Page 49 of Never Fall for a Highlander

He thought back to the last time they were together before the guard broke them up with the request for him to see the council.Yes, she was not the sort of lass who would allow what she did unless her feelings were strong.

“Aye.”

“And ye?”

Robin took a moment to examine his feelings and knew the answer.“Aye.”

Craig slapped him on his thigh.“Better get to it, laird.”With those words he stood, picked up the empty water jug and left the room.

Craig was correct.He had to get this over with.He laid back on the bed and stared at the canopy.A lifetime of living with a woman he didn’t love and probably never would.

And Helena?She was a bonnie lass.She would find someone, maybe one of the Sutherland warriors, get married, have bairns and remember him as the man who broke her heart.

The thought of another man putting his hands on her, enjoying the feel of her silky skin, doing things to her that only Robin should be able to do overwhelmed him with a combination of anger and heartache.

After giving himself time to clean out his mouth and wash up, he dressed in a clean leine and trews and headed downstairs.

Time and the jug of water had restored him a bit, so he went directly to the kitchen.He could tell by the activity that they were preparing the evening meal.Rather than disturb them, he sliced a piece of bread from a loaf right out of the oven.

He piled on some cheese and cold meat and poured himself an ale.After eating he wandered to the great hall.He didn’t see Helena anywhere in the hall, so he went to the garden where she grew the herbs.

Not there, either.

While he wandered the brooch asking maids and other servants if they’d seen Helena, he’d gotten nowhere.After searching for over an hour, he started to grow concerned.

Just as he was heading up the stairs to Blair’s room to see if Helena was there with her sister fussing with the bairn, a lad walked up to him.“My laird, the council asks that you meet them in your solar.

Annoyed that he had to deal with whatever they wanted now when he was still searching for Helena, he took the stairs two at a time to the next level and strode down the corridor to his solar.

He sat at his desk, tapping his fingers as he waited for the men to arrive.Had it not been for the fact that Lenora was planning on throwing herself off a bridge—and he had no reason to believe she wouldn’t do it—he would have torn up the betrothal agreement and tossed it in The Gunn’s face.Since Mackay was a much bigger and stronger clan than Gunn, he had no concern about the laird declaring him their enemy if he refused to sign.

He did get a bit of enjoyment after signing the parchment by standing and ignoring the man’s outstretched hand to seal the agreement.Then he gave his future brother-in-law a fist to the chin that had the man landing on his arse, surprise written all over his face.

The door opened and the three council members filed in, looking quite pleased with themselves.Robin bit down so hard on his teeth he thought he heard one crack.

One thing was certain after this disaster.The council with all their demands would take second place to his decisions.They’d been helpful when he was new to the role of laird, but he needed to take control.After four years of hearing how his da wouldn’t have done it this way and that way, he was finished.

He waved to the men and they took a seat.“Why is it necessary to meet with me now?”

Johen spoke first.“We need to make wedding plans.We only have two weeks.”

Robin scowled, not wishing to be reminded of this and anxious to speak to Helena before she heard about the betrothal from someone else.“Ye sound like an old woman.What wedding plans?The Gunn will take care of all that and I assume his sister would help in the planning.”

“We also want to congratulate ye for standing up to yer duty and responsibility to yer clan.We’re sure ye and Lady Lenora will have a happy and successful marriage with many bairns,” Duncan said with a bright smile that Robin wanted to punch off his face.

“Is that all ye called this meeting for?I am in the process of trying to find Miss Ross since I have been unable to do that since I arrived back from Clyth Castle.”

Malcom and Duncan looked at each other and frowned.

Robin sighed.“If ye have something else to say, please do.I doona have time for this.”

Johen stared at Robin.“Miss Ross is no longer here.She left for Dornoch this morning.”

Chapter twenty-one

“I will no’ cry.I will no’ cry.I will no’ cry.”The words chanted in Helena’s head in rhythm with the horse’s hooves.

There was no reason to chastise herself since she’d already cried enough to fill the great hall.And for no reason.She’d known for weeks that anything between Laird Robin Mackay and Miss Helena Ross, orphan of a blacksmith, was impossible.