Page 25 of A Virgin for the Stone Highlander
The elder hesitated only briefly. “MacFaris grows wealthier by the season.”
So it is truly about greed.
Another councilman leaned forward. “Had ye accepted his daughter, the matter would have already been settled.”
Aaron laughed under his breath, the sound devoid of humor.
“Settled?” he repeated. “Ye think giving MacFaris influence over Hallow would settle anything?”
“He commands trade routes we cannae ignore,” the man argued.
“And he squeezes half the Highlands dry while doing it,” Aaron snapped.
The room fell silent again, but only for a moment.
“Me marriage isnae a bargain to strengthen another man’s grip over this clan,” Aaron said firmly. “And I willnae discuss the matter further.”
The eldest councilman exhaled heavily. “With respect, me Laird, we fear what people will say.”
Aaron’s brows lowered. “What will they say?”
“A lowborn bride invites gossip,” another admitted reluctantly. “Questions. Doubts.”
Aaron stared at him for a long moment. Then he spoke quietly, “Edith has lived in this castle longer than some of ye.”
No one interrupted him this time.
“She kens the castle. She kens our people. And from what I witnessed during supper, she handled herself with more composure than half the lasses ye once suggested to me.”
He felt it immediately. The slight shift in the air. The exchanged glances. The way one elder’s brows lifted faintly.
Hell. He had defended her too fiercely.
He straightened at once, his expression hardening again.
“The matter is already decided,” he said sharply. “Ye may disagree with it privately if ye wish. But publicly, ye will respect me future wife.”
He had made his stance clear enough. There was no room for further debate.
The eldest councilman rose slowly to his feet, his sour expression somehow managing to show through his full beard. “As ye command, me Laird,” he said quietly. “We shall leave now.”
He walked out of the study, and the others followed him one by one, though the tension in the room lingered long after they left.
Aaron glanced at Caelan and let out a loud groan, pressing his palms flat against the desk.
The war was not over yet. The discussion was done, but he still needed to earn his council’s trust. And he needed to do it before MacFaris swayed them completely.
His thoughts drifted to Edith. He wanted to see her again, against his better judgment.His jaw tightened as an image of her stubborn face flashed through his mind.
Aye, we shall have our first outing today.
CHAPTER NINE
Asharp knock rattled Edith’s door, and she bolted upright in bed.
It was the early hours of the morning, too early for anyone to be knocking so loudly.
Unless the castle is being invaded.
