Page 55 of The Highland Heir

They let go of the unhappiness and plans thatcould never come to be in exchange for kisses and promises theywouldn’t be able to keep.

An hour later, Kieran ran his hands over hishair to make sure there weren’t any stray pieces of hay from histime in the loft with Ella. He pressed his lips together to keepthe smile restrained before stepping into the great hall.

It wouldn’t do for his father to see himhappy. He would surely do his best to put an end to such a thing.No matter how it had come to be.

Kieran and Ella only had a month left beforethey would have to part for good. No more sneaking off together tofall into their desires. He thought again about his plan for themto leave their home and go away together and knew Ella had beenright. It wouldn’t work.

His father might not have wanted him to behis heir, but since he was, he would never allow him to walkaway.

If Kieran was worried his father might noticehis happiness, he quickly realized he had nothing to fear, for thelaird was in a fit of rage. The high table had been cleared of alltankards and trenchers, which lay scattered on the floor, and oneof the lower tables had been overturned.

For the slightest moment, Kieran worried thathis father had learned of what was going on between he and Ella,but he knew that information would not earn this type ofresponse.

To the laird, Ella was insignificant. His warchief’s daughter. If he learned Kieran had touched her, he wouldeasily shrug it off, as other warriors tupped the lusty maids thatmade eyes at them. He wouldn’t see it as anything of import. Kieranwould be ordered to give up such foolishness when he married.

Kieran would be expected to obey because healways obeyed.

In this, Kieran wished he could defy hisfather, but now obviously wasn’t the time. The laird wasn’tirritated at Kieran.

This was something else.

Kieran spotted the cowering messenger edgingtoward the door and noticed his MacKenzie plaid. A parchment wasclenched in his father’s fists.

Pulling the messenger aside, Kieran asked theman what it had said.

The lad clearly looked worried that Kieranmight suddenly go into a rage as well. “I’m sorry. I am only doingwhat I was sent to do.”

“What news do ye bring?”

“The laird’s daughter . . .she . . . that is . . .” the young man stammered,and Kieran wanted to shake the words from him so he would know whathad happened.

“What of my betrothed?” he asked again. Hadshe died? He didn’t wish for harm to become her, but he didn’t knowher, and if he could be spared this marriage . . .

He shook his head, ashamed of himself.

“She’s run away. Eloped. With aCampbell.”

Oh. This was even better. Not only was he tobe released from the marriage, but he would not face the guilt ofher death.

Teague stepped into the hall and looked atthe mess before walking straight to Kieran.

“What’s happened?”

“My betrothed has broken the marriagecontract. She’s eloped with a Campbell.”

“Christ,” Teague whispered. “Had it beenanyone but a Campbell, it might have been more acceptable.”

“It could have been a MacDonald.”

Both the messenger and the war chief shiveredin disgust.

“I thought the Campbell laird was recentlymarried. No son of his would be of age to marry.”

“Nay,” the messenger said. “She married thewar chief of the clan. Who is said to be a bastard.”

Teague’s brows rose. “The lass has guts.”

“The lass is going to start a war,” themessenger responded quietly while taking in the sight of the lairdthrowing a bench against the wall.