Page 11 of The Dragon Laird’s Obsession

“Of course,” she answered with a forced smile that made the sides of her heart ache. But that feeling was nothing compared to the bleak ache in her heart when Gordon signed the parchment then handed her the quill.

This was it. Her fate had been decided, and Ailis doubted there was much to be done about it.

They left for Gordon’s castle before midday, and Ailis told herself she was not looking back as they rode away.

She did it anyway. The keep stood behind them in the pale morning light, its stone walls softened by mist, its banners stirring in the wind like hands raised in farewell.

Sorcha stood upon the steps with one hand pressed to her throat, Rowan beside her, his arm firm around her waist. Callan stood a little apart, stern as ever, though his mouth had tightened in a way that made Ailis’ chest ache despite herself.

She lifted one hand to wave, and Sorcha lifted hers back.

Then the road curved, the keep slipped from view, and Ailis faced forward, her spine straight and her heart beating too hard beneath her ribs.

Daenae look frightened. Daenae give him that.

Gordon rode ahead of the carriage for most of the journey, broad-shouldered and silent upon his black stallion. He did not turn often. When he did, his gaze swept over the carriage, over the riders, over the road behind them, and then, once, over her.

Ailis caught him looking. When he turned away first, it should not have pleased her. But it did, and heat surged through her, warming parts she did not know existed.

By the time the towers of his castle rose against the gray Highland sky, the air had sharpened with the promise of rain.

The place looked nothing like the warm, busy keep she grew up in. Gordon’s castle stood hard against the hill, dark stone weathered by years of wind and war, its walls high, its windows narrow, its gatehouse stern enough to make a cheerful soul reconsider joy.

Ailis leaned closer to the carriage window.

“Good heavens,” she murmured to herself. “It does look as though nay one lives here.”

Not a single soul wandered around the grounds as they trotted past the outer yard. The portcullis lifted for them to pass through, and as they drew nearer to the keep, Ailis could hear the iron stamp of horses and the low voices of guards upon battlements.

The moment she stepped into the courtyard, a cluster of servants gathered near the entrance. A round-faced woman with silver threaded through her dark hair came forward first, smiling as she waited for Ailis to dismount her horse beside Gordon.

“Gordon,” she called out with a smile, hurrying to him with arms stretched wide for a hug. “Welcome back.”

She turned to Ailis as Gordon nodded, and her smile widened even more, making her eyes wrinkle at the corners.

“Miss Ailis, welcome. I am Marion,” she introduced, and Ailis curtsied to her before Lady Marion stepped close and kissed the air close to her cheeks softly.

“It is a pleasure to make yer acquaintance, Me Lady. I’ve heard a lot about ye,” Ailis said with a smile.

“Please… It is Marion to ye now, me dear. Ye are family, and I want ye to feel at home here now that ye have joined us. I believe that ye and I will get along just fine.”

There was much enthusiasm in Marion’s eyes as she beamed at Ailis, and the infectious lightness in her chuckle made Ailis giggle too.

“Marion is me aunt,” Gordon said beside Ailis now, and she glanced sideways at him. “She was Lady of the Keep when me uncle ruled and is me family. Ye will treat her as such.”

“Of course,” Ailis replied with a honeyed smile as her gaze landed on Gordon’s again and held on tight. She did not blink or pay attention to the flush that seemed to creep up the back of her neck as his gaze burrowed into hers.

Marion’s face brightened again, as if she did not sense the tension between them, and this time she took Ailis’s hands, making Ailis tear her gaze from Gordon’s unnerving dark eyes.

“We’ve made fires in the hall and brought fresh rushes. Supper will be ready by dusk. If there is aught ye require, ye have only to say it.”

“That is most kind,” Ailis said. “And please, if ye mean to spoil me, I shall nae stand in yer way.”

One of the maids around them laughed before clapping a hand over her mouth.

Marion’s eyes twinkled. “I shall remember that.”

Ailis felt Gordon’s gaze sharpen on her, but he did not interrupt as Marion led her into the keep fully while discussing her plans for the binding celidih in a fortnight.