A Nightmare Marriage

by Bethany Hauck

  “You’re wrong,” Fiona snapped at him. “He’s a wonderful man and a great friend.”

  “I’m surprised your Da allowed you to have a man as a friend,” he commented, “that’s not usual for a lady like yourself.”.

  “Of course he allowed me to have Brayden as a friend,” she said, “we were only five summers when we became friends. Besides, my Da trusts me, he never picked who I could or couldn’t be friends with.”

  “What could the two of you even have in common?” he asked. “It’s not like you could go to the tavern and have an ale together.”

  “Not all men sit in a tavern drinking ale and dallying with tavern wenches, Logan Stewart,” she said, not liking his attitude. This getting to know each other stroll didn’t seem to be going well for either of them. “I like going to the practice range and shooting my bow, I like riding my horse, Brayden was even teaching me how to use a dirk.”

  “A woman has no need for those skills,” he told her. “You won’t need to be practicing at Dunnottar, I’ll keep you safe, It’ll be my pleasure.”

  “Aye, I will still practice,” she said firmly to him.

  “Nay,” he said again, becoming angry with her defiance, ”I make the rules at Dunnottar, you’ll do as I say.”

  “There is nothing wrong with a woman knowing how to shoot a bow. I’ve had the need to use it once, and I’d do it again,” she told him.

  “You killed someone?” he asked.

  “Aye,” she said, stopping and looking at him.

  “Were you in danger?” he asked.

  “Jacqueline was,” she said, as she again started walking. “I’d do anything to protect my family.”

  “I’ll have to think about it, women at Dunnottar have never been taught any of those skills,” he said, thinking he was being kind. “Maybe I can take you to the archery fields every now and then; I think I’d like to see how skilled you are.”

  “Think all you want,” Fiona said. “I’ll not give up my bow or my horse. I’d even like to continue to learn how to use my dirk, if you won’t teach me I’ll find someone who will.”

  “Why do you want to argue with me?” Logan asked, surprised at how confrontational she was becoming.

  “Because you’re already ordering me around,” Fiona said, “you’re trying to change me.”

  “I’m not,” Logan answered. “I’m the Laird of Dunnottar, Fiona; I’m used to people listening to me. I’m willing to let you have your say in private, but at Dunnottar my decisions are final..”

  “Then we may have a problem,” Fiona said flippantly, “because I’ll do as I please, when I please.”

  “You’ll do as I say,” Logan said quietly, he didn’t really have an issue with her shooting her bow, it was the fact that she wasn’t listening and was picking an argument with him that was so irritating. “I won’t ask you for much, Fiona, but I will not be argued with, especially out in the open where others can see.”

  “You’ll do best to just leave me be, Logan Stewart, I already told you, I’ll do as I please,” Fiona said as they turned and walked into the garden behind the castle, out of sight of everyone.

  Logan had heard enough, he grabbed Fiona by the arm and led her over to a bench not far away, he sat down and pulled her over his knees. “I’ve had enough of your sass and telling me what you’ll do,” he said to her. “Maybe at Tarmon woman do as they please and say what they want, but that is not how things are done at Dunnottar.”

  “Let me go, Logan Stewart,” she yelled at him as she felt her skirt being raised.

  “Not until we come to an agreement,” he said to her, leaving her shift down to cover her. He brought his hand down firmly on her arse. Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack. “Do you think you can listen now?” he asked her.

  “Aye,” Fiona hissed, not liking this man more every second. “I’m listening.”

  “I’m trying to be kind and get to know you,” he began and gave her a few more swats. Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.

  “This is your idea of being kind?” she spat back angrily, still trying to get up.

  “You’ve done nothing but try to argue with me since we came out here alone.” Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.

  “You’ve done nothing but let me know how much you disapprove of me,” she said back, her anger only rising.

  “I have not,” Logan said, stopping the spanking. “How have I disapproved of you?”

  “You don’t like that Brayden was my friend, you don’t like that I can shoot a bow or want to continue learning to use my dirk,” Fiona said then tried to rise again, saying, “now let me the hell up.”

  “I will not have you using that kind of language,” he said, another round of spanks following. Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.

  “I said let me up,” she tried again, not sure why she was acting the way she was. She had grown up knowing that her Da had the final say at Tarmon, she would never question a decision he made as Laird.

  “Not yet,” Logan said, placing his hand on the middle of her back, “quit struggling and lie still.”

  “Let me up,” Fiona said again, trying to bite him in the leg,

  “You little hellion! I’ll say it again, Lady Fiona,” Logan calmly said, “let me know when you’re ready to listen.” Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.

  “I’m listening,” Fiona finally said, Logan was thankful, his hand was really beginning to sting.

  “We have no choice but to marry, so why not try to at least get along?” Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.

  “I was trying,” Fiona said, in a much nicer tone.

  “Nay, you weren’t,” Logan said, setting her up on the bench next to him. “You’re not the only one who’s being forced into this marriage or who was betrothed.”

  “You were betrothed?” she asked him.

  “I was,” he said. “But that’s over now; we have to marry, Fiona, no matter if you want to or not. I’ll try to be a good husband.”

  “What about your brother?” she asked. “He doesn’t seem too happy about this marriage. Is he going to be a problem?”

  “I’ll manage Gregor,” he told her. “If he becomes too much for you, then come to me, and I’ll take care of it.”

  “Alright,” Flora said, sighing. “I’ll try since there’s no other choice.”

  “That’s all I ask,” Logan told her. “Well marry here in the morning, and then I need to be heading back home.”

  “My maid Edith wants to come with us,” Fiona told him.

  “That’s fine,” Logan said. “It’ll be good for you to have a friendly face until you get settled in.”

  “Thank you, Logan,” Fiona said, it was the first time she noticed he really was trying to be kind.

  “Are your things packed?” Logan asked her. “I could send your trunks off tonight with a few of my men. We’d probably catch up with them close to Dunnottar.”

  “They are,” Fiona answered. “I guess we could do that.”

  “I’ll arrange it,” Logan said, helping her to her feet and leading her back to the hall. For some reason, he liked Fiona Fraser. She was spunkier than any woman he’d ever met. Maybe this marriage would work out after all.

  Chapter 4 Wedding Day Misunderstanding

  “Are you sure you want to go through with this, brother?” Gregor asked Logan the next morning. “We can always go back to Dunnottar, and you could still marry Isobel.”

  “Nay, I can’t go back and marry Isobel,” Logan calmly said to his brother. “You know that can’t happen, Gregor; I don’t want to hear you mention it again. Anyways, I talked with Lady Fiona yesterday, and everything will be fine. I actually like the lass, and I’m willing to marry her,” Logan said shrugging. “What else can be done?”

  “I just hope she doesn’t make your life hell, brother,” Gregor said.

  “Why would you even say some
thing like that, Gregor?” Logan asked, frustrated with Gregor’s attitude. “Lady Fiona and I both agreed last night to try and make this marriage work. I’m warning you now, Gregor, you’ll treat my wife accordingly, or you won’t like the consequences.”

  “Is that a threat, brother?” Gregor asked.

  “Not at all,” Logan said to him. “But I won’t have you treating her the way you did the rest of the Fraser’s when we arrived.”

  “You said nothing about Lachlan’s death,” Gregor said. “It’s like you don’t even care what they did to him.”

  “What is there to say?” Logan asked his brother. “I agree with Alastair McCabe, if it had been my wife, Lachlan’s death would have been much slower and painful.”

  “You don’t mean that,” Gregor almost shouted.

  “Aye, I do,” Logan answered calmly.

  “Did you know lady Fiona was betrothed already?” Gregor asked, changing the subject.

  “I did know,” Logan answered. “We talked about that last night. Fiona also realizes this marriage has to happen.”

  “I had a mug or two of ale last night with her ex-lover at the tavern,” Gregor said.

  “I doubt they were lovers,” Logan said, becoming more frustrated with his brother. “Quit trying to cause problems; she’s a very respectable lass.”

  “You barely know her,” Gregor said. “She didn’t sound very respectable to me.”

  “Stop, Gregor,” Logan said. “You’re making more out of whatever you heard then you should because you don’t want me to marry her. Whatever you believe you heard you misunderstood, she’s a good lass.”

  “That’s not what it sounded like to me last night,” Gregor told him. “Poor Brayden seemed pretty upset about the broken betrothal. He made it seem like much more has happened between the two of them than just a promise to marry.”

  “What do you mean?” Logan asked, feeling a stirring of anger deep in his stomach just thinking about another man touching his future bride.

  “I believe they’re set to meet today before the ceremony,” Gregor said. “At least that’s what he led me to believe.”

  “Where is this meeting supposed to take place?” Logan asked.

  “In the garden behind the castle,” Gregor answered. “They’re probably meeting now.”

  “We’ll see about that,” Logan said, storming out of the chamber he’d been given for the night and rushing down the stairs. No man better be meeting with his bride alone. He was so focused on Fiona and Brayden he didn’t see the grin on his brother’s face as he followed him down the stairs.

  **********

  “I can’t stay long,” Fiona said to Brayden as she arrived in the garden. She had received his note asking her to meet with him the evening before. They had been friends for as long as she could remember, and Fiona was thankful she was going to get a chance to tell him goodbye.

  “I know,” Brayden answered. “I just couldn’t let you leave without saying goodbye. You’ve been my best friend for so long.”

  “I’m going to miss you, Brayden,” Fiona said as she sat down on the bench next to him. “Maybe you could come visit me at Dunnottar?”

  “I doubt your new husband will allow your ex-betrothed to come visit you in your new home,” Brayden said, a small grin on his face.

  “You’re probably right,” Fiona said grinning back. “Are you very upset about our wedding being canceled?”

  “Surprisingly, nay,” he answered truthfully, they’d been friends for so long there was no reason to lie. “We both agreed to the marriage because we hadn’t found anyone else. I would have been a good husband, Fiona, but it would have always been a love of friendship and not a deep love.”

  “I feel the same way,” Fiona said. “The only regret I have is that I won’t see you and get to talk to you every day.”

  “I feel the same,” Brayden said. “I hope you find that deep love with your husband.”

  “I do too,’ she answered. “Though I’m not sure if that will ever happen. We spoke last night and didn’t seem to have very much in common.”

  “He’ll learn to love you,” Brayden assured her. “I don’t know of anyone who’s ever met you that hasn’t.”

  “Thank you, Brayden,” Fiona said.

  “For what?” he asked.

  “For being my friend all these years,” she said, fighting the urge to cry. “I need to go back in.”

  “Good luck, Lady Fiona,” Brayden said, standing and bowing low before hugging her one last time.

  “I’m going to miss you so much,” she said, hugging him back tightly.

  “Get your hands off my future wife,” they both heard Logan say.

  “We were just saying goodbye,” Fiona told him, letting go of Brayden.

  “I can see how you were saying goodbye,” Logan said, taking her by the arm and pulling her none too gently over to stand at his side.

  “Brayden has been my best friend since we were children,” Fiona tried to explain. “I couldn’t leave here without a proper goodbye.”

  “Now you’ve had it,” Logan said to them both. “He can go now, and you won’t see him again.”

  “Fiona, stop,” Brayden said to her, seeing the look on her face. He knew her well enough to know she was going to argue with this man he had just met. He didn’t want problems to occur between them because of him. “I’m going to go. Just know I wish you both a lifetime of happiness.”

  “We’ll both be happier if you stay away,” Logan said; even he knew he was being an arse.

  “Take care of her, Logan,” Brayden said, “she’s a very special lady. She deserves to be loved.” With those final words, he turned and walked away.

  “He loves you,” Logan said to her accusingly.

  “And I love him,” Fiona said, not even attempting to explain it was a love developed over years of friendship.

  “You will not see that man again,” Logan told her firmly.

  “You are a complete arse, Logan Stewart,” Fiona said to him. “I wish there was a way out of this nightmare marriage.”

  “But there isn’t, lass, so it’s a nightmare we’ll both be sharing,” Logan told her, fighting the urge to flip the lass over his knee and spank her for what she had said. “Would you like me to escort you back to your room?”

  “Nay, thank you, but I’m sure I can manage,” Fiona said, although it wasn’t sincere.

  “I’ll see you in two hours then, at the kirk,” Logan said.

  “If I’m lucky God will strike me dead before that time,” Fiona said, turning and walking away.

  Logan stared at her back as she walked away, wondering why he wanted to keep the lass with him and make sure she showed up at the kirk safe and sound.

  “I told you, Logan,” Gregor said, he had stood out of sight and watched the entire exchange. “We should just leave now; your bride is probably used merchandise anyway. Hopefully, there isn’t already a babe in her belly she’ll try to pass off as yours.”

  “Stop, Gregor,” Logan said, not liking the thoughts Gregor was putting into his head. “She’s not that kind of girl.”

  “You don’t know that for sure,” Gregor said, as they entered the castle together.

  **********

  “You may kiss your bride,” the priest said to Fiona and Logan. The couple had gone through with the marriage even though they had barely looked at each other through the whole ceremony.

  Logan couldn’t get the words his brother had spoken out of his head. What if Fiona had already given herself to this Brayden he’d caught her in the garden with? He’d already had relations with Isobel, at least that’s what she’d told him. He was glad he hadn’t repeated the act, even though Isobel had tried more than once to get him back into her bed.

  Logan leaned down and gave her a quick peck on the lips, one she didn’t return. The marriage was done.

  Isobel had felt numb as they stood in front of the priest, she had barely whispered her vows, barely able to say them
at all. She was still angry at the way Logan had treated her and Brayden. How dare he make more out of their meeting than it really was. Why couldn’t he understand they were nothing more than friends and needed to say goodbye? It made her sad that chances were, she wouldn’t be allowed to see him ever again.

  She had heard the priest’s words but was still surprised when Logan leaned forward and quickly pressed his lips to hers, sealing the marriage.

  “Will you stay for a meal?” Caiden asked, wanting to hang onto his daughter at Tarmon for just a bit longer.

  “I’m sorry, Laird Fraser,” Logan said, “we really need to be heading back home.”

  “I’ll be fine, Da,” Fiona said softly to her father, giving his arm a reassuring squeeze.

  “We’ll see you off then,” Caiden said sadly.

  Fiona walked next to Logan to where the guards of Dunnottar already had the horses saddled and ready to ride. She gave her Da, Connor and Jacqueline one last hug, before kissing each of her nieces on the cheek. “I’m going to miss these girls,” Fiona said as Annabelle and Alyssa, Connor and Jacqueline’s twins, smiled at her.

  “We can come visit in the early spring,” Logan told her, seeing how close her family was and how sad they all were to be parting. He was almost jealous seeing the tight bond the family shared. His parents had died many years before, leaving just him and Gregor. The two had never been anywhere near as close as the Fraser’s seemed to be.

  “Remember we’ll be going to Tioram for a visit about that time,” Jacqueline said. “Maybe we could come see you at Dunnottar? The two keeps aren’t that far apart.”

  “You’re welcome to visit anytime,” Logan said to all the Frasers.

  “Thank you, Logan,” Caiden said. “I’ll be arriving in about a month’s time to check on my daughter.”

  “Then we’ll see you in a month,” Logan said.

  “Where’s Edith?” Fiona asked, looking around for her friend and maid.

  “She’s in a cart already, Lady Fiona,” said Brody, as he rode his horse near them. “She said she doesn’t ride well and would prefer to travel that way.”