Chapter 7

7

As soon as the men's eyes were on her, Lana regretted her actions. Her heart pounded in her chest as they stared at her with conflicting expressions. Alexander looked mortified, as if she were about to destroy everything he had created. Daniel fought the urge to smirk at the feisty, little thing.

"Nay one taught ye nae to eavesdrop, me love?"

"I am nae yer love!" she cried, storming into the room.

Now that she had made her presence known, she might as well join the conversation, no matter how terrified she was.

"Lana, what are ye doin'?" Alexander asked, but she kept her eyes trained on Daniel.

"Ye cannae speak of love if ye daenae believe in it."

"Enough of this," Alexander snapped. "Ye will speak kindly to the man ye will marry."

"I willnae marry him!" Lana announced.

"Forgive me, Laird MacCrawford," he said, turning his attention back to Daniel. "Me sister is simply surprised by the speed of such a proposal."

"I am nae surprised!" Lana cried, though in truth that was exactly the problem with this situation. Everything was moving far too fast, and these men were deciding her life without her input.

The three of them stared at each other, all waiting to see where this conversation would go.

She took a deep breath and stood straighter, determined to speak from reason rather than emotion.

"Alex," she started, though her brother's brow furrowed at the familiar nickname. "Ye ken I wish to marry for love."

"I ken it is a silly fantasy," Alexander said. "One I have played along with for too long."

"But ye love Olivia, dinnae ye?"

"Aye. But convenience brought us together."

Lana realized quickly that Alexander would not be swayed. She knew him well enough to recognize the way his jaw clenched slightly when he had made up his mind. There would be no swaying him. And so she turned her attention to the other Laird in the room. She looked up at him and saw the way he pursed his lips, perhaps holding back a smile.

"Perhaps, Me Laird, if we could wait. We could spend some time getting to ken one another. Perhaps we could learn to care for one another before we wed."

She needed some time. If Alexander and Daniel were insistent on this wedding happening, then at least she could ask them to wait. A week was hardly enough time to learn Daniel's meal schedule, let alone know enough about him to fall in love with him. And Lana needed the hope that she could love this man. She needed to know that the dream she had carried with her since childhood wasn't lost.

"Ye will ken me once we are wed," Daniel told her. "But I willnae wait to have ye."

She felt that strange shiver run up her spine again. She couldn't figure out what made her body react to him like this. She was a mix of nerves and fear and a hint of attraction that she was struggling to untangle.

"A fortnight," Lana suggested, practically begging. "Surely ye can wait that long."

"Enough." Alexander was losing patience. Lana knew he felt embarrassed by her, that she was threatening his image as a man who could control his household. "If ye daenae like the man I have chosen for ye, then I can call Laird Cullen. I'm sure he will be thrilled to welcome ye into his home."

He wouldnae…

She hadn't expected this from Alexander. She had always seen her brother as a kind man who wanted what was best for her. But suddenly, she was staring back at her Laird rather than her brother. Even Alexander had to put his clan before his family sometimes, and Lana saw clearly which one he was choosing.

Laird Cullen was out of the question. The man was old enough to be her father, and if his behavior at the wedding was any indication, he loved his drink more than any wife he might acquire. If she had to choose between him and Laird MacCrawford, it was no contest.

"I understand," Lana said, though her chest felt hollow as she forced the words out of her mouth.

She wouldn't cry. She had spent too much time crying over this decision already. And she wouldn't let herself break down in front of these men. They might be deciding her fate, but she would decide how she handled herself in the face of these decisions.

"We're settled, then," Alexander uttered. He tried to catch her eye, perhaps to give her a comforting nod, but she wouldn't look at him.

"Could we have some privacy, Alex?"

She sensed her brother's hesitation at the question, but she pushed forward.

"If I'm to marry Laird MacCrawford in a week, I want to ken what to expect."

Her eyes flicked to him, a quick plea, and it was enough to convince him.

"Very well," Alexander relented. And then, as if trying to regain some control, he added, "A few minutes."

Lana heard her brother's footsteps retreat from the room. She kept her expression neutral, her eyes glued to the empty glasses of whiskey, which were leaving wet rings on the table, until she heard the door click shut. Only then did she look up at Daniel, forcing a tough and confident exterior.

"Shall we set the rules for this game we started, Me Laird?"

She saw how surprised he was, and the twitching of his lips that told her she had guessed correctly. Daniel was a man who enjoyed a healthy dose of competition. He would not turn down any challenge that was presented to him.

Taking advantage of the upper hand, Lana strolled to the table and took a seat. She let her eyes slide from Daniel to the chair next to her, a silent invitation.

"Rules," Daniel said.

He gave her a sly smile as he pulled the chair out and took a seat next to her. She didn't miss the way he shifted the chair closer, so his knee was dangerously close to brushing against hers.

"Very well." He rested his elbow on the table, so he could hold up his fingers as he spoke. "One, ye arenae to bother me. Ye willnae talk to me or seek me out. Nae unless ye or someone ye are with are in danger."

Lana knew he was testing her, finding every opportunity to strip their impending union of every fantasy of love she had. But she wouldn't show sadness. She had started this game, and she was determined to face off against him. He may be nearly twice her size, but she knew she could outsmart him if she set her mind to it.

"Two," he continued, raising a second finger in the air. He seemed surprised that she had not protested his first rule, and she was proud she had held her tongue. "Ye are free to do whatever ye want."

"Aye, Me Laird." Lana nodded. "That is one of me rules as well."

"Ye dinnae let me finish," he cut in. "Ye are free to do whatever ye want provided ye daenae do anything rash. I willnae allow ye to put yerself in harm's way."

Lana raised her eyebrows as she folded her hands in front of her on the table, the picture of civility.

"I see. So nay dangerous swordfights or reckless battles with feuding clans?" she asked, holding back a smirk. "Do these rules apply to both of us, Me Laird?"

She had gotten to him. There was a spark of anger in his eye, giving her a hint she had struck a nerve. She knew it was dangerous to call her future husband reckless, but it felt good to show him that she knew a bit more about him than he might expect.

Lana silently thanked Ciara for the details she had given her last night.

"Three," Daniel boomed, ignoring her insult. "Ye will treat me daughter as if she's yer own. Ye will help to raise her as a respectable lady, but ye willnae spoil her too much."

"Yer what?" Lana exclaimed. The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them.

All hope of staying calm was quickly dashed as she felt her world turn on its head. Just as she was getting used to the idea of being someone's wife, she was told she would be a mother.

"Ye dinnae think to tell me ye have a daughter?"

"Irrelevant," Daniel said, confused by her shock. "That has nothing to do with our arrangement."

"I agreed to be yer wife," Lana clarified. "Ye dinnae mention I would be a maither."

"I dinnae speak of maithering," he said, shaking his head. How had the girl gotten such an idea into her head? "I only need ye to train the girl. Bring her up as ye were. Make sure she can make a respectable wife someday."

"It isnae so simple!" Lana cried.

But Daniel wouldn't hear her protestations. If a nanny could care for Skye, surely Lana could handle her without much effort.

"I daenae understand the problem. Do ye dislike bairns?"

He watched Lana's mouth drop open in surprise. Each thing he said seemed to bring more outrage to the woman next to him.

"I love bairns!" she cried, which only confused him more.

Of all the rules he laid out for Lana, Daniel had not thought this point would be the most difficult for her. For someone who believed so much in love, shouldn't she be excited to spend time with a child?

"Then I daenae see the problem," he said carefully, hoping not to upset her further.

"I dinnae expect to have a bairn so quickly," she explained. "I thought I would have time. If I ever had me own, I would have some months to get used to the idea."

"Is that what worries ye?" Daniel asked, finally thinking he understood. "Daenae worry, lass, we will have bairns of our own. I still need an heir after all."

He watched her cheeks flush scarlet at his words. It was almost humorous how the very mention of making children could shock her in this way. He wondered if Lana had dreamed of him in the same way he had fantasized about her. He couldn't stop imagining what it would be like to run his hands over her curves or taste her pouty lips.

He had tried to push the fantasies away. After all, he was marrying this woman so he could strengthen his clan's alliances and she could care for his daughter. That was the important thing. But now she was here, standing in front of him, talking about having children. His mind conjured up images of her laid out beneath him, her mouth parted, her eyes begging…

He forced his attention back to her, trying to contain his desire.

"Are ye alright, lass?" he asked.

Lana met his gaze again, but her timid expression quickly turned suspicious. She sized him up, as if seeing him for the first time.

"Is this why ye daenae believe in love?" she asked, and Daniel found himself confused by the sudden turn of the conversation. "Ye lost yer wife, the maither of yer child. Ye lost one love, so ye willnae allow yerself to love another?"

"Nay," Daniel said quickly. "I wasnae in love with her. Marriage was a duty I had to perform. That is the way of things with lairds."

"So ye only act on duty?" Lana asked. "Ye daenae believe that people should follow their hearts? That ye deserve to find happiness in yer life?"

"There is nay place for happiness when I have a clan to protect," Daniel answered. "I do what is required of me. I do what I need to, to ensure the success of me people."

"I see," Lana uttered. He watched the curious excitement fade from her eyes and darkness settle there. "So ye will lie with me out of duty?"

Her boldness surprised him, and Daniel found himself speechless. This was a different Lana in front of him, one filled with hurt and anger that was suddenly directed at him.

"I understand," she continued as she rose from the table. "Ye will do what ye must to make bairns. And it doesnae matter who ye make them with."