Free Highland Love Song (DeWinter's Song 2) by Constance O'Banyon Page B
Authors: Constance O'Banyon
fall short of these attributes, my lord, then I will not admire you. But if, in your kindness, you would let us go, you will always have my regard."
He examined her closely, trying to decide if she was speaking the truth. After all, she had the contaminated blood of the Maclvors in her veins.
Arrian saw the hardness in his silver eyes and knew that her pleas had not touched his heart. "Let us not play games, my lord. She looked down at the threadbare rug. "I have little doubt you could use money. If you help me get my aunt to Edinburgh, my father will be most generous with you."
The expression on his face was unreadable. "I have no need of your father's money, my lady. And as for allowing you to go to Edinburgh, I think not."
Her eyes widened in anger. "Surely you will not deprive my aunt of the medical attention she needs so desperately."
"I have no wish to take my anger out on Lady Mary, nor of keeping her from proper treatment."
"You just said you wouldn't allow us to go to Edinburgh."
"That's not what I said." His eyes became slate-colored and hard. "I said, my lady, that I would not allow you to leave."
"You are pitiless and hateful."
His eyes rested on the ruby ring she wore—the ring that had once graced his sister's finger. "Aye, that I am. It's good you know that about me."
"Neither my aunt nor I have done anything to you. Why should you want to punish us?"
His eyes narrowed. "Indeed, my lady, your aunt is not my enemy—nor are you. You have unwittingly become a pawn in a game that will soon be played to its finish."
She felt terribly frightened and wished she had not agreed to see this man alone. "What do you want of me?"
"It's quite simple. I want you for my wife."
She stared at him as if he'd lost his mind. When she tried to speak, no sound issued from her lips.
"I see you are overwhelmed by my proposal." There was sudden amusement in his eyes. "Think how I must feel, my lady. I only met you yesterday, and today I will have no one if not you for my bride."
"You are a beast! You know I'm betrothed, and even if I weren't, you would be my last choice for a husband."
"My lady, how you do wound me."
Arrian straightened her spine, knowing that she must appear undaunted by his absurd proposal. "I find myself with a single objective, sir, and that is to get free of you."
"Perhaps you will never be free of me."
"What are you saying?"
"Shall I repeat it?"
"But I don't know you. We don't even like each other."
He laughed softly. "Does that matter, my lady?"
6
"I'll never marry you. You can't force me!" His eyes didn't waver as he stared at her.
"Can't I?"
"You must think me mad. I'll never agree to be your wife."
"Won't you?"
He was too sure of himself, and that frightened her more than his words. She had a feeling that she was living a nightmare. If she concentrated very hard, would she awaken? No, she was not asleep—it was all too real. Arrian looked into his eyes. "This is laughable, my lord. I can't think why you want me, and I certainly don't want you."
He poured a cup of tea and extended it to her. "Are you certain you wouldn't like tea, my lady?"
She shook her head. "No, thank you." She sat forward in the chair and folded her hands in her lap, hoping he wouldn't notice how they trembled. "I think we have nothing more to say to each other, my lord."
His eyes hardened. "There is much we have to say. We must settle this thing between us."
He picked up a crystal decanter and poured wine into a glass. Then he took a sip and rolled the glass between his hands while she watched, fascinated by his movements.
"Tear the cobwebs from your mind, my lady, and heed my words. You are in my home, and you cannot escape. Don't think you will be rescued, because no one knows you're here except those who are loyal to me."
She shook her head. "I will not listen to you any longer."
"You must not think only of yourself. Consider your aunt and how she will benefit by our marriage."
"Surely you
He examined her closely, trying to decide if she was speaking the truth. After all, she had the contaminated blood of the Maclvors in her veins.
Arrian saw the hardness in his silver eyes and knew that her pleas had not touched his heart. "Let us not play games, my lord. She looked down at the threadbare rug. "I have little doubt you could use money. If you help me get my aunt to Edinburgh, my father will be most generous with you."
The expression on his face was unreadable. "I have no need of your father's money, my lady. And as for allowing you to go to Edinburgh, I think not."
Her eyes widened in anger. "Surely you will not deprive my aunt of the medical attention she needs so desperately."
"I have no wish to take my anger out on Lady Mary, nor of keeping her from proper treatment."
"You just said you wouldn't allow us to go to Edinburgh."
"That's not what I said." His eyes became slate-colored and hard. "I said, my lady, that I would not allow you to leave."
"You are pitiless and hateful."
His eyes rested on the ruby ring she wore—the ring that had once graced his sister's finger. "Aye, that I am. It's good you know that about me."
"Neither my aunt nor I have done anything to you. Why should you want to punish us?"
His eyes narrowed. "Indeed, my lady, your aunt is not my enemy—nor are you. You have unwittingly become a pawn in a game that will soon be played to its finish."
She felt terribly frightened and wished she had not agreed to see this man alone. "What do you want of me?"
"It's quite simple. I want you for my wife."
She stared at him as if he'd lost his mind. When she tried to speak, no sound issued from her lips.
"I see you are overwhelmed by my proposal." There was sudden amusement in his eyes. "Think how I must feel, my lady. I only met you yesterday, and today I will have no one if not you for my bride."
"You are a beast! You know I'm betrothed, and even if I weren't, you would be my last choice for a husband."
"My lady, how you do wound me."
Arrian straightened her spine, knowing that she must appear undaunted by his absurd proposal. "I find myself with a single objective, sir, and that is to get free of you."
"Perhaps you will never be free of me."
"What are you saying?"
"Shall I repeat it?"
"But I don't know you. We don't even like each other."
He laughed softly. "Does that matter, my lady?"
6
"I'll never marry you. You can't force me!" His eyes didn't waver as he stared at her.
"Can't I?"
"You must think me mad. I'll never agree to be your wife."
"Won't you?"
He was too sure of himself, and that frightened her more than his words. She had a feeling that she was living a nightmare. If she concentrated very hard, would she awaken? No, she was not asleep—it was all too real. Arrian looked into his eyes. "This is laughable, my lord. I can't think why you want me, and I certainly don't want you."
He poured a cup of tea and extended it to her. "Are you certain you wouldn't like tea, my lady?"
She shook her head. "No, thank you." She sat forward in the chair and folded her hands in her lap, hoping he wouldn't notice how they trembled. "I think we have nothing more to say to each other, my lord."
His eyes hardened. "There is much we have to say. We must settle this thing between us."
He picked up a crystal decanter and poured wine into a glass. Then he took a sip and rolled the glass between his hands while she watched, fascinated by his movements.
"Tear the cobwebs from your mind, my lady, and heed my words. You are in my home, and you cannot escape. Don't think you will be rescued, because no one knows you're here except those who are loyal to me."
She shook her head. "I will not listen to you any longer."
"You must not think only of yourself. Consider your aunt and how she will benefit by our marriage."
"Surely you
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