Page 19 of A Flawed Scotsman

“I suppose ye will find out when they return with her.” Keithen waited until she sat down on a bench where she could see the courtyard and out toward the fields, past the gate. “If there is nothing else ye require, I will return and check on ye later.”

As he walked off, Esme pressed her lips together and scanned the courtyard. Her father stood behind a table that had been set up on the far side of the courtyard. Next to him sat a scribe with an open ledger and quill.

People milled about, waiting for their turn to speak to him. Most huddled in groups, watching those who approached or holding private conversations.

A couple was brought up to the front. The woman began talking loudly, gesturing with both arms, while the man looked up at the sky as if he were bored. Moments later, the man was taken to the center of the courtyard. He was bound to a pole by guardsmen. The woman walked up and kicked him in the lower leg.

“That is what ye get for beating me, ye brute.” She stormed off with a young child running after her.

The man hung his head, accepting his fate. No doubt, he’d remain tied to the pole for three or four days. A light punishment, Esme considered. No man should beat the mother of his children.

She admired her father for the way he handled situations. Although she couldn’t hear what was said, most seemed to bring their grievances and were promptly sent off with whatever solution was given.

“It is nice to see ye out.” The deep voice caught her unaware. She’d been so focused on what her father was doing that Esme did not notice Ruari had neared.

She cleared her suddenly dry throat and her breath caught. It was embarrassing to have such a reaction to him.

“Yes…well…” Esme tried to come up with a suitable reply but failed. Annoying as her lack of speech was, it was nice when he lowered to sit next to her.

“I hear yer mother has banished all from the keep,” he went on to say, not seeming to notice her lack of words.

“Does yer mother do the same?”

“I rarely see her, so I do not know.”

It occurred to Esme that she knew very little about the man she might marry. “Do she and ye not live at Ross Keep?”

He looked away for a moment, seeming to mull over what to say. “Only I do. When my da disappeared, I was very young. Mother could not get over it. At the time, we lived at Dun Airgid, Ross Keep, with our clan. But soon thereafter, she left. It was decided best that I remain there, with my aunt and uncle.”

“Did ye ever find out what happened to yer father?”

Ruari shook his head. “No. I barely remember him, but I am told I look a lot like him.”

Her chest tightened. It was sad to hear of a young boy losing both parents. “Did ye have a good life then with yer aunt and uncle?”

His lips curved. “Very much so. I was raised as if I were one of four brothers. I was treated the same. For that, I am thankful.”

She knew that his uncle, Laird of Clan Ross, had recently been killed, but she refrained from mentioning it. “What do ye think will happen?”

At the abrupt change of subject, his hazel gaze snapped to her. “In regards to yer clan?”

“Yes…no. Between us. Has father agreed to our marriage?”

“He has.” Ruari studied her face for a reaction. Esme couldn’t figure out how, exactly, she felt. On one hand, he was attractive and seemed a fair man. On the other, she was to marry a complete and total stranger and, in all probability, be taken to live far away from her family and friends.

“When will it happen?”

His gaze softened. “The details have not been discussed. I imagine he wishes to wait until ye recover.”

At his regard, her breathing quickened. “Do ye wish to marry me?”

“It is a duty to my laird and clan that I accept without hesitation. My cousin left the decision to me. I could have said no.”

What kind of a reply was that? The reply made little sense to her. She wanted to know if he found her attractive, did this “duty” mean that, to him, it was more of a chore?

Of course, she could not ask without seeming like a whimpering simpleton. Esme looked toward the gates. If only Catriona was there, she’d know exactly how to word the question without sounding like a ninny.

“So ye chose to do as asked, or did ye choose to marry because it would benefit ye in some way?”