Chapter 3

Chapter Three

It had been a hard and stressful day getting the men to accept him, and then assessing the warriors and correcting their problems.

Luckily Finn had the support of James and Albert which made it easier to handle his assignment as second-in-command. He'd sensed some resistance to him. Finn got the impression that the laird had let the training go, much as he had everything else once he'd lost his second son.

He couldn't help but wonder if that was why the laird had agreed to the outrageous betrothal agreement for his daughter. ‘Twas difficult when a man lost the desire to live.

It had taken Finn a long while to come to grips with the tragedy he'd caused when he'd lost control. He'd passed through a time when he'd lived in a very dark place. He'd never forgiven himself, and vowed to never lose control again.

What he needed before the evening meal was a long hard ride to clear his head. He walked to the stable and had the stable lad prepare his horse, Morag. The animal needed a workout since he'd been lazing in the stable since his arrival at the castle.

It felt good to race from the stable to the wide-open fields, the wind blowing in his face. As much as he loved Dun Ugadale, he always enjoyed the wide open spaces surrounding Castle Varrich, the up and down hills making a ride exciting.

A rider was just coming toward him as he crested a hill. A small rider, and all alone. As their horses drew closer, he realized the rider was a woman.

Lady Alison Mackay.

Out alone, no escort, racing over the hills behind her.

They reached each other and she pulled up alongside him. "What the devil is wrong with ye, lass?"

Her smile dimmed. "What did I do now, Mr. Mackay? Am I riding too far east? Has my dress blown up and showed my legs? Did I no' finish the evening meal to yer satisfaction?" She was panting, her breasts moving up and down, in a delightful way, Finn noticed.

He pulled his eyes from there and rested on her face. Her scowling face. "Where is yer escort?"

"Do ye ne'er have anything to say to me except complaints?"

"‘Tis no' safe for a woman to be riding all around without a guard."

Just thinking about what could happen to her if she was set upon by brigands was enough to have him breaking out in a sweat. "Does yer da ken ye are wandering around by yerself?"

She straightened her shoulders and lifted her cute, little chin. "My da doesn't tell me what to do."

"So ye've always taken chances like this?"

"It matters no' to ye, Mr. Mackay. Ye are no' my da or my husband."

"Aye, yer husband. ‘Tis what, two or so weeks until ye have him telling ye what to do? Protecting ye from yerself?"

A strange look came over her face. "I am certain the mon will no' be too interested in what I do or doona do." With those words she turned her horse and headed back to the stable.

Finn shook his head and, not wanting the lass to travel back to the castle by herself, he turned and followed her. She stopped and swiveled in her saddle. "Doona follow me. I am no' a bairn."

He huffed. With those curves there was no' a chance that he would think her a bairn. Neither would any other man who might decide to pull her from her horse and have his way with her.

"I will be following ye until ye are safe within the castle walls."

She leaned forward. "Why are ye vexing me so? Every time I do something pleasurable there ye are making sure I doona enjoy myself."

Before he could stop himself, he said, "Anytime ye are seeking pleasure, lass, I will be happy to oblige."

She looked a tad confused at first, and then she must have realized what he meant, and her face flushed. "I shall ignore that, Mr. Mackay." She turned her back on him and rode off.

As promised, he followed her until they reached the castle. He couldn't believe what he'd said to the lass. Not only was she The Mackay's daughter, but she was also betrothed to another.

Aye, to another who didn't plan to make sure she was pleasured as a wife should be. Then he chastised himself. ‘Twas not his issue what the laird had worked out for his daughter.

All those lovely curves would be used as a brooder and then cast aside. He jumped from his horse and before he was able to help Lady Alison from her mount she jumped off.

"Very well done, lass," he said.

She placed her hand on her chest, bringing his eyes to those breasts again. "Doona tell me ye said something nice to me, Mr. Mackay!"

His reaction to her annoyed him. Better to keep her angry with him until she was married and off to her husband's keep. He rested his forearm on his horse's back and grinned at her. "‘Twas the first time since I arrived that ye did something worthy of my compliment."

"Ach!" She pointed her finger at him. "Stay far away from me, Mr. Mackay, if ye value yer life." She stomped off, her hips swaying in a delightful way.

Aye, that was exactly what he wanted. To be far away from her and the temptation she was.

Alison growled as she entered the great hall, then proceeded up the stairs to her bedchamber.

She couldn't remember when a man made her as angry as Mackay did. Anyone at the keep would say she was an easy to get along with lass. True, she held herself away from people, mostly the men.

Her lesson as a young lass had been a hard one, and since then she didn't want anything to do with men. Which was precisely why she agreed to the betrothal agreement with Archie Sinclair.

While it might cause her some embarrassment with him so openly displaying his lemman, she preferred that to another broken heart. She was willing to sacrifice her pride for her independence.

She spent time cleaning up before going downstairs for the evening meal. With any luck the arrogant Finn Mackay would have stumbled over his ego and damaged a body part. She grinned. The one most important to all men.

Her eyes went immediately to the dais where the object of her annoyance sat in deep conversation with her da. Why did the man have to be so handsome? And why was his smile, which he never turned in her direction, so appealing?

She'd had to chase away kitchen servers from falling all over him when they served the food. The chamber maids gathered together and giggled when he strode by, no doubt looking for something to add to his list of things to chastise her about.

Once settled next to her da, she glanced in Finn's direction again to see him staring at her. She patted her hair. "Is something amiss, Mr. Mackay? Have I dirt on my face?"

He had the nerve to grin at her and then turned his attention back to her da.

She huffed and looked at one of the kitchen servers. "Brenda, place the food on the table and return to the kitchen." God's bones, he was turning her into a shrew.

‘Twas an accident that she heard the conversation between her da and the cursed man. The words floated over her until she heard Finn mention her.

She looked over at him. If he was going to talk about her, she would know what about.

"I doona think ‘tis a good idea to allow the lass to wander outside the castle walls. ‘Tis dangerous times, and a lass could find herself in trouble."

Her da nodded. "Aye. I haven't been too dutiful with my daughter of late. ‘Tis why I am happy to have her married off and someone else's trouble instead of mine."

Finn looked over at her, surprise and something that looked like pity in his eyes.

Alison sucked in a breath. Trouble? Since when did she become a problem to her da? He'd always doted on her, spending time teaching her games and how to read and do her numbers. However, since her brothers died, he'd become a shell of a man.

Such wonderful news. She was going from a man who considered her a problem to a man who didn't want her. Again.

She glanced down at her food, which no longer held appeal, and fought the tears that threatened. She would stab herself with her eating knife before she would show such weakness in front of Finn.

She raised her chin and pushed her trencher away. "I wish ye a good evening, da. I am feeling a tad tired this eve."

"Aye, daughter." He immediately turned back to Finn and they continued their conversation.

Mayhap she wasn't permitted to leave the castle now, but she desperately needed fresh air. A walk inside the walls was just what she needed. Were she not so worn down with gloom, she would defy both her da and the arrogant Mr. Mackay and leave anyway.

The air was downright cold. Winter was not far off. She wrapped her arms around herself and rubbed them with her hands. If she wasn't afraid of running into Finn, she would return for her cloak.

Although cold, the night was clear, millions of stars gazing down on her.

Her thoughts wandered as she walked. What would her life be like at Castle Sinclair Grinigoe? Would she be happy?

She huffed. Nay. She reminded herself she no longer sought happiness. All she wanted was to be left alone. This match with Sinclair was exactly what suited her.

"A tad chilly tonight to be strolling, eh, lass?"

That voice, like honey sliding down her back, immediately began her heart thumping. She turned to see Finn staring at her, his hands behind his back, a slight smile on his face. One of the few he'd ever cast in her direction.

A tart remark formed on her tongue, but she found she hadn't the heart for bickering tonight. Instead, she shrugged. "I find I prefer the cold. It makes me think of hot mulled wine, a warm fireplace and my comfortable dressing gown."

Finn reached out and tucked a wayward strand of her hair behind her ear.

She shouldn't allow him to touch her. He was the one who made her da call her "trouble." She closed her eyes, wanting … she knew not what. Just something to make this feeling of sadness go away.

"Are ye looking forward to yer marriage?"

Alison huffed. Then realizing who she was talking to, and not wanting more pity from him, she smiled. "Aye."

His not looking convinced made her wonder if he'd heard about the conditions of Sinclair accepting the betrothal. The ultimate embarrassment.

She took a deep breath. "I believe I will retire for the night." She stepped away. "Good eve."

He reached out and touched her arm, stopping her. "I dinna mean to chase ye away. Even though ‘tis cold, ye seemed to be enjoying the night air."

She felt herself soften, even though she wasn't quite sure why. When they spoke like this with no animosity, she found he was most likely a nice man. One who, no doubt, had no problem filling his bed.

"Do ye enjoy looking at the stars, lass?"

"I do. Someone once told me there is a huge black cover over the earth and small holes in it make the stars."

He smiled. "And do ye think so?"

She shook her head. "Nay. It seems like a bairn's story to me."

It had truly grown quite cold and, even though she and Mackay were not at odds with each other for a change, she really did need to return to her bedchamber. "I believe I will seek my bed now. It does grow cold."

He nodded and stayed where he was as she made her way into the great hall and then up to her bedchamber.

Another long night of no sleep, most likely.

Finn watched Lady Alison walk away from him. The woman annoyed him and challenged his control but at the same time he was fascinated with a lass who was willing to enter into a marriage with a man who intended to keep his mistress. He shook his head.

Either the woman had no pride—which he knew was not true based on the few times they'd interacted—or she didn't care enough about marriage and what it meant.

When he'd first spotted her staring up at the stars, he'd had planned to apologize for what she heard her da say, but changed his mind when he grew closer and saw her face.

She had let her shield down and looked too vulnerable. An apology could only make things worse. She might not be able to protect herself right now. That made him wonder why he thought those words. As if the lass was in the habit of protecting herself.

His thoughts wandered away from Lady Alison and he considered how his day had gone with the training. ‘Twas definite that the laird had let things slip with maintaining his warriors training. Losing two sons so close together was certainly difficult, but strong warriors had to be a priority for a Clan Chief.

After a few more minutes, he grew chilled himself and headed back to the keep.

The Mackay waved him over. He was still at the head table, looking like he was hanging onto a mug of ale.

"Join me in my solar for a whisky, Finn. There are a few things we should discuss."

Finn followed the Clan Chief up the steps to the bedchamber level. At the end of the hall, Finn opened the solar door for the man and they both entered.

"Pour me a whisky, lad."

Finn went to a small table against the wall and poured them both a whisky. He walked over to where the laird sat near the fireplace and handed him a glass before settling on a chair next to him.

The laid swirled his whisky, studying it for a few moments. "I believe I have made a mistake."

Finn immediately sat up, hoping this was not the way The Mackay planned to send him home. "What is that, laird?"

"I dinna do right by my daughter."

Relief flooded him at not being told to pack up and leave.

"Why is that?"

The man rubbed his eyes with his index finger and thumb. "This is no' for e'eryone to ken, but I allowed my only daughter to become betrothed to a mon who has no respect for her and who will make her miserable."

He took a sip of his whisky and continued. "She was satisfied with the arrangement, so I dinna think too much about it at the time."

Although he knew what the arrangement was that the Clan Chief spoke of, he feigned ignorance. He said nothing, but waited for the laird to continue.

He pounded his fist on the desk in front of him. "I allowed my daughter to marry a mon who intends to keep his mistress right in his bed and only visit Alison when he wants to plant a heir in her."

It sounded even worse when the laird said it than it had when he'd heard it from James. He was curious as to why the man permitted this, but ‘twas not his place to question him, so he remained silent.

The laird shook his head. "I am verra sorry I allowed this." He seemed to slip into a morose mood, just staring at his drink.

Finn cleared his throat. "Did ye want to discuss something else, my laird?"

The Clan Chief looked at him, almost as if he forgot he was there. "Nay, ye can seek yer bed. We can speak in the morn."

"Aye." Finn rose and left the room. Thoughts of Lady Alison and her impending marriage had him tossing all night.