‘Why did you not wear one of your new gowns?’ he asked. ‘Was there a problem?’
She shook her head. ‘I am a Scot, and it is better if I come into this marriage remembering who I am. We are making this alliance for my people, and I want to wear the clothing of my homeland.’
He understood her reasons, though his father would likely be displeased. Edward expected Lianna to be dressed as a Norman lady, not a chief’s daughter. But the truth was, Rhys admired her spirit. He might feel the same, had he been born a Scot.
Rhys offered her his arm and nodded for his sister to go ahead of them. Joan obeyed, and he led Lianna towards a corner of the room. ‘What have you decided about the wedding?’
‘I would still rather be wedded in Scotland. Not here.’ Upon her face he saw the uncertainty, mingled with homesickness.
‘The sooner we speak our vows here, the sooner we can go.’
His bride did not seem pleased with the prospect. Rhys rested one arm against the wall, shadowing her. ‘Do I make you nervous?’ he murmured. ‘Is that why you are avoiding the marriage?’ He didn’t think she could be afraid of consummating the union—they had done that already, and he knew she had found it pleasurable.
Lianna stiffened at his nearness and said, ‘We should join the others for the morning meal.’
‘You haven’t answered my question.’ He reached out to touch her waist, and she shied away. It was as if she had no wish to be touched by him. At that, he stepped back, giving her space. He knew she had enjoyed his touch after the game yesterday. It seemed that she was confused about her own feelings, still wanting to maintain distance.
Lianna glanced over her shoulder to see if anyone was watching. ‘I would rather not marry at all,’ she admitted. ‘But I know my people will rely on your family’s wealth to save them. Eiloch has very little of value.’
‘It gives the king a place for soldiers, if war breaks out,’ Rhys said. ‘There is already unrest in Scotland.’ Not only that, but his Norman soldiers would provide protection for her people.
‘And I am meant to sacrifice myself to bring the enemy amid my own clan.’ She closed her eyes. ‘You ask me to become a traitor.’
‘This marriage will save their lives,’ he countered. ‘The Normans will not harm them. I will see to that.’
But she was already shaking her head. ‘It won’t be so easy, Rhys. You’re an outsider. They won’t accept you or your men.’
He knew that, but they had no other choice. ‘I will live among them for a time,’ he said. ‘They will come to know me.’
It was clear she did not believe it, given the look on her face. With a shrug, she dismissed the idea and said, ‘We should join the others.’
‘Wait.’ He caught her hand and held it. ‘In a few hours, the betrothal will be signed and witnessed.’ She paused, and he used the opportunity to press her further. ‘After today, I want to begin anew. This silence has gone on long enough. I want a true marriage, not a wall of ice between us.’
Her expression was incredulous. ‘How can you believe that could happen? Nothing you could say or do will bring my brother back.’
She tried to move away, but he caught her hand and drew her back. ‘I regret that your brother died during the raid. But we cannot go on this way, Lianna. I know you’re unhappy.’
He had mistakenly believed that giving her time to grieve would bring about peace. Instead, it had only heightened the distance between them.
Her fingers tightened on his. ‘You could have wounded Sían. He didn’t have to die.’
‘No. He started the fight, and I ended it.’ Her brother had been determined to kill him, and Rhys would not apologise for defending himself. Even if he had left the man alive, he had no doubt that Sían would have continued to attack.
‘You cannot simply expect me to put this in the past and behave like a loving wife.’ Her expression tightened with dismay. ‘If I had killed Warrick, how would you feel? Could you begin anew and forget?’
He said nothing to that but released her hand. A rigid tightness rose within him, and he stared at her, suddenly realising what a mistake it was to think that this woman would forgive him and become his wife in truth. Theirs was an arrangement, nothing more.
Lianna took a step back and whispered, ‘It matters not if we are wed this night or a fortnight from now. I will not share your bed.’
With that, she turned and strode towards his father to join him at the morning meal.
* * *
Lianna felt shaky after she had signed the betrothal document. Her father’s letter had been added, along with witnesses from her clan, and the dozens of other guests Lord Montbrooke had summoned. Rhys had not spoken a single word to her since she had sworn she would not share his bed. His anger was palpable, a layer of ice between them.
Now, she wondered if she had gone too far. Gone was the kind man who had kissed her after the game, the man who had sent her jewels and gowns and promised a true wedding in Scotland. In his place stood a fierce warrior who would no longer bend.
She could not help but feel that, by denying him, she had issued a challenge. But she had been truthful. She could not imagine forgiving him for what had happened to her brother. Gowns and jewels would not change Sían’s death. And even beyond that, she hated living here at Montbrooke.
She had no power here, no choices. Every decision was made for her—when to eat, what to eat, what to wear, and where they wanted her to go. She felt as if she were drowning, weighed down by invisible chains. And now, it would never change.
As a distraction, she studied each of the guests, trying to remember their names. After a time, she realised that Rhys’s brother was missing, along with Rosamund. Although she did not know them well, it did seem strange that they were gone.
Her mind drifted as the men discussed the details of her meagre dowry, Rhys’s bride price, and the land ownership of Eiloch. After hours of standing, her feet hurt, and she wished she could escape. Outside, the sun was shining, and in here, it was gloomy with so many people around.
She missed her daily rides. She missed Scotland and her family. It was a physical ache in her heart, and she longed to return to Eiloch.
A hand squeezed hers, bringing her back to the present. Lianna had no idea what had just happened, but Rhys said, ‘We will wed on the morrow.’
The firm pressure on her palm warned that he would not be deterred. He had taken the decision from her. So, he intended for her to speak the vows so soon? Resentment dug into her mood. She felt as if the men had shoved her into the corner, with no regard for her own desires. Was this his reaction to her insistence that she would not share his bed?
‘Good,’ Lord Montbrooke proclaimed. ‘I will make the arrangements.’
Lianna straightened and decided to exert her own wishes. She had been complacent long enough. Using the Norman tongue, she said, ‘If we are to be wedded on the morrow, then afterwards, we will return to Eiloch. I have been away from my people for far too long.’
But the men behaved as if she hadn’t spoken at all. Instead, the guests were speaking among themselves about this wedding, and now it was sounding as if it would be a large celebration indeed. Her throat went dry, and she tried to pull her hand out of Rhys’s iron grasp.
He leaned in and murmured, ‘Not here, Lianna.’
In turn, she whispered in his ear, ‘Do not force this, Rhys.’
But he was not listening at all. She wanted so badly to retreat, to escape this crowd of people and get away from everyone. Her throat was tight with unshed tears, and she looked up in desperation at Lady Montbrooke. In the woman’s eyes, she caught a glimpse of understanding.
A moment later, Rowena came forward and said, ‘Rhys, I am taking your bride away, now that we have finished the betrothal. She needs to rest.’
Lady Montbrooke took her hand and tucked it int
o her own arm. Never before had Lianna been so grateful for her intervention. She went with Rowena, following her up the spiral stairs while below, the men continued finishing up the details of the betrothal.
Rowena led her to her own chamber, and only when they were alone, did Lianna release the tears. Lady Montbrooke put her arms around her and stroked her hair. ‘I thought you might need a good cry.’
The woman’s kindness only made her sob harder. Lianna felt so lost, trapped in a place where she didn’t belong. And in truth, it felt as if she belonged nowhere.
‘Rhys is a good man,’ Lady Montbrooke said, rubbing her back. ‘He will not be cruel to you.’
‘I thought I would have more time,’ Lianna managed, trying to gather command of her emotions.
‘You will have the rest of your lives together,’ the woman said gently.
But that wasn’t what she had meant. Lianna wanted more time before the wedding, until she was forced into becoming Rhys’s wife. He would never grant her the freedom she craved, nor would he allow her to retreat and be alone each day.
‘What if I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with him?’ Lianna blurted out. ‘Every choice has been taken from me. I cannot bear it.’ Her heart ached with frustration.
Lady Montbrooke laughed and drew her back, drying her tears. ‘My dear, you must learn how to manage a man. Let him believe that he is in command. But we hold the power when no one else is around.’
She didn’t understand what the woman meant by that. The matron took her hands and said, ‘I understand your wish to stand up to Rhys and assert yourself. But you must be more subtle about it.’
She took a breath, gathering her composure. ‘How?’
‘You allure him. Enchant him with your beauty and your intelligence. Make him long to please you, and then ask him for what you want when no one else is around. Believe me, he will do anything you ask. And never, ever defy him in front of his men. Let him keep his pride.’
Lianna wasn’t certain she could be that woman, seductive or alluring. But you seduced him that night, her conscience chided. And he took you willingly.
Her body tingled at the memory, and she closed her eyes. ‘I think I’ve already ruined any sort of peace between us. I told him I would never share his bed.’
‘You were tired and feeling upset,’ Lady Montbrooke soothed. ‘But you can change everything. Put on your best gown for the wedding, wear the jewels he gave you, and then tell him you have changed your mind. Give him his body’s desire and in turn, he will grant your heart’s desire.’
Lianna took a step backwards, the fears closing over her. ‘I don’t think I can do that.’ Not after all that had happened between them.
‘Then start with a kiss,’ Rowena suggested. ‘A kiss offered freely, one that promises hope for the marriage. I know Rhys well. He is a proud man and one who will make an excellent husband. But first, show him your softer side.’
Lianna wasn’t so certain. Right now, the desire to leave Montbrooke was stronger than anything else. ‘I want to go out riding,’ she confessed. ‘I need to escape this place for a time.’
‘Then take Rhys with you,’ Lady Montbrooke offered. ‘Go out together and spend the day alone with him. Try what I have suggested and see if it does not bring about the effect you want.’
Lianna sat down on a stool with her knees drawn up. She didn’t know if she could behave in the manner Lady Montbrooke was suggesting. It wasn’t at all the sort of woman she was.
But then, she knew full well that few people liked her. Even her brother had laughed at her ways, ignoring all that she did for him and for the clan. Her past behaviour had brought naught, except others whispering behind her back.
She didn’t want to pretend to be someone she wasn’t. And yet, she desperately needed to seize back the power that had been taken from her. Only then could she be in command of her own life.
With a heavy sigh, she rose from the stool. ‘Will you send word to Rhys that I wish to go riding? And will you ask that horses be prepared for us?’
Lady Montbrooke smiled. ‘Indeed, I will. And Lianna, regardless of what others have led you to believe, I think you will make an excellent wife for Rhys.’
She didn’t know if that would be true or not. But regardless, it was time to try another means of freeing herself from this prison.
Chapter Seven
Rhys rode alongside Lianna as she drew her horse into a gallop. Her long red hair streamed behind her, and her cheeks were rosy from the wind. He didn’t know why she had asked him to come with her on the ride, but it reminded him of the day at the dolmen when he had first met her. Sometimes he wished it were possible to go back to those days when she had offered a genuine smile.
The betrothal was finished, and he would wed her on the morrow. He saw no reason to delay it—not when she continued to push him away. It was clear now that she had no intention of trying to make their marriage a happy one.
And yet, he suspected she had a reason for inviting him on the ride. Her demeanour appeared nervous, and he decided to hear what she had to say. There might be a chance to soften the edges of her anger.
They reached a clearing on a hillside, and Lianna slowed her horse, stopping to look around at the landscape. The summer grasses spread out in a sea of green, while Montbrooke stood in the distance, a stone fortress well protected from enemies.
‘Why did you want me to ride with you?’ he asked. He suspected it had to do with his demand that they wed the next day. But her earlier declaration, that she would never share his bed, had demanded a response—and so he’d made his own move within the game.
‘I spoke with your stepmother for a time,’ Lianna said. ‘And Rowena made me realise that you are right. I cannot behave as if this marriage does not exist, like I will wake up from a bad dream.’
She dismounted and walked a short distance, turning back to wait for him to follow. Rhys got off his horse and let it graze, walking a few strides forward. It felt as if she wanted to negotiate, to try to delay the marriage further.
‘We are betrothed now,’ he said. ‘And we consummated our union before that. There is no waking up or turning back.’
‘I ken that.’ Her voice was quiet, and she chose a seat upon a wide limestone outcropping. ‘But I do not like what has happened.’ Her brat slipped down from her shoulders, and she pulled her hair to one side.
She looked back at him, and her eyes held misery. But even then, she was beautiful. Her lips were soft, and there was weariness in her gaze. ‘I miss Scotland,’ she told him. ‘Please take me home.’
Her red hair brushed the edge of her cheek, and her brown eyes were pleading. He stood beside her and was startled when she reached up to take his hand. It was such a contrast from the anger she’d shown earlier, he didn’t know what to think.
But her thumb grazed the centre of his palm in a startling move of affection. Not once had she reached out to him since the night she’d seduced him. His body hungered for hers, and he squeezed her hand in answer.
Was this her attempt at a peace offering? There was still a vast distance between them, but she had taken a single step.
Rhys lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it. And this time, she did not pull away. Her deep brown eyes studied him for a moment, before she gazed downwards with shyness.
For a time, he remained silent, watching as the wind swept a path through the meadow. And then he offered, ‘We will leave after the wedding vows.’
Her face brightened, and he saw the first true smile in a long time. ‘Thank you, Rhys.’
Had they been lovers, she might have embraced him or offered a kiss. But it was far too soon for that, and he did not press her for more. Instead, he continued to hold her hand.
In the distance, he saw a rider approaching. ‘Kneel low into the grass until we know who this is,’ he warned Lianna.
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She obeyed, and he kept his hand upon his sword to guard her. There were two people on the horse, and soon, he recognised his brother and Rosamund de Beaufort.
‘I thought they might be together,’ Lianna whispered. ‘They were missing from our betrothal ceremony.’
‘I noticed that, too.’ He rested his arm behind her spine. ‘In many ways, I envy them their freedom.’
Her face softened, but she did not appear offended by his remark. ‘Neither of us was given a choice, were we?’
‘No.’ He regarded her for a time, wondering what her life had been like in Scotland. ‘Did you ever want to marry another man?’
She gave a wry smile. ‘I was reminded from the time I could walk that I was promised to you. I did not dare look at anyone else. Nor did they look at me.’
‘They looked,’ he said. ‘But I suppose your father would never let them have a chance.’
She let out a half-laugh. ‘You don’t ken my people, Rhys. They hardly saw me at all.’
‘Then they were blind.’
He rested both arms on either side of her waist, and she tensed. But he did not steal the kiss he wanted. Instead, he remained a breath away, studying her face. He tried to understand what sort of upbringing she’d had, to believe that anyone could think her invisible.
She was like a trapped wild animal, fighting back against those who wanted to help her. And perhaps the only way they would return to peace between them was for him to release the bonds.
She closed her eyes, and said quietly, ‘I will wed you on the morrow. But I ask that we have only a few guests. I do not want to be surrounded by a crowd.’
‘That was my father’s doing, not mine. But they will be expecting to witness our vows.’ He did not know how to avoid it without offending the visitors. He knew that Lianna hated to be singled out. ‘I will try to find a way,’ was all he could offer. ‘I can make no promises.’
She lowered her head in a nod.
Forbidden Night with the Highlander Page 11