Though it was a bit ironic, coming from this bastard.
“I hope that we willnae have any more problems, then? Clear the air between us and all of that?”
Kaden’s eyebrow arched, because he had absolutely no intention of agreeing to anything of the sort. But, apparently, letting this man sit across from him signaled to the rest of the pub that he was open to conversation.
Another patron, clearly deep in his cups, turned around on the wooden bench he was seated on, smirking at both of them. “Are ye betrothed to Emily Reid already?”
Kaden didn’t care for the way the fool slurred Emily’s name. Her name ought not to slip past his lips in the first place, least of all with a hint of derision.
On a good day, Kaden’s grip on his temper was a thin thread. Since he had been drinking, there was almost no tether at all. The strings were as fragile and precarious as a spider’s web.
“I am,” he answered gruffly.
At least the fool, whose name Kaden didn’t know, had the sense to hesitate at his tone before continuing.
“Well, good luck with her. I’ve heard that she’s a feisty wee thing!” He snorted a wet laugh. “Has met with plenty of men, too!”
He laughed again, slapping the chest of the man beside him, hoping to coax him into laughing with him, as if Emily was the butt of a joke they were sharing.
The bench that Kaden was seated on nearly toppled over backward as he stood, his large frame closing the distance between him and the drunken man easily. He grabbed him by the collar, lifting him onto his wobbly legs. All hints of amusement left the man’s face instantly, and he paled.
“Are ye truly insulting me future bride, to me face?” Kaden hissed, the words forced through his teeth. “Is that the respect the wife of yer Laird deserves?”
Foolishly, the man let out a nervous laugh. “She’s been betrothed far too many times to deserve respect. She doesnae deserve to be the wife of a laird.”
There was something sinister under his tone. He was afraid of Kaden; that much was clear. But either he was stupid or overly prideful, for he didn’t take back his disparaging words.
The fragile hold on his temper was gone. Kaden’s grip tightened. He shouldn’t go about attacking his clansmen, no matter how stupid they were.
He sneered at the man. “I’ll warn ye one last time to watch yer tongue, or I’ll have it removed.”
Something flashed across the fool’s face, but he didn’t say anything. The first wise thing that he had done.
Kaden dropped him, and the man’s unsteady legs didn’t catch him properly. He wobbled and then stumbled. His hip knocked into the wooden table before he half fell back down onto the bench, and he had to catch himself awkwardly.
“Graham!” one of the men who had been sitting with him exclaimed, reaching out to help steady him. “Are ye all right?”
Graham looked back up at Kaden once more with hatred in his eyes.
Kaden knew that he needed to walk away. All it was going to take was one more disparaging word against him or Emily, and he was going to find himself in a brawl in the middle of the damned pub.
That wouldn’t suit anyone here.
With a huff, Kaden turned around, finished his whiskey, and left the pub.
16
Sleep wouldn’t come. No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t settle.
Emily kept tossing and turning in her bed. To and fro as she tried to squeeze her eyes shut in the hope that it would make her fall asleep. There were only glimpses of moonlight filtering in through the parted drapes, showing the dust motes in the air that she was tempted to count to distract herself.
Anything would be better than the uneasy, anxious feeling that kept surging inside her.
Inside her was a swirling tempest of emotions: anger, frustration, anticipation, lust, disappointment, and worry. Each one was taking turns as the most dominant emotion, and she was dizzy from it.
This wasn’t the sort of restlessness that warm milk or tea could fix.
With a huff, Emily slammed her hands down on the bed on either side of her.