Chapter 21

"Scarlett! Och, Scarlett, come!" Sienna called loudly as her daughter and Arran walked into the castle.

Laird O'Neill had clearly relayed the conversation he and Arran had this morning, and Sienna was positively brimming with excitement.

"Good morning, Maither," Scarlett said demurely, painting an image of chaste propriety for her mother, as if she wasn't just about to be taken in the garden for all to see.

Now, that's a strangely attractive thought.

Arran escorted her to her parents. "Good morning, Sienna," he greeted smoothly.

He released Scarlett's arm and kissed her hand for good measure, before inclining his head to her mother.

"How was yer morning, Daughter?" Sienna asked while keeping an eye on him.

Mrs. Cameron came around to deliver letters and food to Arran, and he pushed the tray toward Scarlett before he chose anything.

She shook her head.

Nae hungry for food.

She was somehow still slick with arousal and needed to get her mind off anything gluttonous for the time being, but she felt his eyes on her, and a flush rose up her neck.

Scarlett shrugged, watching Arran pick a large biscuit from the tray. "It was lovely."

"Aye, yer faither told me all about it. We will be leaving tomorrow, at dawn, in order to ensure that we get back in time for the handfasting ceremony and ceilidh."

"Och!" Scarlett struggled to keep her composure. "Ye arenae staying?" she asked, her voice cracking slightly.

So soon? I thought I had more time with them… with her…

"What? Nay, me dear. How could we stay? We didnae bring enough clothes for two and a half weeks. Yer faither has important clan business to attend to this week. We must depart early, so we can make it back in time." Sienna reached out and placed a hand on Scarlett's arm lovingly.

"Ye could stay, though? I just?—"

"Nay, dearie. Ye are in good hands with Laird McLaren. Yer faither mentioned they are finalizing everything this afternoon before dinner. Ye will be all set!"

She's so excited. I didnae even think about this when I made the deal. This feels so wrong now…

"I've already gone over all of the details with Mrs. Cameron. She has everything in hand. Were there any special requests that ye had, Daughter, for the ceremony?"

Without thinking, Scarlett let her ideas flow freely in front of Arran, who looked all too pleased to be standing next to her for this conversation.

"Roast lamb, the way we make it at home. The clan jewels, the same ye wore for yer handfasting. I want Freya to come with me—me mare," she clarified for Arran, who nodded silently and ripped open another letter.

"And…" Scarlett paused to look up at Arran, her eyes meeting his. "The minstrel."

"Graham McCormack?" her mother asked gleefully.

"Aye, from the feast this week. Is that possible?" she asked Arran.

The intense look he gave her told her that he was keenly aware of the war raging behind her eyes.

I need to wrap this up. I'm going to lose it.

"Och! Aye, the minstrel, what a lovely touch!" Sienna interjected excitedly, oblivious to the silent conversation between her daughter and Laird McLaren.

Arran held Scarlett's gaze as he answered, "Aye, I'll let him ken before he departs tomorrow. Perhaps he could stay on through."

Sienna was pleased with the news and chatted excitedly with them both, but it was becoming harder and harder for Scarlett to mask her sadness and guilt. She watched as Arran waved over the housekeeper and discussed the need for a meeting with the minstrel that afternoon. Scarlett watched the older woman's retreating back after Arran had finished his request.

I'm going to lose it. This doesnae seem like a ruse, and I cannae stop feeling like I've come under fire with guilt. What is happening to me?

Her eyes flicked up to his. She silently pleaded with him for help. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. The gesture calmed her down instantly, and she relaxed into his body as he continued conversing with Sienna.

I'll crack if I start talking. Hopefully, she'll nae ask more questions…

"I think that the ceremony will be quite simple, as was me maither's wish," Arran said casually, and he listened intently as Sienna continued talking about the planning that remained. He unconsciously rubbed Scarlett's back all the while.

"Now, Mack told me the ceremony would be in about a week, but do ye have an actual date?"

Arran's hand paused briefly, but it quickly resumed rubbing her back. "We hadnae discussed the exact details yet. I'm sure it will be considered after this week, when Scarlett and I have had more… time…"

The strategic pauses in his response thrilled her mother, and Scarlett made a show of playing bashful to his innuendo.

One more night of pretending… though, I cannae tell if I'm pretending for me family anymore. Nae after that kiss this morning.

* * *

"She's barkin' mad, Pa. I cannae take much more of this pretending. She's as cold as ice and as hot as fire, all at once. I dinnae understand it."

Arran paced in his study, ruminating over the tension between him and Scarlett. Periodically peering up at the portrait of his father, he continued his lonely diatribe.

"Thank the Saints that tonight is the last night of this… this… I dinnae even ken what to call this, Faither!" He threw his hands up in frustration. "Ach! She's too much. I need to focus. I dinnae have much time left to seal the deal with Laird Donaldson."

Ach, for Christ's sake… this feast wasnae about marriage, and it has turned into one.

"I need to find a suitable suitor for Scarlett, as it stands. Someone whom I can trust with this information…"

Maybe I'll ask the Shepherds to stay… Felix didnae made a good impression this morning, but he's a fierce braither. Maybe Scarlett could overlook it… There's got to be something there, right?

Arran stared up at his father's portrait and dropped his shoulders with a dejected sigh. "I'll ask them to stay anyway. It might work out."

What will Niamh think if I ask Felix to stay? How can I spin that so she doesnae get suspicious? I can just say they're staying to attend the ceremony. Graham will be staying… what's another friend? Aye, that's good.

"There's nay chance that I'm tellin' Niamh either—she cannae ken the truth. Imagine her reaction, Faither. Nay. She'll stay out of this, but I'll get her on our side, eventually."

Talking about Niamh reminded him to ask Mrs. Cameron about how his sister got on after leaving the gardens that morning.

I'll have to check in on her on me way down.

He wagged his finger in the air and continued pacing around the study until a knock sounded at the door.

"Aye?"

"Laird McLaren?"

"Aye, come in. Come in," he urged impatiently and bounded to the door to let whoever was outside in. "Och! Zachary, I was just—" He cut himself off before he made a fool of himself. "I was just looking at the draft of our agreement."

"Well now, that's precisely why I've come up, Arran. Is it a good time?" Laird Donaldson asked rhetorically and stepped into the study.