Page 4 of A Nameless Highland Laird
“I guess I have nae been verra good about making time to spend with ye. Perhaps after our talk we can go for a ride together?” Blake offered.
Charlotte nodded, knowing the chances of that actually happening were slim. She doubted that she would walk out of this room the same way she had walked in. Even more so, she doubted that she would want Blake to be the person who comforted her.When they were younger, they would spend hours together riding and racing through the highlands the Sinclair clan had claimed as their own. But it had been many years since they had partook in such childish antics and even longer since she had felt close to her brother.
It was as if her mother had been the glue that bound them all together. When she died, the idea of a family had too. The aftermath left Charlotte feeling as though she was never truly close with her father and her brother had quickly outgrown her. Despite spending a lifetime together, living in the same castle, they were little more than strangers. It was probably why she felt so out of place in the study, standing awkwardly while everyone else was already seated.
“Take a seat, Charlotte. We have much to talk about.”
Her father gestured to an empty seat positioned by itself, away from him and her brother. It was an odd arrangement, she felt. Blake and Senga took up most of the sofa they sat on, but her father had plenty of room beside him. Though, had she sat there, he wouldn’t have been able to stare her down the same way he could now.
She adjusted her skirts, leaving her back ramrod straight as she waited for her father to tell her why they had all been called into his study. She was the picture of the perfect daughter, everything a Laird could have hoped for in a second born child, though it never seemed like it was enough for her father. She swallowed a sigh and looked expectantly at her father.
“As ye ken, we have been in discussion about our tumultuous relationship with Laird Knox. Our allies, Laird Stuart, and his clan, feel that we dinnae have enough information about what Knox is planning to do in order for us to move ahead with our plans of war.”
“We think having an insider to help us learn more about Laird Knox, his lands, his castle, his armies, and such will help give us the last little edge we need to ensure we come out victorious against him,” Blake explained.
She glanced over at her brother, realizing that the only person in the room who didn’t know what was happening was her. His offer to go riding together later was his attempt to soften the blow that was sure to be coming. Charlotte schooled her features to give nothing away, instead, turning back to her father for him to say exactly what it was he wanted from her.
“Aye. We all have a part to play in this war, lass. The time has come for ye to play yers.” He looked sternly at her, as if he was waiting for her to argue. Only when he realized that she would not, he continued. “Ye are to marry Laird Knox. I have sent a messenger with the offer of marriage as an act of peace. He will see it as though we are desperate to get him to stop his invasions. Ye must nae let him think anything different.”
The room had a tense silence as she let her father’s words sink in. She had expected a great roar of pain or refusal at his request. She thought that being sent away to marry a stranger would stir some kind of sadness in her, but there was nothing more than passive agreement.
Her eyes danced between her father’s unbending stare and the guilt plastered on Blake and Senga’s faces. She could handle anything but their pity. She knew what they were thinking—they had been able to marry for love while Charlotte would be sent off to marry the man who had been their enemy since before she was born. But she didn’t need or want their pity, nor did she need a marriage based on love. She had never imagined that was what life had in store for her so there was no reason to be disappointed by her father’s demands.
“When do I leave?”
The question came out quiet, but unwavering. She wanted her father to know that she would not balk at the task he had set before her, nor would she argue. She would accept her fate, she needed only the details so she could prepare herself.
“I expect to have Laird Knox’s reply by sunset. If he agrees to my terms, ye will be escorted to his lands in two days’ time.”
She blinked.
Two days was much sooner than she had anticipated. If her father was to get his answer before nightfall, then he must have sent the missive a week ago at least. She supposed she should be grateful that she would have two days to prepare when he could have waited to tell her the morning she was to leave.
Slowly, she nodded. And when she realized they were waiting for another response from her, she stood, head held high.
“I will go inform the maids so that we may begin packing at once. I will have to speak with the tailor to ensure that my wardrobe is fit for that of Lady Knox, as I will soon be. If ye will excuse me, I have much to do. I am afraid, Blake, that our ride is going to be delayed indefinitely.”
She turned to leave when her arm was grabbed, stopping her from taking another step. With a surprised look down, she saw that it was her father’s hand that had wrapped around her wrist in a vice-like grip. Rather than try to fight it, she took a step back towards him and waited for whatever else he had to say.
“I need to ken that ye understand yer task, Charlotte. This is of the utmost importance.”
“I understand, Father. I am to marry Laird Knox so that I can send home information that will enable ye to end this feud.”
“Nae just any information. It must be things that we can use to our advantage. We need to ken the layout of the castle and the rotation of the guards. Be on the lookout for any weakness in his defense or if he drinks too much on a Sunday night.”
Her brows furrowed at her father’s fevered words. She had never seen him so desperately hungry for what he sought.
“Ye must think about the lives ye will be saving by doing this. Ye must realize that any insight ye can give us could be the difference between us winning the war and ending the tyranny Laird Knox has had for decades, and him slaughtering us all.”
She wanted to ask her father why he was so ready and willing to give his only daughter over to the man who was responsible for the murder of so many people. She wanted to question why she was being sent there alone, to try to survive a so-called tyrant in the hopes of mounting a good enough attack against the Knox clan. But she knew her questions would only incite anger from her father, so she said nothing.
“As soon as ye arrive at the Knox estate, ye will write me. Include as many details as ye can manage. I want to ken Laird Knox’s every move, do ye understand?”
“I understand, Father.”
It was only after she had assured him of her understanding that he let go of the grip he had on her arm. She could almost bet that she would find impressions of his fingers on her pale skin later, but that was the least of her worries.
Without another word, she slipped out of the study, relishing the solitude and silence the hallway provided her. It was the middle of the afternoon when the men were all out training and the women were cooking dinner or preparing the castle for the evening meal. She could walk freely, without worrying about what someone might say to her or think about the look on her face as she trudged back to her room.
