Chapter Two

Dorie blinked up at the man who would be her husband.

At her height, she was taller than many of the men in her clan. And nearly as tall as her brother. But she had to look up at Bryce MacKinlay Campbell.

Even frowning at her the way he was now, he was incredibly handsome. There were so many shades of blond in his long hair she didn’t think any two strands were the same color. Honey, wheat, gold…there was a different name for each hue. And she found she wanted to spend hours assigning each one.

His green eyes glittered even though it was clear he was unhappy. She wondered how bright they would be if he smiled or laughed. Not that he seemed the sort for such frivolous things.

Her new husband was a serious man. He’d hardly said two words as they stood in front of the priest to be married. The words he did say sounded less than happy about their arrangement.

She hadn’t expected him to want to marry her. Looking at the servants in the hall, she knew she was lacking. She didn’t even have shoes. There was no need for shoes or new dresses when she’d spent her life in one room with a few books and a lumpy bed.

She’d never cared about such things. Until now.

Swallowing, she turned toward the priest as he began the ceremony. She’d never been to a wedding before so she didn’t know what to expect. When the priest told her to repeat his words and waited expectantly for her to do so, she could only blink.

“Go ahead, lass,” her groom prompted when she remained silent.

She shook her head, hoping the gesture would explain the problem, but her brother strode forward and grabbed her by the arm.

“You’ll say the goddamn words, ye fool. Don’t play with me. I’ve no patience for it today,” Wallace snapped and gave her a hearty shake.

If she did speak, it might be to point out that her brother had no patience any day. Ever. But she didn’t have the chance for he was shaking her again.

“Stop it,” Bryce said, pulling her brother back. “What’s the matter?” he asked, his glowing green gaze on her. “Are you being forced to marry me?”

Again she shook her head; though she hadn’t a say in marrying, it wasn’t that she didn’t want to. Now that she was here before him, she felt that tingle of hope under her breastbone. How much worse could she be here where the servants were better cared for than she?

“She doesn’t speak,” Rory, her younger cousin, explained. A year younger than her, Rory was a gangly lad who had been kind to her when no one was around. When others were close by, he joined in so as not to be teased by the older men.

Bryce’s eyes went wide as the priest mumbled in dissatisfaction. “I canna perform the service if the bride doesna say her vows.”

“She can nod. Then you know she wants to do it,” Wallace suggested while leaning forward to tap her chin.

The priest shook his head. “There’s no proof she has the capacity to understand what she’s agreeing to without her speaking the vows.”

Her brother reached for her, this time smacking her in the back of the head. The force caused her to bite the tip of her tongue. Even if she’d wanted to, it would be difficult to speak now.

“Enough,” Bryce said, drawing his knife. “Touch her again, and I’ll drop you here where we eat our meals. I’d rather not have your bloody carcass sully our hall.”

Her older cousin, Desmond, and Rory were at her brother’s side in a second with their own daggers drawn.

She swallowed and opened her mouth to say something, but before she had the chance the MacKinlay laird shouted that everyone was to put their weapons away.

Her groom was the first to follow the order, slipping his knife in the sheath and putting up both hands in a non-threatening way.

The other men backed away, glaring. “You better say your vows if you know what’s good for you. If we have to take ye back with us to Baehaven, you might not make the trip,” her brother whispered before stepping away.

…

Bryce didn’t hear what the McCurdy arse said to Dorie, but her already pale skin went a shade or two lighter, and fear clouded those clear blue eyes.

He didn’t want a wife, but he couldn’t make this woman go back to her family. Not that they acted like family. These were her brother and cousins and they treated her like less than a worm. Even as mad as he was at Lach, he regarded his cousin with more respect than this.

“There must be another way,” Bryce said. He looked around at the other people and spotted Cam and Mari, recalling the way they’d been wed by accident. “We can be handfasted.”

“Handfasting still requires a verbal declaration of intent,” the unhelpful priest replied. It figured they would find the one priest in all the Highlands who was also fluent in the ways of the law.

“Do you know what a promise is, lass?”

Dorie nodded immediately, intelligence clear in her eyes.

“Can ye do this when you want to promise something?” Using his index finger, he drew a cross over his heart.

Another nod and she mimicked the motion.

“Does that make her intent clear, Father?”

The priest frowned and let out a huff before agreeing. “Aye. It will do.” He went on to murmur something about the bride having no shoes, but Bryce paid him no mind. Instead he took Dorie’s hand in his.

“Go on then with the vows,” Bryce said, wanting it to be done.

After dealing with the issue of his bride’s silence, things went rather quickly. In no time at all, the priest pronounced them wed. Bryce watched his new wife’s eyes go wide as Lach came forward with his dirk. He nicked Bryce’s skin first and then took her wrist.

When she fought, Bryce reached out to place his hand on her shoulder. She steadied when he gave her a nod.

For all she couldn’t speak, she definitely understood him. And he found he could understand her as well. Mayhap everything they needed to communicate in the short time they’d be together could be accomplished with their eyes.

When her hand was open and seeping, Bryce placed his own to hers as their hands were bound. He said the words alone as she watched. When he gave her hand a squeeze, she tightened her grip in reply.

“It’s done,” Lach said as he untied them. Bryce flexed his hand, feeling the sting from the binding ceremony.

“Nay.” Wallace stepped forward. “The MacKinlays have weaseled out of the agreement too many times for me to leave without consummation. Once you’ve marked your sheets with her blood, I’ll take what’s owed and be on my way, our agreement secured.”

Dorie’s eyes went wide at the mention of blood.

“Don’t be skittish, girl. Go do your duty.” Her brother gave her a shove as Bryce held on to her hand.

Skittish was the proper word. Bryce held on tighter to her hand in an effort to keep her from running off, but she panicked. One moment he was watching as her eyes darted in all directions, most likely looking for escape. The next, she had bitten his hand, causing him to let go.

Once released, his wife tore out of the hall toward the bailey with her brother and cousin on her trail.

“Christ almighty,” Bryce cursed, and followed behind them with blood seeping from both wounds.

Dorie hadn’t made it far before Wallace gripped her hair and tugged her back to him. A sharp slap on her cheek would have knocked her down if he weren’t still holding her up by her hair.

She whimpered as he yelled at her. “Where do you think you’re going, you stupid bitch? Get back in there and let him take you so I can be done with this place.”

The lout raised his hand to strike her again. Bryce saw her wince in anticipation of a blow that didn’t come. Bryce grabbed the man’s arm and twisted it back, ready to break it if the arse gave him a reason to.

“She’s my wife now. And I’ll thank you to not touch her again, or feel the wrath of my blade on your neck. Do ye ken?” Bryce’s words were deadly calm.

The woman hadn’t been his wife for more than ten minutes and already he was being called on to protect her.

“Aye. Just take her. I wish to leave before the stench of this place becomes permanent,” Wallace sneered.

Wanting to get the man away from her, Bryce turned to lead the oaf back inside.

“You can’t leave her. She’ll run,” her older cousin warned.

“She’ll not run. Where will she go?” Bryce held out his hands.

“She’s daft. She’ll run.”

“You’ll wait here for me?” Bryce asked her.

Dorie swallowed then nodded, swiping her finger over her heart in a promise.

“Let’s go.” Bryce gave the man a shove back inside. Once he’d secured him with the rest of his likewise oafish kin, Bryce hurried to the kitchen to gather food and drink. Swiping a plaid from the hall, he went back to the bailey to find his new wife was gone. “Blast and damn.”

…

Dorie heard the puppy before she saw him. He was a matted mess of fur whining under an empty wagon.

Moving slowly so not to frighten the animal, she reached under the wagon and scratched him on the head. A few moments later she had coaxed him out, and he crawled into her lap, licking her face and wagging his tail.

It was then she heard a man curse and turned to see her new husband was standing where he’d left her. He was looking around unhappily.

With a gasp, she ran across the courtyard to the place she’d promised to be. When she stood in front of him she cringed, bracing herself for his displeasure, but nothing happened.

The snuffling at her leg caused her to open her eyes. She attempted to wave the dog away, but he wouldn’t go. Instead he thought she was playing a game and snagged a piece of her gown, ripping it.

“It looks like you’ve made a new friend,” Bryce said drily.

He reached for the dog, and she jumped in front of the animal, pushing him away so it wouldn’t be beaten. Once again she expected a punishment, but Bryce leaned around her to get to the dog. Picking him up, he scratched the dog affectionately behind the ears.

When she summoned the courage to look at him, it was to see an amused smile on his face instead of the anger she expected.

“Aren’t you a wee rascal?” her new husband said to the dog. “You need to be cleaned up, but you have a gentle spirit. Would you like him, Dorie?” he asked.

Her eyes went wide and she nodded, though still wary it could be a trick.

Two women who had been present at the wedding came out of the castle and headed in their direction. The taller redhead was the laird’s wife. While the women were different in coloring and stature, Dorie was sure they were related. It was there in their eyes.

“Are you well, dear? Your brother is a beast,” the shorter blonde said in a cultured English accent as she rubbed her rounded belly. “Did he hurt you?”

Dorie shook her head, but it was her husband who spoke. “I stopped him before he was able to cause any damage.”

“He’s blustering about not leaving until he’s seen proof of the consummation,” Kenna said with a frown. “While I wouldn’t want ye to rush things, mayhap you can see to your duty so the bastard can leave my castle as quickly as possible.”

Dorie might have laughed for hearing the laird’s wife call her brother a bastard, but she was stuck on the first part. The consummation part, to be exact.

In truth, she didn’t know what it entailed beyond what her mother had told her when she was a child. That a man lies with a woman and she has a baby. Surely that wasn’t all there was to it.

“I planned to take her for a ride and have a bite to eat. Are you hungry?”

Dorie nodded.

“When we return, I’ll have the proof and they can be on their way.”

He reached for her, and she stepped back. He didn’t move to grab her, and after a few seconds she realized he intended to take her hand. Allowing it, she let him lead her toward the stables.

She turned to wave to the women as they went back inside. The dog followed Dorie into the dim stables. She loved the sweet smell of hay and the snuffling sounds the horses made.

“Do you ride?” he asked.

She shrugged. She’d ridden as a child, but she barely remembered that life.

He helped her onto his horse and slid up behind her, his body pressed against hers. They headed for the gate and the dog followed along. Occasionally she would twist back to check.

“He’ll not lose sight of you, lass,” Bryce assured. “He’s well smitten.”

He said nothing else as they traveled. She didn’t mind the silence. It gave her time to enjoy the beauty that was the MacKinlay lands. The leaves were still green, though she could smell a hint of autumn in the air.

She was certain the lands at Baehaven were just as lovely, but she’d rarely seen them. When they’d left to come to Dunardry for her wedding, it had been dark, so she hadn’t had the chance on her exit, either. It didn’t bother her much. Everything that had made it a home was long gone. As a child, she’d loved Baehaven Castle. But then her mother had been there to give it light and happiness. What little she’d seen of it since that time was dark and daunting.

Bryce stopped by a stream and dismounted before helping her down. The dog came over as soon as she was on her feet. Her still bare feet. Fortunately it was warm. As best she could tell, it was probably early September. Being barefoot in the cool grass by the stream was a lovely experience.

She smiled and spun in a circle while looking up at the trees above her. It felt wonderful to be free of her small, dark room. The warmth of the sunshine as they’d ridden had warmed her through.

Bryce set out a blanket and settled on the edge of it. She was quick to join him so he wouldn’t be frustrated by her delay.

“Under normal circumstances, we would get to know each other,” he said as he handed her a piece of bread and a hunk of cheese. “But I don’t see the point in it.”

She thought maybe he meant that it would be one-sided since she didn’t talk. She almost opened her mouth to ask him a question, to prompt the discussion he was so quick to brush away, but she remained silent. He seemed nice enough, but she wasn’t certain of him yet.

“The only thing ye really need to know is that I’ll not hurt you. I’ll give you a home and food. I’ll get you some bloody shoes. You’ll be provided for. As war chief, I earn decent pay. I have a cottage. It’s not overly fancy, but you’ll have what you need within reason. That’s what I can offer you.”

He opened his mouth as if to say something else but tossed in a bite of food instead.

“It’s a nice enough day,” he said, and she nodded.

“I’m not a man of many words. It’s odd having to carry on the conversation by myself. I’m happy to have others do the talking. You’re probably tired of hearing me rambling.”

She shook her head and reached out to touch him, so he’d know how much she enjoyed hearing his voice. He hissed in pain and drew his hand away. She looked down to see her teeth marks in his skin. Wincing, she tried to convey her regret and apology with her expression.

“Don’t worry, lass. I’m not angry at you for defending yourself. Only a person with no hope left allows themselves to be mistreated without fighting back.”

She was grateful he understood, but still wished she’d not lashed out and injured him. She knew him better now. Trusted him.

“Have you always been mute?”

She shook her head.

“I’ve heard of people losing their ability to speak after a tragic event. Is that what happened?”

She nodded slowly. Her words had gotten her mother killed. She’d vowed to herself never to be so reckless again. Staying silent ensured she wouldn’t say anything wrong. Not that many people had bothered to speak to her over the years…

Bryce looked out over the stream as the pup came up to be petted.

“Och. You need a bath, you wee beast.” He turned to her, still wincing. “Will ye help me clean him so he can come home with you?”

A smile pulled up on her lips. It felt strange, having not done it for so long. Maybe it would be the first of many to come.

Perhaps she could be happy here, with this man.