Page 55 of A Highlander Bound by Oath
“Why must I hear about yer reckless acts from the servants? Ye fell again from atree, and Blair had tae catch ye once more? This is the third time ye’ve fallen, lass, and only because ye refuse tae listen tae reason!”
“I did nae realize that climbin’ things was against the rules in the castle,” she said stiffly, shutting the door behind her.
“Nay, I suppose nae, but clearly, ye are nae skilled at it, and Blair has been there every time tae make sure that ye dinnae hurt yerself.”
She swallowed, clutching her hands behind her back.
Dae nae think kindly of the man. He was only doin’ his job. It is nae as if cares whether or nae I really hurt meself.
A tiny voice inside her told her that wasn’t true, but it was far better to think of Blair in a bad light than to think of him in the way she really wanted to.
“Then, ye have nothin’ tae worry about, Father. Yer praised soldier has done his duty yet again. He has saved me, and now we can move on with our lives.”
“Nay, we cannae, Ada,” her father said, rubbing a hand through his red hair before he sat down and picking up a piece of paper. “Sit here,” he said, pointing to the chair across from the desk.
Ada’s belly filled with nerves as she noted his serious tone. Slowly, she took her seat and wondered why he’d always treated Ella with more kindness. Even when her sister had done something he disliked, he hardly ever screamed at her.
It is because he hates me for what I did tae Mother.
Ada's thoughts wandered to the past as her father spoke about responsibility and not acting like a child. She remembered overhearing a conversation between himand his sister, Isla. She would never forget it.
“Maura would never have gotten ill if she hadn’t had Ada, Isla. Ye ken that’s true.”
“How can ye say such a thing about yer own child?”Isla had said in return. “Is she nae precious?”
Ada remembered sinking back against the wall when her father stood.
“She is, of course she is, yet Maura was precious tae me—me only wife, the love of me heart. And now she’s gone. The lasses now have nay mother. We should nae have had another child. It was too much for her.”
Ada had put a hand over her mouth to keep her sobs quiet, and then she’d left, unable to listen to any of it anymore. She’d only been eight at the time, and ever since then, she’d noticed her father’s behavior towards her. He was always angry, no matter what she did. She knew that he was punishing her forever, and now that her sister, his favorite, was gone, it would only get worse.
“Are ye even listenin’ tae me, lass?” her father boomed, his forehead crinkled as he paused to stare at her angrily.
“Aye, Father, I am listenin’,” she lied, standing a little taller.
She could never let him see the way the past had hurt her. For she was the one who’d killed her mother, his wife, and nothing could fix that. And in his mind, she would always be the baby who did that.
“I dinnae see how ye can expect tae live on yer own or run a household on yer own when ye act so irresponsibly! Climbin’ a tree when ye could have nearly broken yer neck! And ye hurt Blair besides.”
Och, precious Blair. Me father cares more for him than he does for me. Blair has never disappointed him.
“When are ye goin’ tae grow up, Ada?” he cried, pounding a fist into the desk.
Ada’s eyes fluttered to the papers he’d been holding, where his fist had hit. What were they for?
“I am grown up, Father. This is what grown women wish tae dae: be free. Men dinnae understand because they wish tae trap us forever and keep us compliant for their benefit.” She crossed her arms and turned her face to the side. Shockingly, her father sighed instead of coming back with another angry outburst.
“It is enough now, Ada. I have done me best with ye both. I have tried tae keep ye safe and tae love ye as I could, but it is time now that I let ye go. I can dae this nae longer.”
She turned to face him, her heart in her throat. But she didn't see what she hoped to see on his face. His expression did not holdfavorable promise.
“What dae ye mean?” she asked, a cold prickle of fear tingling on the back of her neck.
“Ye will marry.” He stood, not meeting her eyes. “I made this decision weeks ago. Yer betrothed will be here in a few hours. It was goin’ tae be a surprise, but I think it best that ye ken about it in case ye’re plannin’ tae dae anything stupid.” He shot her with his glare. “Marriage is the best thing for ye, Ada, for I can nae longer look after ye.”
Ada gasped, and as she rose, she felt every muscle in her body tense. She was ready to fight. And yet the shock had robbed her of the vehemence she wanted to instill into her tone.
“It was just the same with Ella,” she said, trying her best to hold the tears back. “Ye could nae let us be as we wished, and so ye forced her tae marry, actin’ as if we are just problems that ye need tae rid yerself of.”
