Chapter 2

2

Daniel felt the corners of his lips quirk up as he saw the shock on the lass's face. He was even a little pleased with himself. After all, she had shocked him with her public declaration. But he couldn't spend too much time smiling at the beautiful girl's astonishment. Not when he was seriously contemplating chopping the old man's hand off.

"Do ye ken what I hate?" Daniel asked, squeezing the man's wrist even tighter. He knew he was causing the man pain, but he also knew how to hold back just enough that he wouldn't break any bones.

"What is it, Me Laird?" the old man sputtered, his voice little more than a whine.

"I hate men who daenae respect women. And I hate men who force their unwanted attention on them."

The old man glanced over at the girl, and Daniel was pleased to see her scowling back at him. Clearly, Daniel had voiced the words she wished she could speak.

But the old man only looked confused and then angry.

"Unwanted attention?" he asked, finding his voice. "The lass should be pleased to speak with me. It isnae me fault she is too daft to recognize who I am."

The words sent a surge of anger through Daniel, and he raised his sword over his head, ready to chop the man's hand off, just as he had promised. The girl's hand was on his arm again, but anything she said to him was muffled by the scream of a woman next to them. Others in the crowd began to yell or push each other away.

"What is the meaning of this?" a voice boomed across the room, bringing everything to a halt.

The music that had been playing in the background suddenly stopped as the musicians heard the commotion. Daniel looked over to see their host, Alexander, storming toward him.

"Put down yer sword, Sir," Alexander commanded.

The order made Daniel want to swing his sword at him.

"Alex," the lass said, jumping forward before Daniel could respond. "He is only protecting me."

"Enough, Lana," Alexander boomed, not even looking at her. "This doesnae concern ye."

It was at this moment that Daniel finally understood who he was dealing with. The girl who had run to him, seeking protection, was Alexander's sister. And he had found himself right in the middle of his host's family business—an unenviable position.

For a man who wanted to sink into the background of this wedding, Daniel was less than thrilled to be thrust into the center of attention.

"Let him go," Alexander growled, his face hard and dark as he prepared to face off against him, Laird-to-Laird.

But it wasn't any threat from Alexander that made Daniel finally release Laird Cullen. Instead, it was the way Lana's face flushed red as all eyes in the room focused on her. He couldn't bear to see her so embarrassed after the old man had already humiliated her.

Daniel released the man with a shove, forcing him backward so a few onlookers had to catch him before he fell to the ground.

The old man scowled in Daniel's direction as he rubbed his wrist.

"Apologies, Laird Cullen," Alexander offered. "I daenae condone such behavior from the guests I invite into me castle."

His words were pointed, clearly a dig at Daniel.

"It was a misunderstanding, Alex."

The girl, who Daniel now knew as Lana, stepped forward to explain things to her brother, but Alexander wasn't listening. Instead, he was focused on the guests still staring at their small group.

Alexander turned away to catch the eyes of the musicians. With a wave of his hand, he told them to resume playing, and after a choppy start, they were soon playing an upbeat song that pulled guests back onto the dance floor. Before long, the hum of music and voices filled the hall again.

"It is time for ye to leave, Sir," Alexander said, returning his attention to Daniel.

Daniel felt a surge of anger at the injustice. He was not the Laird who should be thrown out.

"He was only helping me!" Lana protested.

"Lana, I will thank ye to stay out of this!"

After her mistreatment by Laird Cullen, Daniel couldn't bear to see her dismissed by her brother. His rational mind told him he should walk away from this situation and leave these people to their problems. So he was shocked when he heard himself jumping to the girl's defense.

"He tried to touch her," he said, his voice cool and even.

Laird Cullen sputtered at the accusation, unable to form words, but Alexander turned back. His gaze was on Daniel, seeking confirmation even as he re-evaluated the situation in front of him.

Lana stood beside her brother, seemingly holding her breath, and Daniel saw gratitude reflected in her eyes.

"It's true," Daniel added, giving a small nod, and he saw understanding flash across Alexander's face.

"I dinnae mean any harm, Laird Gunn," Laird Cullen said.

But Alexander wasn't listening.

"Ye will leave at once," he ordered, his voice even and calm. "And ye willnae return until ye are sober enough to behave civilly."

"I was only speaking to the lass as ye asked, Laird Gunn."

"Go now, Laird Cullen," Alexander insisted. "And daenae return unless ye are ready to apologize to me sister."

Laird Cullen glared back at him as he realized he was being unceremoniously thrown out of the wedding.

"It is ye who should apologize to me!" he screamed. "Ye spoke to me of a wedding to yer sister, but ye dinnae tell me she was already betrothed to this… barbarian!"

Daniel stepped forward, ready to draw his sword once more as this drunken man insulted him, but Laird Cullen quickly turned on his heel. It was clear he did not want any further confrontation with the man who had nearly broken his wrist with one hand.

Daniel watched him storm out of the castle, shoving his way through the guests, who tried to look like they were not eavesdropping. Only then did he realize what the old man had said.

Lana let out the breath she was holding as she watched Laird Cullen disappear. Alexander put his arm around her and pulled her against his side as they watched the door slam shut.

I hope I never have to see that man again.

As she forced the memory of Laird Cullen out of her mind, her eyes found the tall Laird who had saved her. Warmth flooded her cheeks when she found his eye on her.

"Did ye tell him that?" Alexander asked, pulling her attention away from the handsome man. "Did ye tell him ye are betrothed?"

The comfort Lana found in her brother's touch was quickly replaced by unease as he began to chastise her. He kept his tone quiet, hoping others wouldn't hear him, but his words were full of frustration and outrage, making her feel like a naughty child.

"What was I to do?" Lana argued, overcome with frustration as she turned to face her brother.

"Ye shouldnae lie," Alexander told her. "Ye should ask for help."

"And how was she to do that, Laird Gunn?" The tall man with the eyepatch was suddenly in front of them. "If it was so easy to get help, surely someone would have noticed the lass was struggling against the old fool."

"She could have walked away," Alexander pointed out, and suddenly he and the mystery man were facing off against one another, fighting over her.

Lana's head spun as she watched them, but instead of wishing for this to stop, she felt a strange thrill to be the subject of their conversation.

"The lass crossed the entire room, and that drunk followed her."

"Daenae speak of him like that," Alexander spat. "That man is an important ally of Clan Gunn."

The man with the eyepatch let out a dry laugh filled with sarcasm and disgust. "I see," he uttered. "Ye would rather put yer sister in harm's way than ruin yer connections with neighboring clans. Is that what this is about?"

Though Alexander's face grew red at the accusation, Lana knew there was at least some truth to these words.

Lately, her brother had started talking about her marrying more frequently, despite her protests. And when Laird Cullen had come to speak to her, she knew it could only be for one reason.

"What I do with me family is nay concern of yers, Laird MacCrawford. I am sorry that me sister got ye involved. She shouldnae have lied and caused a scene."

Lana wanted to protest. She hated it when her brother spoke for her, making her feel young and unimportant. Instead of praising her for her quick and smart decision, Alexander was belittling her, making her look like some silly girl playing a game in front of this man.

She opened her mouth to defend herself, but suddenly the man, Laird MacCrawford, spoke up.

"She dinnae lie," he stated, rising to his full height, so he stood a full head taller than Alexander. "She's me betrothed."

Lana was speechless. Had she heard the man correctly? She glanced at her brother and saw the same shocked look on his face. She looked at the tall man to see if he was joking with her. Perhaps this was a prank he was pulling on her after she dragged him into this situation. But his face was impassive, his mouth a straight, firm line.

"What was that?" Alexander asked.

He looked between Lana and Laird MacCrawford, clearly wondering how such a thing could have occurred. He would be thinking about recent parties or dinners he had hosted, wondering if the two of them had crossed paths before this night.

"I said she is me betrothed," Laird MacCrawford repeated. This time he looked over at Lana, as if checking to see how she took his statement. "I ken I havenae spoken to ye yet, Laird Gunn. But perhaps once the ceilidh is concluded, we can discuss the details."

Lana watched her brother's face, feeling certain he would call Laird MacCrawford's bluff at any moment. She expected him to protest or to say this could not happen. After all, when she had pretended to be betrothed to Laird MacCrawford, she had never expected she would walk away with a fiancé.

But instead of suspicion, there was a calculating look on Alexander's face. All at once, she realized he was going to say yes.

"Alex, can ye give us some privacy?" Lana asked. She heard the desperation in her voice, a tinge of panic that she couldn't hold inside.

Alexander was still thinking through this situation, and he simply nodded, raising his eyebrows before he strolled away from them.

As soon as they were alone, Lana looked up at the man, desperate for an explanation, but he simply looked down at her, his lips curled in a slight smile.

"I thank ye for helping me," she murmured, blushing as she looked down at her feet. "But ye daenae have to keep lying for me."

"I daenae lie," Laird MacCrawford answered evenly. "Ye're mine now."