The Laird's Bride by Karishma R.K

Chapter 2

Lady Julia Campbell seethed, frantically pacing the length of the room. She had been struggling to find a solution for hours now. Surely she didn't have to marry.

She had lived her life upto the age of 25, rejecting all the suitors her father had paraded before her. Unfortunately his hopes had repeatedly been crushed untill he had eventually given up.
She had been looking forward to a life as a spinster.

Marriage had never held any appeal for her. She viewed it as either a business arrangement between fathers and grooms involving exchange of daughters for dowries.

There was a time she had wished for a marriage like her parents' but, not any more.
Watching her father turn into the shell of a man he once was quite honestly scared her.

However in light of her father's illness the king had claimed the castle and dealt her a fatal blow.
Marriage.

His actions had only reinforced her belief that all men were cads,ruling women,making decisions for them and needing them to warm their beds.
She felt disgusted as she remembered one of the suitors her father had brought to the castle. He had assaulted her with his blasted lips. If she hadn't had the presence of mind to kick him there below she would never have managed to get away.

She shook her head.in an attempt to clear her thoughts.
She had to calm herself down.
Reading had always had a soothing effect on her so that's exactly what she decided to do.
Soon the words blurred before her eyes and she fell into a deep slumber.