Page 38 of The Highlander's Accidental Wife
She started at the barked command, realizing that she’d stopped dead as that thought had crossed her mind. Damien glared at her, and she hastened to come forward, bowing to Lady Merie and her friends, who were watching her with bewildered looks.
“Good morning,” she said as she got closer, the words seeming to stick in her throat.
She hated how formal she sounded, and then she hesitated, glancing at the table, unsure where to sit.
“Here,” Damien said and shoved out a chair next to him with his boot.
Helena bristled at the command. She met his glare with one of her own, and he gave her a sharp smile.
“Please. I am so grateful that ye couldfinallyjoin us. Did ye perhaps nae sleep well?”
“Fine,” Helena said breezily as she sat down.
Further conversation was interrupted by efficient servants. A plate was set in front of her, the food heaped upon it, and a cup of tea appeared at her elbow. Lady Merie smiled at herand introduced her companions—another lady of the clan and a cousin of hers. Their names did not stick in Helena’s head, not when she could feel Damien’s gaze scorching the side of her face.
All too soon, Lady Merie and the others left, leaving Helena and Damien alone. Sipping her tea, Helena feigned calm, but her dress felt too tight, her neck too bare, and she had no idea what to say.
Whatever ease had been between them on the road and in his study last night seemed to have vanished in the storm-washed morning. When she chanced a glance at him, Damien had on his brooding face as he gazed out the windows to his right, beyond her.
Not a direct gaze but still in his sight, and she shivered.
She also wished she’d sat on the other side so she could look outside as well, to at least have something to do. Her hand shook as she slowly set down her teacup, then picked up her fork, and hoped against hope that he did not notice.
The plate in front of her was piled high with delicious food, yet her stomach churned, and her thoughts turned wry.
What a pity to have no appetite for a fine meal like this one.
And then Damien spoke, firing a sharp question at her, ironic on the surface and barbed underneath.
“Second thoughts,Sassenach?”
CHAPTER 16
Helena’s head jerked up,and she stared at him, clutching her fork a bit like a sword. “What—whatever do you mean?”
Damien did not speak at first, and her mind began to spin. Heavens, but she was so tired. Every thought felt like sludge, and every fear felt too true. It had to be about her bloody year again. He was going to ask about that atbreakfast? This damn insatiable Scot.
Yet, underneath her caustic and rather unfair summation of Damien was a lurking desire mingled with hope—that if he kissed or touched her again, she might…
No!
She shook her head and shot him a glare.
Damien raised an eyebrow. “I mean that ‘tis a bit late for cold feet, me bride-to-be, but we havenae tied the knot yet.”
Helena stared at him, completely at a loss, and a slight furrow appeared in his brow. As though he were rowing out to join her.
“Cleaved unto one another, Lady Helena.”
Again, Helena was mystified, though that did sound familiar.
He huffed a sigh. “Wed.”
Her fork clattered to the table. “That is a poor jest, My Laird.”
He furrowed his brow now and searched her face, then clenched his jaw. “Ye were late. Even after I sent servants to fetch ye. So, ye meant to avoid me, did ye nae?” His eye glinted. “And I think I ken why.”
Dizziness washed over her, and she pressed her hands to the table. But she felt herself flush, because shehadtried to avoid him, and he’d not only caught her but also demanded satisfaction.
