Sacrificing his Highland Heart by Kenna Kendrick
Chapter Four
Blair
The man standing before her was beautiful. He was like a prince from a fairy tale, with eyes like the sea on the finest of days and hair appearing golden under the sun’s rays. She could barely take her eyes off him, and yet, he seemed bitter and sad. His smile didn’t reach his eyes. The way he spoke with his father was filled with anger and remorse. Blair didn’t know what dark cloud hovered over him, but she wished to be the one to take it all away, to bring a true glimmer of joy to those beautiful eyes.
“Father has decided to provide his whore with lodging at our grand estate.”
Blair frowned. Her gaze darkened, and she decided whatever lovely thoughts she had about him, she promptly took them back. His mouth hung open as if he was shocked by his own words.
“Either that, or he’s decided to take in beggars off the streets.”
Blair gasped, bringing a hand to the old wooden brooch keeping her cloak together at the nape of her neck. The lady before her smirked while Daniel’s mouth hung open. “Excuse me, sir,” Blair said while stepping forward and shoving a finger in his face. “But I am no mistress, and I am no beggar. Yer father came to—“ Her mouth clamped shut as she remembered she wasn’t supposed to mention any word of the laird’s illness to anyone in the castle.
And she was beginning to understand why.
His son was cruel and foul-mouthed, while Lady Alisa seemed judgmental. There was irritation lurking behind those eyes. Blair didn’t know if it was due to her attire or because the laird had deemed her worthy enough to take in. Only Daniel seemed kind, yet he stood, looking between them with his mouth hanging open in horror.
“Ye take that back,” said Laird MacBean. “Miss Blair has been nothing more than a kind soul.”
Aindreas chuckled, flashing a cruel smile toward her and making her want to wrap her tiny hands around his throat and throttle him. “Why should I take back what we all know to be true, Father?”
“Because it’s not, lad!” the laird shouted, making Blair flinch as it echoed throughout the hall.
Aindreas scoffed. Any beauty Blair saw within him died within those short few moments, and all she could see was a sorry excuse of a man. Perhaps, he was more like the prince from her Mamó’s story than she thought. He lacked the prince's beauty with his hateful words, yet he also seemed to lack the love and joy of family. Already, within a few short moments of her being at Castle Lachlan, Blair could see the hate and the anger between the MacBeans. She didn’t know how much longer she could withstand it.
“I beg to differ, Father.” Aindreas gestured towards her, looking her up and down. Blair’s hands clutched at her body while his gaze raked over her. Her face flushed, feeling as if he was undressing her with those cerulean eyes of his. “Well, at least I can applaud ye on yer tastes. She sure is bonnie, Father. Mother would be indeed quite jealous.”
“Yer a cruel, spiteful, empty shell of a man, now aren’t ye?” Blair said, her voice nearly a shout while she stepped towards him. “And I will not have ye talk like that to me.” She ran her hands down her dress. “So what if I may not dress like ye? So what if I may be poor? At least I learned how to treat people with the respect and kindness they deserve.” She looked him up and down. “And what of ye? With yer nice clothes and yer fancy castle. Yer nothing more than a spoiled brat tugging at yer father’s tartan.”
Aindreas closed the distance between them. “Oh really?” He tilted his head to the side. She felt a spark within her, heating her insides as he gazed down at her. The young man glared at her with both wrath and a hint of yearning. She didn’t know if it was a yearning for her or a yearning for her to be gone. “Is that what ye see me as?”
Blair’s face heated. She was too close to this man. Fear made her tremble, and her bravery dissipate. She didn’t know what she was more concerned about: what he would do or the impact his gaze had on her.
She swallowed the fear in her throat and leaned towards him. This man wasn’t going to get the best of her. It didn’t matter if he was the laird’s son. He shouldn’t treat others like they were nothing more than a rat to be squashed, even if they were below his station. “Aye, that’s what I think of ye,” she said while closing the distance between them. She tried to ignore the fact their noses were nearly touching or that he smiled quite nicely. “I am no beggar. And I am most definitely not a mistress.”
Aindreas tilted his head back, bursting into a fit of laughter that echoed through the hall. Blair looked around, feeling very conscious of their argument in front of not only the laird and his family but several servants. “I like her, Father. Yer mistress definitely is interesting.”
Blair’s hands fisted. “Why ye—“ She moved towards him, not knowing exactly what she was going to do. Interest peaked in Aindreas’s gaze. His lips parted, and she couldn’t stop herself from watching his tongue slide against his bottom lip. She raised her fists, wanting to yell at him, scream at him to stop being so cruel to her.
Before she could do anything, Daniel grabbed her and pulled her towards him. His hand rested against her clenched fist, and he patted her shoulder. She jerked towards him, feeling wound tight and on defense. What terrible place had the laird taken her to? She wanted to go home. She wanted to be somewhere people were kind. Loneliness had been better than this Hell he had taken her to. Tears prickled her eyes, and she quickly wiped them away, feeling her body relax in Daniel’s arms.
“Ignore him,” Daniel said while flashing her a sweet smile. “He is not worth yer ire.”
Aindreas groaned while massaging his temples. When he dropped his hands, he met her gaze, appearing regretful, which made her even more confused about this beautiful man. “I didn’t mean to—“
“Maybe ye should think before ye speak, Aindreas,” said Daniel with a dark scowl. “Then ye wouldn’t find yerself in so much trouble.”
Aindreas scoffed. “I do—“
“Aindreas,” Laird MacBean said while pinching the bridge of his nose, his tone nearly a shout. “I don’t want to hear another word out of ye, lad.”
“But—“
“Ye have been acting lack an immature arse since I returned. Must I have ye whipped?”
The tension in the air chilled as if frozen over, and Blair was worried about what to say or do next. “I’d like to see ye try, Father,” Aindreas spat.
Laird MacBean shook his head, shoving a finger towards the hall’s entrance. “To my study. We must have a serious discussion about yer actions.”
Aindreas laughed, and Blair grimaced, hating the mocking sound of his voice. “How did ye think I was going to take this, Father?”
“Enough!” Laird MacBean shouted. “Not in front of Blair. Not here. In my study. Now!”
Blair watched Aindreas’s hands fist. He turned one last glare upon her before turning on his heel and stalking out of the room. She watched him leave, her gaze taking in his broad shoulders and his thick arms. Her face heated furthermore, and she turned her gaze to Daniel, who was the complete opposite of Aindreas with his dark curls and his gentle gaze. She cursed herself for feeling so attracted to Aindreas, given his bad attitude.
She knew she should stay away from him at all costs.
“Alisa,” Laird MacBean said with a drawn-out sigh. “Can ye please show Blair to her rooms? And have a bath drawn for her.”
Blair stilled. Her gaze shifted to Alisa, who smiled thinly at her. She didn’t like the way the lady looked upon her with disdain in her eyes.
“Of course, my laird,” Alisa said with a graceful curtsy, dipping her head down. Blair wished she had the elegance the lady possessed, feeling as if she had two left feet when she moved compared to the woman before her.
The laird grabbed her hand, making her flinch in fear. He patted her hand tenderly, offering her an awkward smile. “I will meet with ye after I’ve dealt with my son.”
With one final nod in her direction, the laird followed after his disreputable son, leaving her with his meticulous sister-in-law. Blair waited, yet the lady didn’t move. She only stared at Blair as if assessing her next course of action. Blair shrunk under her gaze, feeling smaller and even more pathetic than before. She tugged at her hair, grimacing when she felt a leaf. It must have appeared there when they were traveling, Blair thought while pulling it out of her hair and quickly shoving it into the pocket of her cloak. She wondered briefly what the lady thought of her.
Probably not much, she surmised when Alisa finally turned from her, craning her head at her son.
“Daniel, why don’t ye see to yer duties? I’m sure Marcus is looking for ye.”
“But, Mother, I could help ye with Blair. She will probably want a tour of the castle later.”
“Nae, I think not,” said Alisa quickly. “The girl has had a long journey. She should have her rest, and ye should get to yer duties.”
Daniel nodded solemnly and turned to Blair, dipping into a low bow. “Until we meet again, Miss Blair,” he murmured, smiling at her shyly before briskly walking towards the door behind her.
Blair watched him go, wishing he would stay. The clacking of heels striking the floor came from behind, and she turned, watching Alisa leave towards the far end of the room. Blair picked up her skirts and briskly followed after Alisa as she entered the kitchens, where servants were busy chopping vegetables and cleaning dishes. She dodged several servants rushing past her, carrying platters filled with dirty plates. The girls whispered as she strode by. Several burst into a fit of giggles, making Blair feel worse. She lowered her gaze, trying to ignore their stares and trying not to think about the way she looked.
“How are we on dinner?” she heard Alisa ask while she waited patiently from behind.
“Right on time, my lady,” answered Cook after tasting her soup.
Alisa hummed and continued through the large kitchen, looking over the platters filled with cooked meats and dried cheese. She tasted each before ordering a servant to rewash a cup still dirty with tea leaves.
Blair fidgeted with her fingers, not wanting to interrupt Alisa in her duties, but at the same time wishing she could at least change her attire or have a bath drawn as the laird had promised her on their journey to the castle.
“Excuse me,” she said, her voice cracking on the words as she waited for Alisa to acknowledge her.
Alisa didn’t turn around. The lady ignored her while tasting a berry sauce for the meat. “Absolutely delicious,” she said to one servant girl.
Blair cleared her throat. “Excuse me,” she said, louder this time.
Alisa looked around as if Blair was a bee hovering around her shoulders, buzzing in her ears. She turned around, her eyes widening in mock alarm while she smiled thinly at Blair. “Yer still here?” she asked.
Blair blinked. “Aye, my-my lady.”
“I suppose I shall put ye to work.” Alisa’s bottom lip stuck out in a pout as she searched the kitchen. “Although, I fear there may be no work for ye.”
“Ye-ye-“
“Speak plainly, Child. I don’t have all day.” Alisa smiled brightly, yet her eyes were filled with contempt as she stared at Blair, making her feel even more nervous.
“Ye said ye would show me to my rooms.”
“I did?” Alisa tapped her chin. “I’m afraid, my dear, I don’t remember saying any such thing.”
Blair’s stomach twisted, and she felt uneasy as a cruel smile spread across Alisa’s face. She didn’t know who she should fear more, Aindreas or this woman? Tears prickled her eyes as Alisa leaned towards her, stroking her hair away from her face, “And I fear we don’t have any available rooms for ye.”
