Page 24 of A Highland Bride Taken
Soon, the Laird would be her husband, and the knowledge had her flushing. She wasn’t totally unaware of what happenedbetween men and women, and the thought that he might know her so intimately made her worry.
What if he wasn’t pleased with her?
A knock sounded at her door, drawing her out of her thoughts. Thankfully, she hadn’t been so lost in thought that she didn’t hear this time.
She bid entry without asking who it was, not bothering to don her gown, since it was likely a maid or her mother visiting so late. But when she saw the hulking frame of a man, she sat up, worried that she was being attacked.
The Laird warned her that she could be in danger as well if she married him, but she hadn’t expected it would happen so quickly.
“Who are ye?” she asked, drawing the bedcovers tightly around her.
“Were ye expecting someone else?” his voice asked.
The Laird had come to her chamber?
She scampered quickly to her feet as her heart rate quickened. They were alone in her chamber, and she was scarcely dressed. It was impropriety at its height, and that could have been the reason for the deep frown he sported.
“Nay, Me Laird,” she answered, remembering his question. “I thought ye were an intruder come to harm me.”
His frown softened a bit, but his expression darkened as he looked down at her garb. He cleared his throat and lifted his eyes to her face.
“Do ye still want to marry me?” he asked, surprising her.
How many times did he expect her to say it?
Her anger flared. Why was he asking her again after she had expressed her desire so strongly in front of her parents? Was he already regretting his decision?
She didn’t think she would be able to live past the embarrassment if he chose to end their engagement.
“I have said so several times, Me Laird,” she huffed, unable to hide her displeasure. “I told ye I will do anything for the boys, and marrying ye allows me to care for them as I promised I would. If ye dinnae want to marry me, I will understand, but ye must allow me to take the boys with me. I willnae stand for it if yer new bride mistreats them.”
His nostrils flared. “Nay one can hurt them while they’re here.”
“Ye willnae always be with them, Me Laird,” she pointed out. “Isnae that why ye want a governess?”
He glared hard at her. “I didnae come here for ye to question me, lass,” he spat.
“Then ye shouldnae question me, Me Laird,” she shot back with a glare of her own.
“Ye were trembling when I mentioned the marriage to yer parents,” he stated. “It only stood to reason ye may nae want the marriage anymore.”
She was surprised that he had noticed. She had been so overwhelmed with the weight of her parents’ displeasure and had struggled to explain herself when they started one of their lectures. She used to think she hid her inability to express her thoughts well, but, of course, his intelligent eyes caught everything.
“It wasnae for the reasons ye think,” she explained, mortified. “I have made up me mind—I will marry ye.”
He nodded. “I only wanted to be sure,” he told her, his eyes softening. “Ye seem to have difficulty speaking yer mind, and I am nae in the habit of making martyrs.”
Mabel scoffed, folding her arms. “I dinnae intend to be a martyr, Me Laird.” She frowned. “I willnae let meself be tortured. If I didnae want the match, I wouldnae have agreed to it.”
The Laird gave a wolfish grin in the dark that sent a thrill down her back.
“Ye speak boldly now, lass,” he said, stepping closer. “Becoming me wife becomes ye.”
He liked it when she spoke her mind?
She had been taught never to speak back to her husband and to always put his desires above hers. But the Laird didn’t seem offended by her.
Her eyes widened as she looked up at him.
