Darach nodded. “Aye. Ye dae, my lady.”
She narrowed her eyes and furrowed her brow. “Perhaps ye would like me tae entertain ye and yer men at court? It should be a befitting way tae spend time in yer keep, wouldnae it?”
The thought of her dancing around in a fool's costume trying to entertain the men in the great hall made him cackle. “Pardon me, my lady, but ye dinnae seem exactly the type tae play fool at courts.”
“So ye’d rather I be useless. I ken…”
“I’d rather ye be a guest.” Her eyes widened with surprise, and Darach took that chance to keep talking. “A guest, aye, nae a prisoner. The grounds are open for ye tae visit, my table free for ye tae join. Ye are in nae danger here.”
She shook her head. “If only I could believe that.”
“I am giving ye my word.”
“Yer word? ‘Tis nae enough. I wish it were, Laird Robertson.”
Her voice was soft and broken, and it unsettled him. He could not comprehend what she meant, and frustration tore at his nerves because of the mistrust he could see in her eyes.
“My word is enough in these walls,” he answered curtly. “And if ye ask around, they’ll tell ye I honor my word. Nae harm will come tae ye while ye’re within my keep. Over me dead body will anyone hurt ye.”
Her eyes flashed, but her expression was unreadable. He didn’t know her language. For some reason, he wanted to know this woman and understand her. There was a voice in him that warned him that he’d lose part of himself in the process, but he was ready to take that risk.
“Ye dinnae understand my predicament, my laird. Yer words carry nae weight against fate,” she whispered.
Darach considered her words, his gaze fixed on her, but he still couldn’t understand them. “Ye will be safe at all times. I’ll find ye a guard, perhaps—”
“It wouldnae matter,” she sighed. “I would be safer riding out alone in the wild than with ten guards standing outside my chamber inyerkeep.”
Darach’s eyes narrowed. “I dinnae understand. Tell me, lass. Tell me why ye are so frightful of being behind these walls. I’ve promised ye I’d protect ye and I will, but I cannae do it well unless I have all the facts.”
She was already shaking her head before Darach finished his statement. “I cannae tell ye.”
Good Laird,Darach cursed, rubbing his hand over his face. She was going to get stubborn again and refuse to obey his command. Instead of openly defying him as she’d done yesterday, she stood mute, hands folded in front of her.
“Ye realize I’ll find out soon enough. It would be better for ye if ye simply told me what I want tae ken now. I dinnae like tae be kept waiting. I’m nae a patient man, particularly when those under my command defy me.”
“I am nae under yer command,” she spat.
Darach felt a frustrating urge to throttle her. Her desire to see him infuriated had clearly not worn out. He wondered what could definitively quell that desire, because nothing seemed to work, no matter how patient he tried to be with her.
He swallowed the anger climbing up his throat, and in a clipped tone, he addressed her. “The moment ye stepped ontae my land, ye came under my command. I promise tae put ye solidly under my care and protection, and yewillobey me.”
She raised her chin, staring directly at him with those piercing eyes of hers. “So much for me nae being a prisoner. Ye can’t make me tell ye anything. Beat me if ye must, but I will nae tell ye what I am nae ready tae.”
Outrage boiled in Darach’s blood, and his mouth gaped open. “Ye think I’d beat ye? Do ye think me the same manner of a man as yer faither?”
Darach regretted his words the moment he uttered them. He’d struck a nerve, he could see it in her face. Her eyes welled up with tears, and a single one rolled down her cheek.
Darach's heart was pounding in his chest. He was aware that he had hurt her with his words, which meant he was no different than the beast she had imagined him to be. Her tears tore at his heart, and he turned away, his hand sinking into his hair in despair. When he turned around, his eyes were blazing.
“Pardon me, my lady. I did nae intend any insult.”
“Aye, my laird.”
He advanced on her, closing the distance between them. She took a rapid step back, but he was there, looming over her, bristling with anger at himself.
“I try to be a braw man, even if ye dinnae believe it. I want ye tae never make the mistake of thinking I would hurt ye out of pleasure.” He raised his hand and brushed back a strand of her hair that reached down her cheek and wiped away the mark of her tear. “Nae one will hurt ye here. I swear tae ye with all I am. Ye will trust me.”
“Ye can’t compel someone tae trust ye. That’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard.”