calm as a placid loch. Yet inside, he felt as if he were tossed about like a log in a large ocean.

"Yer horse," a servant said, coming behind him. William turned, grabbed the reins of his steed, and mounted. Settling into the saddle, he kept his eyes on Dakota. Her eyes were puffy and there was a hint of pink flushing her cheeks.

The carriage pulled around to the front and he waited for Dakota to enter the carriage.

"I love ye all," he heard Dakota shouting through the window of the carriage.

"Write to us," the youngest sister shouted as the carriage pulled away from the steps.

"Ye’ll take care of her, aye?" McGunn asked as he stepped up to the side of William’s horse. William glared down at him and nodded without saying a word. Driving his heel into the side of the horse, William started down the lane to catch up with the carriage.

Riding past it, William couldn’t help but steal a glimpse inside. Dakota’s shoulders were down, her head droopy as she cleared away the tears. A pang of guilt jabbed him. He knew her sadness was his fault, but his mind reeled and warred with his emotions. He’d never cared for such things before, yet the sensation to comfort her grew within him.

"We should have left sooner, or stayed another night," Cameron said as he pointed to the rusty orange hue over the tree line.

"I’ll nae stay another night there," William said.

"Now that’s odd," Cameron mumbled. "What happened last night that would make ye so eager to leave? I’m guessin’ by the lack of noise comin’ from yer room last night, nothin’ happened between the two of ye. Or, yer desperate to get back so that ye can put her away. Ye ken, I heard the sheets were bone dry last night."

"Ye’ll nae speak about Lady Rottrich in such a manner," William threatened with a low, grave tone. "I’ll nae have it."

"Suit yerself," Cameron said. "But servants talk and I’m thinkin’ that yer bride has gotten under yer skin somehow."

"Yer gettin’ under my skin," William said through gritted teeth as he clung to the reins tighter.

Cameron’s laughter filled William’s ears. William didn’t know if it was due to Cameron’s keen observation or the fact that William couldn’t bring himself to take Dakota that irritated him more.

"I must say though, for such a strange and quick ceremony, it was enjoyable. There was a wee lass there with the biggest brown eyes I’d ever seen, and an arse that matched," Cameron went on, but William wasn’t paying any mind to Cameron’s babbling. All that drifted through William’s mind was Dakota and how she had such an influence over him. Any other woman, and he’d have put her in her place right then and there. Yet, Dakota was different. She didn’t flinch at his harsh tone. She didn’t recoil when he stepped up to her. She was bold and fearless.

A rustle of the shrubs disturbed William’s thoughts. He glanced over to Cameron and swatted his arm. Cameron’s mouth clamped shut as William glanced at the carriage. The hairs on the back of William’s neck rose and a sinking feeling came over him. The forest was too quiet. Not even the birds chirped a happy tune.

The tension around them heightened as the last rays of light faded, and the shadows stretched and shrouded the trail before them. William’s attention shifted to his right as his ears perked from the soft mumblings around them. For a moment, he couldn’t help but wonder if they’d drifted off the beaten path and stumbled into cursed lands.

His heart thumped wildly in his chest as his right hand slipped to the dirk at his side. Moving closer to the window of the carriage, William thought of informing Dakota to remain silent but thought against it. Chances were he’d tell her to do something and she’d do the opposite just to spite him.

As they climbed over the hill, William glanced at the shimmering loch tucked within the base of the hills. His breathing grew heavier as his nerves rattled.

A loud yell echoed through the trees startling the horses and the footmen. The carriage jerked to a stop as William and Cameron circled the carriage.

"Hand over the toll and ye’ll get to leave wit’ yer lives."