Chapter 35

"So, Braither, how are ye this evening?" Niamh asked sweetly.

"Och, a fine evening indeed, Sister," Arran replied haughtily, which made her laugh.

He cracked a smile and spun them around to try and find Scarlett in the crowd, assuming she would be watching them from the sides with her parents. Only, he couldn't see her.

He spun them again, and Niamh asked him if he was looking for Scarlett.

"Aye. Have ye seen where she went?"

"Ye block the light like a boulder in a burn, Braither. I couldnae see around ye even if I craned me neck," Niamh drawled, and they both laughed.

Arran's brow soon creased as he failed to find Scarlett in the crowd.

"Perhaps she found a dance partner?" Niamh offered.

Arran shifted his focus to the couples twirling around them. He found them then.

Reuben Buchan's hand traveled down the waist of the unmissable blue velvet of Scarlett's dress.

"What!" Arran hissed.

Niamh twisted in his arms to see what had made him react so.

"What!" she gasped as she watched Scarlett struggle to pry Reuben's hand off her waist.

"I'm sorry, Sister. I willnae have that monster's mucky hands groping me wife. Especially during our handfasting ceilidh. I promised to keep her safe," Arran gritted out.

The look on Niamh's face told him that she understood exactly what he was talking about. He waved it off as the trust he had in him as she said, "Go," before the song ended.

He was at Scarlett's side moments later, wrenching Reuben's hand off her waist and stepping in to dance with her instead. The whole action seemed gentlemanly enough though, to anyone who may have been watching. It just looked like Arran might have startled them and then cut in swiftly so as to not miss a beat of the music.

"I'm sorry, lass. I didnae expect him to be so bold tonight of all nights. I willnae leave yer side this evening," he vowed, and she nodded silently.

For the next song, Scarlett opted to sit out and get refreshments, but Arran encouraged her to partake in the following dance.

"Guests are here to watch us dance and be in love, lass. We cannae seem already on the rocks."

"Of course," she said softly and joined him back on the dance floor.

"Everything alright, lass?" Arran asked kindly and then looked around the room to take note of who may be watching them.

He was relieved to see that only her mother and his sister were watching them dance.

Good.

"I'm just tired, that's all. I'm going to go up to me rooms after this song for a quick lie down and a drink. I think I didnae eat enough for all of the excitement." She shrugged and gave a weak smile.

"Are ye telling me the whole truth, Scarlett?"

"I am," Scarlett said and made a show of reaching up and touching his cheek.

Arran pressed his cheek into her palm and then twisted his head to kiss her hand before she brought it back down to his shoulder for the remainder of the dance.

"Would ye like me to escort ye?"

"Nay, I'll be quick. Could ye send up Mrs. Cameron?"

"Of course, lass," he replied as the song ended.

He escorted her as far as the edge of the dance floor before planting a kiss on her forehead and then going to look for Mrs. Cameron.

"Mrs. Cameron, Scarlett has gone up for a minute. Could ye go up and check on her in a moment?"

As the housekeeper responded, Arran caught young Buchan moving toward the staircase that Scarlett just ascended. He was bounding toward him before he even thought to do so and clapped him on the shoulder as he had done in the past.

"Reuben, I will rip this arm off its socket right here in front of everyone if ye take another step," he growled lowly.

Reuben stiffened. "I was just?—"

"I dinnae care to hear whatever lie ye have come up with. Hear this, I will destroy ye if ye keep up this despicable behavior," Arran threatened as he towered over the man.

Reuben tried and failed to yank himself out of Arran's grip, but managed to hiss, "Get off of me!" Which only resulted in Arran tightening his grip, eliciting a flinch and a muffled cry from him.

"I will end ye, laddie. Dinnae test me," Arran warned and then released him.

Reuben shuddered in pain and rubbed his shoulder before he stalked away. Arran heard him muttering under his breath but laughed it off and returned to the ceilidh.

* * *

It's just a ruse. It's just a ruse. Come on, Scarlett… It's just a ruse. Ye can do this.

Why did everything he said point out that it was a ruse, though? That was rude. Every time he introduced a single laird, he'd press his shoulder against mine or wink or somehow indicate that the man is a potential match…

Ugh! I ken well that it's a ruse, but I cannae get over this! I thought I could, but I just?—

"Scarlett?" Arran's deep voice sounded through her door, before he knocked and turned the handle.

She quickly stopped pacing and smoothed out her skirts. "Aye?"

"Everything alright?" he asked tentatively as he walked into her rooms and shut the door behind him.

"Aye. I told ye I'm just tired. I'll be right down!" she said with feigned excitement.

"Lass, ye have been gone for quite a while. Didnae Mrs. Cameron come up for ye?"

"Aye, she came and went," she replied, and then her eyes went wide as she checked the temperature of the teapot on her table.

Shoot, it's nae even hot to the touch anymore! How long have I been up here?

"Is this about young Buchan? Because I?—"

"Nay, this"—she waved her hand around the room—"this isnae about him."

"Well, I only ask because ye started acting cold since I interrupted yer dance."

She nodded thoughtfully. "Aye, I can see how ye'd make that connection."

"Well, what is it? Talk to me, nay lies," he urged, motioning for her to sit down as he did, by the fire.

"Well, nay lies… I guess I am just wary of him. Even the handfasting willnae stop him from acting the way he did right in front of everyone!"

That was a pretty decent lie. Hopefully, he just believes it and we can be done with this conversation.

"Look, if it's nae me, it could be Finn Morrison."

"Finn Morrison? What's he got to do with anything?"

"Well, I've already told ye I wrote to him, and he's agreed to marry ye, after our ruse."

Scarlett stood up suddenly, and Arran followed her, worried by the sudden shift in her mood.

Ye dinnae want Finn Morrison. Just tell him. Just tell him! Ye dinnae want it to be a ruse anymore. Ye want him!

Arran watched her as she paced around the room, and he realized that she had probably been pacing the entire time she was up there. It was obvious that he was confused by what was unfolding between them, but he stayed quiet and made no sudden moves as she quietly wrestled with her demons.

She paced back and forth in front of the fire, her skirts swishing slightly with each step, and the steady noise of the fabric lulled him.

I just?—

Scarlett suddenly froze with her back to Arran. Her chest and shoulders heaved with deep, steadying breaths. She had turned on her heel and lunged at him before he could register what was happening. He caught her mid-air instinctively and wrapped his arms around her as she sighed into his mouth. Her lips were on his, and her hands combed through his hair.

He pressed her against the wall, and her lips parted, inviting his tongue to explore hers. There was no space left between them as he kissed her back passionately. Their lips moved as one, and she again found his tongue. Their need pushed through their inhibitions, and Scarlett thought again about his throbbing arousal when she rose from the tub last night.

Did ye nae get a good enough look?

She was so lost in him when the sudden chill of his absence slapped her like a tundra wind across the face, making her eyes water. He had moved so quickly away from her.

Wait, nay… I want this… he wants this…

It was as if what had just happened was repulsive to him. She watched him even wipe his mouth in the darkness, which stung more than she had ever anticipated.

"We should go back, Scarlett," he said softly and offered her his hand.

Together, united.

His vows echoed in her mind as she stood unmoving, staring at him. "This isnae a ruse anymore," she murmured.

Arran lowered his hand, and his shoulders slumped as he sighed. "Scarlett…"

Her anger flared quickly.

"It's nae!" She shook her head and pressed a hand to her chest. "It's nae for me anyway. This isnae a ruse! And ye have feelings for me, Arran Williams. Dinnae lie to me," she challenged.

Arran stood straighter at her accusation and took a step toward her. His voice was menacingly low and foreboding. "Scarlett, quit this now, I think ye have had too much of the Rhenish wine."

"Nay! Why are ye denying yerself? This isnae a ruse anymore! We made vows, Arran!"

"I told ye nae to forget that this was a ruse. Ye told me that ye were ready for this," he said and took another step toward her.

The fury in his voice made her take a step back, but she still squared her shoulders.

"Ye are a liar. Ye have nay honor," she snapped, her voice dripping with hatred.

"Keep this up, and I willnae hesitate, Scarlett. That's enough. Now," he said firmly and held out his hand again toward her, motioning for her to forget what had been said and join him downstairs.

Just kick him out of the room. Walk right by him, open the door, and tell him to leave. Ye are getting nowhere right now.

She took a step toward him. "Just go by yerself?—"

He caught her hands as she tried to walk past him and pinned them to his chest. His other hand wrapped around her waist, and he turned around. She felt the carved wood against her back and knew he backed her up against the wooden bedpost. His chest rose and fell excitedly, and he took her hands in one of his and pinned them above her head. His lips were on hers seconds later.

I kenned it.

Scarlett moaned his name as his lips found her ear, and she felt his arousal press against her stomach as he ground his hips against her. The feel of the carved wood against her back made her hiss with untapped pleasure, and she arched her neck to give him more access. The whimper that escaped her throat made him growl possessively.

"It drives me crazy when ye moan," Arran mumbled into the space between them, and his admission made her wet with anticipation.

He nipped her bottom lip playfully, and she tilted her head back submissively. He sucked in air between his teeth as he let go, and she bit her lip.

"We need to get back to our ceilidh, lass."

She nodded silently, with an elfish grin on her face, and took his hand.