“We must appear to have a disagreement that causes a breach between us,” the king said easily.
Alex bristled because he suspected what would come next, and if he was right, everyone he held dear would soon think him a traitor. “I suppose ye wish me to nae tell a soul of the deception.”
“Ye’re correct. We kinnae chance it. Ye must appear to be a traitor to all who ken ye. The stronger their response, the more likely my nephew will be to accept ye. What say ye?”
“I’m but yer faithful servant,” Alex replied, as there was little else he could utter.
The creaking of the solar door alerted him that someone was entering. When Iain came through the door, Alex’s chest squeezed in anticipation of seeing Lena, even as he said to the king, “I’ll pardon myself so ye may talk to Lena and Iain in private.”
“Nay,” the king commanded, surprising him. “I wish ye to stay, as the matter of Lena now concerns ye, as well.”
Alex frowned. He didn’t know what the devil the king meant by that, but there was no time to ask. At that moment, Lena walked in, looking cautious and determined at the same time, a combination that would cause her problems with the king. The instinct to protect her sparked hot within him, and the truth of it hit him like a gale: he cared for her more than he’d realized—dangerously more.
Four
Lena’s cheeks heated with embarrassment when she saw Alex in the solar. She’d made a fool of herself earlier, fleeing as she had after he’d grabbed her elbow. She’d hoped that enough time would have passed before she encountered him again that he would have forgotten just how peculiarly she’d behaved. It shouldn’t matter to her what he thought, but for some reason, it did. It was irrational, of course, but when he’d revealed that he was drawn to her and then told her he’d only wanted one dance before departing, she’d allowed her mind to drift and dream while dancing with him. She’d found herself wondering what she’d do if he wished to court her. Could she allow such a thing?
It was shocking to even entertain the notion. Her thoughts had frightened her, and then he’d gripped her elbow and she’d had the irrefutable answer to her unasked question: she could not tolerate a man’s touch, not even that of a man she trusted as much as she did Alex.
Despair swirled within Lena as she entered the solar. She could think of no reason except another marriage edict from the king that would send Iain to fetch her from the wedding festivities. Moreover, her brother had been accompanied by one of the king’s guards, and the man, Darius, had stayed close to Iain’s side, making it impossible for him to tell her what was occurring. But based on his dour expression, she did not think it could be good.
Though she was embarrassed to see Alex again, his presence gave her hope that mayhap this audience with King David was not about an impending marriage. Perchance she, Alex, and her brothers were going to be punished for disobeying the king’s orders when he’d previously demanded she be returned to Findlay. Her entire body tensed at just the thought of her dead husband, and that fact quickly flooded her with anger. Even dead he had power over her. When would it end? Would it ever?
She stole a glance at Alex from under her lashes, and when her eyes met his, she inhaled a sharp breath. The intense expression on his face as his gaze locked with hers sent her pulse skittering in a way she had never experienced before.
“Lena,” King David boomed, capturing her full attention. She drew her eyes to the king as he motioned her closer. He held out his hands, palms up, expecting her to place her hands in his, and waves of apprehension roiled through her. She could not. She simply could not bring herself to do as he bid. Her gaze darted wildly around the room, noting her brother’s puzzled frown and then Alex’s look of understanding. She was too fearful to be shamed.
Alex strode to the king and whispered in his ear. David immediately lowered his hands as a pitying expression flitted across his face. Heat singed Lena’s cheeks that the king should now know of her difficulties, but then again, mayhap he’d not force her to marry now, knowing that he’d be sentencing her and her future husband to an unhappy union.
“I’m nae a cruel man, Lena,” the king said slowly.
The little bit of hope she’d held that sympathy for her may stay his plans for her disappeared. She could hear the unspokenbutin his sentence. “Of course nae, Yer Grace,” she murmured dutifully.
“I ken what ye suffered and yer plight now.”
“What plight?” Iain demanded.
“’Tis my own affair,” Lena answered, hoping it wouldn’t anger the king. But honestly, it was bad enough that Alex—and now the king—knew her fear; she did not want her brothers all knowing she could not tolerate a man’s touch, as well. They would worry, and they’d done quite enough of that.
“We shall let the lady share her secrets only with those she chooses,” the king pronounced, glancing between her and Alex with a contemplative look, as if there was more to why Alex knew of her dislike of a man’s touch besides his accidentally figuring it out. She wanted to correct any assumptions the king may have had, but she doubted it would make matters any better. “As I was saying,” King David continued, “I’m nae cruel, and I have sympathy. Because of this, I am giving ye a choice in who ye will marry, but ye must marry.”
The pronouncement left her speechless, in spite of the fact that she had suspected it would be forthcoming. She swallowed repeatedly, trying to find words, but they would not come. Instead, it felt as if a hand gripped her throat and was squeezing. Her heart raced, and sweat trickled down her back. Iain came to her side and squeezed her arm. “I vow it will all be fine.”
She could not even nod. She jerked as the king started speaking again, telling her of the Campbell’s petition to have her marry his nephew, Daro. The thought of being returned to the Campbell clan made her feel dizzy with anxiety. Then David spoke of his great respect for Iain, which she understood was the main reason the king was giving her a choice of husband at all and why he was willing to arrange such plans and then tell the Campbell laird his petition had come too late. It was her chance to save herself from going back to a clan that was twisted and cruel. She knew she should feel relief, but she only felt ill. How could she marry again? She could not. Yet, she had to.
“What say ye?” the king boomed, breaking through the panic rioting in her mind. “Which man will ye take as yer husband?”
Her throat was dry. Too dry so speak. Her breath and her words seemed to have solidified within her. She clenched her hands into fists until her nails sliced through the skin of her palms. She hissed in surprise, glancing down to see the deep, ruby marks on her pale skin. She looked up to find the king, Iain, and Alex staring at her. But it was Alex from whom she could not look away. His eyes burned with pain. She recognized it because she’d seen it in her own eyes.
The need to rescue Lena from such a choice almost drove Alex to his knees, yet he forced himself to remain silent. He could do nothing for her. She needed a husband to save her from the Campbells, and while she clearly abhorred the idea of marriage, David had presented good men.
He drank her in—wide cool-blue eyes, white-as-snow skin, a fearful expression yet proud stance and defiantly tilted chin. She did stir emotions in him, protective ones along with ones of gentleness, that no other woman had ever awakened. He felt the heat of a gaze on him, and he drew his focus away from Lena to find the king staring at him with a distinct smile of triumph.
What in God’s name…?
“I have thought of one more potential husband,” the king stated.
“Who would that be, Yer Grace?” Iain asked.
