Page 10 of A Laird and a Fugitive

Chapter 4

Caroline wasn’t sure how long she remained in the room. Her head was spinning and for a moment she wondered if this was real, or if she was lost in some kind of nightmare. Laird Knox was terrifying. Was her fate to be married to a man she did not love? It seemed as though she was either destined to be with her uncle or Knox, with no chance of anything in between.

Eventually, she staggered out of the room and was faced with a guard. He had a mean look on his face and escorted her back to her room. Nessa and Tara were already waiting for her. They rushed up to her and drew her to the bed, noticing how weak she looked. Twilight filtered in through the window, filling the room with pale light.

“They forced us tae leave as soon as ye left the room. They dinnae even allow us tae bring our plates with us! What did he want tae talk with ye about?” Nessa asked.

Caroline took a moment to compose herself. “He wants tae marry me. He said that he will offer us protection in return for my hand.”

Nessa and Tara both gasped. “What? But he hates our clan. Why would he want ye tae be his wife?”

“I dinnae know. But it was a serious offer. And I hae until dawn tae decide.”

“What are ye gaeing tae dae?” Tara asked.

“I dinnae know,” Caroline repeated. It felt as though these words were becoming a mantra for her. “Can I trust him? What is he gaeing tae want from me?”

“Ye cannae accept. He will nae want anything good. If ye accept this offer, then ye will be married tae a brute for the rest of yer life. Ye will be condemning yerself! Ye cannae dae this, Caroline,” Nessa said in a desperate voice.

She already knew that Caroline was willing to sacrifice herself. This was just an alternative to death. Caroline placed her hands in her lap and spoke in a low tone.

“Perhaps that is a worthy trade if it means ye are safe. If I speak tae him again I can guarantee yer survival, and as his wife I may even command some influence among the guards and the Keep,” Caroline replied, trying to justify the choice to herself.

Nessa looked at her as though she were crazy.

“Ye will command nae authority here! Did ye hear him say that this place could be like a prison? Ye will still be locked in this Keep, but it will be by wedding vows rather than chains. Dae ye think he will keep any promises he makes? Ye took us away from home tae avoid being married tae a tyrant. Why are ye nae sae willing tae make a deal with one?” Nessa’s words hurtled through the air like arrows.

Caroline’s head twisted up.

“Because I dinnae know what else tae dae! I need tae keep ye safe. That is the only thing that matters tae me and if this is the only way, then sae be it. I will marry him, as long as ye two are given the opportunity tae leave.”

“We cannae leave ye,” Tara said weakly.

“Ye said that whatever fate awaits us, we meet taegether,” Nessa added, her face set with determination.

“I lied,” Caroline admitted. “I will nae allow ye tae suffer when I can prevent it.”

“And why dae ye get tae make that decision, but we are nae given the same luxury?”

“Because I am the eldest. Da and Ma are dead. I am the head of this family now, and I hae tae make the hard decisions. Even if I am condemned tae marriage here, I will nae be in misery because I know that ye will be out there somewhere, living free lives and unburdened by yer past. I can hae it written intae the vows sae that it will be a legal matter and he cannae gae against it.”

“He is the Laird! He can gae against anything he wants,” Nessa protested.

“Where are we supposed tae gae? Uncle will still be looking for us,” Tara said, nipping her lower lip.

“Ye can cut yer hair and change its color. Change yer appearance. Take different names. Find passage tae the other side of the country, or even down intae England. He is nae gaeing tae chase ye all yer lives,” Caroline replied strenuously.

“But I dinnae want tae change,” Tara lamented.

“Caroline, ye must see that this is madness. Ye saw the way he is! Last night I thought he was gaeing tae throttle us. He threatened tae kill us, and now he wants tae marry ye. What is he gaeing tae want taemorrow? He is dangerous. Ye cannae stay here.”

“I dinnae hae a choice.” Caroline flailed her arms in frustration and rose from the bed, striding towards the window. She took a breath to gather herself and then spoke again.

“Believe me, I dinnae like this anymore than ye two, but I have tae think about what’s best for us all. If two of us hae the chance tae be happy, then the other must suffer.”

“But only if the other is ye,” Nessa spoke bitterly, folding her arms over her chest and shaking her head. Caroline offered a resigned smile and shrugged.

“It’s the way it hae tae be.”