“There will be no wedding between us,” Aidan said, cutting off Laird Brodie. “I apologize Laird Brodie, but I have no interest in marryin' yer daughter.”
“What nonsense is he spewing?” Laird Brodie asked as he got to his feet.
“Ignore him, he has been drinking something fierce lately,” his father said.
“Nay. I cannae marry Gavina. I have me reasons. I have someone else that I love and Gavina would be much happier if she married someone else. Let her marry Ian instead.”
“Aidan! Ye have lost yer senses completely! Ye have been engaged to Gavina for close to a summer.” Aidan got up.
“The engagement is another decision ye made for me, I have made me own decision. I do not want to marry her if I cannae make her happy,” he explained and left the room for the stables. He could hear his father run after him.
“Aidan!” he ignored the older man as he got on his horse. “Aidan get back here!”
“Nay!” he snapped and started to ride to the gates when his mother stepped in front of the horse, stopping it.
“This nonsense has to stop! Get down from there. I want to talk to ye!” she shouted but he did not move, now Aidan. Get down.”
With a frustrated sigh, he got off the horse and faced his mother.
“What has gotten into ye? I know ye are still upset about Joan but must try to carry on with yer life! She has left ye and she is nae comin' back or do ye see a way that I cannae see,” she said as she held onto his hands. “Please stop treatin' us like we are yer enemies. We only want the best for ye.”
“I daenae want what ye think is best for me mother. I have listened to ye all my life without question. I love Joan and ye can nae change that,” he said as he held his mother's hands. “If I settle for anyone else, she will end up unhappy and I cannae dae that to any woman.”
“Ye were the one who lied to her,” his father snapped. “Why are we the ones sufferin'?”
“Ye never liked her! If ye hadnae made a scene that night then she would still be here with me! This is yer fault,” Aidan replied.
“It is me fault? It is always me fault,” the Laird said as he turned to his wife. “It is me fault that I trained him to fight! That I helped him attain his position in Aberdeenshire! It is me fault.”
“Please daenae fight again,” she pleaded and turned back to her son but both men were not listening to her.
“It is yer fault! I never asked to be a soldier! Ye assumed I wanted to be like ye. Ye just assumed that I wanted Gavina!”
“Ye daenae deserve that girl! She had a line of suitors, but she chose a bampot like ye!”
“I daenae want her! I told ye that I wanted Joan, but you drove her away!” Aidan yelled at his father and the older man went quiet. “She was the first thing I asked for! The first thing I have ever asked for and you dinnae give her to me. Only because she was from another kingdom! Ye think Gavina can replace her? No one can!”
“Aidan, please daenae act this way. We care for you and we know how much you loved her, but she is gone now.” His mother stepped in as she held his hand again. “We only want to help.”
“Nay, mother. He only wants me to fight this war because that is the only thing that is important to him. Me feelings or decisions daenae matter. What I want doesnae matter. Nothing else matters except that war but I am too broken to care.”
“Aidan…” His father started but was cut off when Aidan turned his back on them and got on his horse.
“Ye can fight yer war. I will fight for my love,” he said and rode out of the estate, ignoring his parents’ calls.
Everyone wants me to dae what is best for them regardless of how I feel. They expect me not to feel. Well, I dinnae feel anythin' until Joan.
I hope she is safe in Haerton by now. Her escorts are yet to return. I hope they knew better than to go anywhere near Haerton's border.
He slowed his speed when he got far enough from the estate. His mind was clouded with regret for his actions and he looked dejected as he judged himself.
I should have told her the truth before I took her with me. I know Joan. She would have understood. I loved her yet I deceived her. What came over me?
“Aidan,” a young woman waved at him from the roadside. He was steered out of his thoughts as he heard the familiar voice.
“Fenella,” Aidan replied. She had been one of his conquests before he went to England.
“I havenae seen ye in a while, have ye been well?” Fenella asked, caressing his now-halted horse and looking up to him despite the rays of the sun that tortured her eyes. She put a hand over her eyes to see him clearly and pressed her bosom against his legs.
“Yes Fenella, I have been busy with my duties,” Aidan replied, noticing her seductive moves.
“Dae ye want to go to a quiet place to discuss your… duties,” Fenella teased, stroking his horse’s neck.
Joan might be gone from Scotland, but not from my heart. I'm sorry, Fenella.
“I have somewhere to be Fenella, give me regards to yer brothers,” He gently moved away from her as she stood in the middle of the road with a surprised look on her face.
Chapter 21
Joan fixed a harsh glare on her most recent suitor, a well-known knight. He was handsome without doubt, and well built, but he didn't compare to Aidan in vigor. Her father had kept her in her wing of the estate for a day before she was allowed outside. Guards littered the yard in groups of two.
The message has been received.
Lord Tyrill had sent out word that his daughter was to be wed and suitors had come filing in since then. Joan was close to her breaking point for she had been forced to consider men she did not know for two days and how she loathed the man seated in front of her.
He is so pompous. Aidan is a hero too and he does not act this way.
“I took down that Scott like he was nothing,” Baron Edward of Chesfield finished his story with a laugh. Lord Tyrill joined in the laughter but Joan sat still, unimpressed.
This man boasts about a one-on-one fight. Aidan took down three thieves at once for me. Now that is a man. Oh, my Aidan!
“Miss Hale?” She heard her name being called and she snapped out of her thoughts about Aidan. “Are you listening?” the baron asked and she saw her father fix a glare at her.. “You look as if you are deep in thought about something,” he said as he tried to take her hand but Joan quickly rose to her feet, avoiding any contact with the baron.
“My apologies, Sir, but I feel slightly tired. I wish to retire to my chambers,” she said with a small curtsey as a tight smile grazed the knight's face. However, Joan could feel his annoyance. Without waiting to hear another word, she turned on her heel and hurried away from the two men.
As she went through the halls she stopped at a window that had a view of the entrance of the estate.
Oh, if I could set foot outside those gates, I would never come back. I will find Aidan and we can run away like he wanted us to
She snapped out of her thoughts when she saw the royal coach approach the estate.
It is the Duke! Is he here to discuss the war? But my father should be the one to go to the castle to show him his evil plans.
She turned on her heels and made her way to her father's study. She could see the door slightly open and she took a peep. She grinned to herself as she found no one and she entered. She immediately saw the map of Aberdeenshire with some symbols spread out on her father's desk. She quickly read the map but could not make any meaning of the symbols.
She turned it over to see if she could understand it but to no avail. Out of frustration and the thought of the destruction it would bring, she squeezed the plans into a ball and tossed it into the fire place. With a satisfied grin she hurried back to her chamber.
“She is just being a child,” Lord Tyrill said to the furious baron.
“I have never been so insulted by a woman!” Lord Tyrill buried his face in his palm as the baron continued to rant.
I cannot beli
eve that I hoped he would be the one to marry her. All the men in Haerton and all of England will reject her if she keeps this attitude up.
“My Lord,” he looked at the guard who had called to him. “The Duke is here.” He perked up and the knight fell quiet.
Why is he here? I could have brought the plans to him. He did not have to bother coming all the way here.
“See him in,” he said as he got to his feet and turned to the knight. “My sincere apologies about my daughter's behavior. She is sour over something of little importance.”
“Well she had better fix her behavior. A lady who treats men like that will never find a husband,” Baron Edward spat and Lord Tyrill bit his cheek to stop himself from giving a suitable reply. “I will see myself out.” He scoffed and turned on his heel and left.
What a pompous man! He has not even fought half of the wars I have won yet he brags like he is the savior of England.
The Lord was snapped out of his thoughts when he saw the Duke enter. “Your Grace.” He greeted him with a full bow. “Please have a seat. You must have come to discuss the war but I would have come to you. You really should have not bothered yourself so much.”
“Not at all. The war is not my reason for coming here,” the young Duke said as he took a seat in front of Lord Tyrill. “I have heard rumors and I wanted to confirm if it was true.”
”Rumors about what, your Grace?”
“I heard that you are looking for a husband for your daughter.”
“Ah yes. She is old enough to be married but unfortunately, she has rejected every man that has come for her hand.”
“I see,” the Duke said as he pressed his hands together. “She does interest me.”
Lord Tyrill swallowed as a grin broke out on his face. “Is that so, Your Grace?”
Joan is too stubborn to be this lucky. She has caught the Duke's attention but will she accept him? She has to accept him.
This is perfect. My daughter will not only rise in social status but she will also be protected better than I have been protecting her.
“I never knew you had a daughter and one as beautiful as she is. She has held my attention ever since I laid my eyes on her, I will like to court her if that pleases you” the Duke said and Lord Tyrill nodded in agreement.
“Yes, it pleases me Your Grace,” The Lord said.
If he comes to know that she is no longer a virgin, he may no longer be interested in her. I cannot let that happen.
“I will call her down for you and let you two talk alone. I am sure that you will find more qualities that you will love in her.” He laughed and turned to a maidservant. “Call Miss Hale for the Duke.” The maidservant nodded and proceeded to do as she was told.
There is no way Joan would reject the Duke. She would not choose a savage over the Duke of Haerton, would she?
Joan sat by her barricaded window and stared at the freesia field aimlessly. Her attention on the freesia was disturbed when a raven perched on her window. It poked its head through the bars and slightly pecked at her hand. Joan tried to chase it away but every time she clapped her hands to scare it off, it only tried to squeeze through the bars.
What an adamant bird.
It perched on her arm and she giggled as it pecked on her sleeve. Her giggling stopped when she heard a knock on the door and the bird squeezed itself outside and flew off.
I wish I could be like you. Free to leave when I want, to explore the world.
“Miss Hale, Lord Tyrill requests your presence,” a maidservant said from the other side of the door. She recognized the voice to be Sophie's. She was the only maid who cared to speak to her but only on occasion, as her father would be angry if he found out.
“Tell him I will be with him in a moment.”
“He waits with Duke of Haerton, Miss Hale,” Sophie yelled through the door.
Joan threw her head back with an exaggerated sigh at the Sophie's words. She reluctantly stood up and went to open the door.
“I will be there shortly,” Joan said through the partly open door and the maidservant left as Joan slipped on her shoes and went to see her father.
Did he find out that I was the one who burnt the plans?
No. The plans should be burnt to ashes by now. He would not know that it was burnt. He might think he misplaced it.
She pushed open the door and saw her father and the Duke waiting. The Duke got to his feet, a grin on his face as she walked toward them. “Ah! Joan, I have been waiting for you.”
“My apologies, Your Grace. I do not wish to waste your time,” she said as she bent her knee. “How kind of you to visit us. Have you come to bring any good news about the war?”
“Joan!” her father admonished and she looked back at him, a wicked grin on her face. “His Grace has expressed interest in courting you,” her father said and her grin fell.
She turned back to the Duke and took a step away from him. She could see his green eyes cloud with sadness. “Is anything the matter Miss Hale?” he asked, and she gave him a tight smile.
“Everything is well Your Grace but…”
“Joan, why not spend some time with The Duke of Haerton before you make your decision,” her father added before she could finish her sentence.
“Really? I may follow him outside?” she asked as she ran to her father, her hazel eyes full of joy.
“Yes. You are in safe hands, are you not?” Lord Tyrill asked as he looked at the Duke.
“Of course. She will be in very safe hands,” the Duke replied.
This is my chance. If I don't use this opportunity to leave now, I might never be able to leave England till I am married off to him.
“So, Miss Hale, I heard you refused all your earlier suitors. Why is that?” the Duke questioned.
My heart belongs to Aidan, none of them are half the man he is.
“I was simply not interested in them, Your Grace,” Joan answered the Duke, pretending to match his interest in the conversation.
I need to find Aidan, but I will need a horse and some money. I should take a thick coat as well, something to cover myself when it gets cold at night, and a map…
“I heard they were all men of high status and sons of other lords. You are a special girl Joan,” the Duke teased.
All this might prove difficult to gather quickly. I could take enough money to buy a horse and whatever I need.
“Thank you, Your Grace,” Joan flushed.
I pray I don't get taken by bandits if I am able to escape.
“I must get my coat, your Grace,” Joan said as she hurried off to her chambers.
Aidan better have an explanation for his lies when I see him.
“She seems to love spending time outside?” the Duke of Haerton asked as he watched Joan skip away from them in glee.
She was about to reject me. No one has ever rejected me, she must be mine. I will impress her with everything I have.
She is fairer than many ladies of her age, she must be my Duchess.
“She is a very sneaky lady, Your Grace. One glance away from her and she is ready to run off. She seems to have taken interest in those savages,” Lord Tyrill said and the Duke frowned at the thought that came to him.
I do hope she does not have an interest in their men. Those savages will only take advantage of her innocence. She needs a proper man and not some Highlander.
“By the time we return, she will no longer have thoughts of those savages in her mind.”
“Your Grace, I know my daughter. Joan is very tricky. She is smart enough to…”
“You underestimate me Lord Tyrill.”
“I dare not, Your Grace. I just want to know that my daughter will be safe with you,” Lord Tyrill said and the Duke nodded.
“Do tell me, what if I am rejected by your daughter? I do want her as my wife, but I cannot force her to the altar.”
“Your Grace, I have already agreed to this union. She will be wed to you. She is my daughter after all,” the Lord replied as they saw
the doors open again and Joan came out with her coat on. “I am ready,” she chirped and the Duke held out his hand to her.
“Sir James will be yer chaperone,” He pointed to Sir James who now stood by the door.
“I shall bring her back by sunset,” the Duke of Haerton said and the Lord nodded as they left for the coach. He looked at Joan and smiled to himself.
She is not going to reject me for a commoner.
Highlander's Cursed Bride: A Steamy Scottish Historical Romance Novel Page 18