Page 23 of The Laird's Dark Obsession

Edine brushed hair out of Kira’s face as a sad smile appeared on her lips. “And I ken safety is nae much to ask for, but it’s a start. He once cared for ye deeply, Kira, maybe in time he will again.”

She wanted to call Edine naive and too young to understand, but she knew better. Edine knew Hunter better than anyone, and if she had hope for Kira’s future, maybe Kira could too.

Resting her head back on Edine’s shoulder, she asked quietly, “Would it be alright with ye if we stayed like this for a while?”

“Of course,” Edine replied.

And so they did. With Kira leaned against her future sister-in-law, Kira continued to cry quietly and wiped the tears away with Edine’s handkerchief. The lady was young, but she had wisdom to her. Perhaps there was a lone ember of hope to be had between Kira and Hunter, at least enough for the rest of her life not to be spent in total misery. But that hope was for another day. For the time being, she let herself cry and didn’t feel weak for it.

Kira was going to be strong for herself and try with all her might to be stronger than her enemies—even if that enemy was Hunter Galbraith.

10

Within the first hour of waking, Kira was greeted by a stern-faced maid who wouldn’t look her in the eye and instead stared right past her. “Come with me,” the maid ordered.

Without hesitation, Kira did so. The maid guided her down the corridor and into another bedchamber—one that was spacious with elegant decor and furnishings. Oil paintings of meadows and the seaside, a massive hearth, more candleholders than she could count, a lush green rug with fine yellow flowers woven into the pattern, a proper seating area, a wash basin… On and on the amenities went.

“This will be yer new chamber,” the maid said curtly. “Ye are still nae to leave its walls without the Laird’s express permission.”

“My new chamber?” Kira breathed, completely shocked.

The maid didn’t respond and instead shouted toward the door. In walked four maids, two of whom began undressing Kira immediately while the other two finished prepping the wash basin. It was a dizzying moment for her, having gone from days in near isolation to suddenly being in such a grand room with so many maids assisting with something as simple as a bath.

Kira didn’t say anything, as their cold glares and tense silence told her that protesting wouldn’t get her anywhere. So, she let them strip her naked and placed in the bath. They even washed her hair and scrubbed her skin. She wished she could have enjoyed it, considering her only other bath at the Keep thus far had been rushed and wasn’t nearly as warm as that one nor had it had the addition of perfume oils. But she couldn’t. Not with so many hateful eyes on her and their not-so-gentle touch all over her body.

Once she was out of the tub, they dried her completely. At some point, two maids had left and the other two remained with the older one who had fetched Kira from the other bedchamber. They dressed her in a dark navy gown with a Galbraith tartan bodice and a pair of matching shoes. Her hair was kept down other than four narrow braids that were draped elegantly around to the back of her head where they were pinned in place.

She almost didn’t recognize herself in the mirror she was sitting in front of as a small bit of color was applied to her cheeks. Kira hadn’t felt at all composed or herself in quite some time, even before her arrival at Galbraith; but there, she had been reduced to something far lesser than the stranger that usually stared back at her in the reflection. The version of herself she was looking at almost looked familiar. Like someone she knew long, long ago.

“That will do,” the older maid stated. “Ye are to join the Laird and Young Lady for breakfast in the dining hall.”

Kira’s eyes brightened and she did her best to dampen her excitement in the presence of staff that clearly hated her. Whileshe wasn’t exactly thrilled about the idea of dining with Hunter, at least Edine would be there. And it was out of this room that she was certain she would be spending most of her time in for the coming days, weeks,years…

Getting to her feet, Kira hurried out of the room and found her own way to the dining hall, though guards walked only a few paces behind her. As if she would just bolt toward the nearest exit. Her sheer existence there was a thorn in Hunter’s side, she couldn’t imagine the wrath that would befall her if she was caught in another escape attempt.

Stepping into the dining hall, Kira was bombarded with flashes of the past where their families had dined together with glee. Most chairs were empty, however, and there only sat a bright-faced Edine in one of them. Kira paced over and took the seat directly across from her.

“Ye look wonderful,” Edine praised. “I do hope that ye like yer new bedchamber. I heard about it all from my handmaid.”

“Word travels as quick as ever,” Kira said dryly, smoothing her skirt under the table. “And the chamber is splendid. Much better than I deserve.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” a gruff voice sounded from the entrance.

Of course, it was Hunter. He strode inside, his eyes cold and uninterested as he passed the two women and found his place at the head of the table.

Annoyance ripped through her. “If ye dinnae wish for my bedchamber to change, why did ye have me moved?” Kira snapped.

He looked up, dangerous intrigue gleaming in his eyes before he looked away to order the meal to be served. When he glanced back to her, his face was void of any emotion.

“I cannae have my bride staying in a cramped room without servants. It is nae good for appearances.”

Kira couldn’t hold in the snort that erupted from her. “Appearances? That’s a joke.”

She didn’t have to explain it, as it really was laughable. At best, Kira could be described as a war bride—a war bride he didn’t want but was simply stuck with. One he hated. One, she was certain at that moment he would rather see dead.

“And dinnae call me yer bride. I have nae agreed to it.”

“I will nae repeat it again, Kira,” he said lowly. “There’s nothing for ye to agree to. Ye’ve never had a choice since yer first breath.”