- Bruce?
Aideen's voice took me out of my daydream. She came up to me with a worried look. Alistair was right behind, followed by Adelaide and Lord Macintosh. Those were the last two people I would like to see now, but I needed to understand the situation.
- Is everything all right? Aideen asked with a worried voice.
- What happened to Annabel to go out like that? - said Alistair. - what did you do?
Damn it! I'd forgotten the audience we left behind. Now I'd have to answer questions I didn't want or wasn't ready for.
- I didn't do anything, Alistair! It was just a mistake, which I intend to resolve as soon as possible. - I said evasively. - Annabel is a little intense and takes things literally. I must have said something she interpreted quite hostilely.
Aideen sighed looking at the top of the stairs.
- Unfortunately, my sister is pretty stormy sometimes. - Aideen responded by making a face.
I smiled as I sat back and breathed a sigh of relief that she did not continue with the questions, but Alistair looked at me with a glance of doubt. He shook his head showing that he hadn't swallowed my explanation, but to my surprise, he changed the subject.
- Yeah, that's a real family thing! - said Alistair smiling at Aideen.
She elbowed him in the ribs pretending to be offensive. I was glad the two of them got along. I let out a laugh, soothing my nerves that were at the flower of the skin. I looked up the stairs again. In the last few days, Annabel and I have practically developed a connection. I could already imagine that she was lying on the bed, punching her pillows and crying copiously. I wanted to go over there, hug her and comfort Annabel. I wanted to tell her I was sorry I hurt her, but how to do it without arousing suspicion. I didn't want to make it worse and let them know she was taken by me. I had to resolve that situation as soon as possible, with or without her consent.
- I already think that was a huge rudeness! - said Adelaide in a reprehensible tone. - That wasn't, by far, a lady's behavior. Ravenna would scold you if you were here.
- Luckily, she's not here! - I shot between my teeth. - Annabel is a very well educated girl, so I realized, during the days we were stuck in that village and, despite the stormy genius she has, I could see that Annabel will be an excellent wife and the pride of any man who will marry her.
Aideen looked at me with an admired expression. She smiled and, behind her smile, I could see that there was an unknown. I just hoped she wouldn't decide to ask the question she wanted.
- Your defensive tone makes me wonder what's behind this posture. - said Adelaide in an angry voice. - If I didn't know you, I'd say you developed feelings for that little girl.
Adelaide's ironic and aggressive tone annoyed me enough to the point of being harsh on her.
- What are you guys doing in Dunhill and what's this about marriage? - I fired angrily.
Alistair looked at me with surprise, but his face showed that he was also curious.
- Well, I think we can work that out in the library. - said Alistair.
Lord Macintosh nodded and followed us to the library. Adelaide went with Aideen to another room so we could talk alone.
- Bruce, your father was a good friend of mine! - said Macintosh, beginning his speech. - He signed a treaty saying that when Adelaide was seventeen, he should marry you.
I stopped by those words. He took a document and handed it to me. Opening the document, I read it. The paper said Adelaide and I should get married as soon as she was eighteen. The agreement said that the northern part of Macintosh's land should belong immediately to Duvengar after my marriage to Adelaide. At the bottom of the page was the signature of my father and Ector Macintosh.
- This can only be a joke! - I fired. - my father never told me about that contract. I didn't even know I was engaged, let alone Adelaide's.
- It's not a joke and you really offend me by talking like this! - shot Ector. - His father was a very honorable man and assured me that his son would be too.
Those words hit me deep down. I didn't want to fail to fulfill the obligation that my father assigned to me, but I also couldn't dishonor Annabel. No matter how much she hated me, she'd do what was right.
- Ector, I respect you and I know how honored my father was. - I said firmly. - It's exactly because I've been very polite that I should refuse that deal.
Alistair looked at me incredulously.
- I'm very sorry, but I can't marry Adelaide! - I fired before I proceeded towards the door.
- That would be a disgrace to my daughter! - ...he's gone wild. - I've never been so offended in my life.
- Ector, your daughter has become a beautiful woman. She's always been cordial, friendly and loyal. - I paused, smiling as I remembered my childhood friend. - I'm sure no man would ever reject it.
- How are you doing now? - he fired.
I breathed deeply looking
