Page 86 of The Highlander's Auctioned Bride
“Have ye heard from yer niece, Marcus,” he asked, deliberately doing it in front of the council, hoping that by keeping her in their thoughts, she would one day be able to return.
Marcus smiled at him gratefully. “She is doing well, m’laird, the convent is beautiful, and she has found her place there in the solitude to reflect on the past few months. Mrs. Guthrie will visit her soon, and I will tell ye how she does. In her last letter, she sounded peaceful.”
“I am glad,” James said softly, not going so far as to wish her well but showing the council there was no animosity between them.
Without Maisie, I would never have found it in me heart to forgive the lass.
“Is there anythin’ else for us to discuss? Because I have to meet with me man-at-arms.”
Harris raised his eyebrows, but James gave nothing away as the council shook their heads and slowly shuffled out.
“Ye wish to meet with me, m’laird?”
“Aye, come with me,” he ordered, and Harris pushed from the wall, looking worried now, as he followed him through the passageways of the castle and up to Maisie’s room.
Harris looked even more confused when James knocked, and there was a hurried scuffling from inside. James just hoped Maisie had gone through with her plan; otherwise, he would look extremely foolish.
“Come in!” he heard from inside, and he pushed the door open but did not yet enter.
“Me laird?” Harris asked, looking bewildered.
“Her Ladyship has asked for an audience, dinnae keep her waitin’,” he said with a smile, and then when Harris continued to hesitate, he pushed him forcefully through the door, following as he hid his grin.
Maisie was nervous, but she was determined to see this through. She held one hand on her swollen belly as the baby kicked, perhaps feeling his mother’s excitement. She smiled at the feeling.
She watched James enter after Harris, his dark eyes finding hers and running down over her figure, with a look so potent shefelt her heart beat violently in her chest. It had been almostfivehours since she had last kissed him, that was entirely too long.
“Hello, Harris,” she said seriously, and Harris glanced back at James with a look of fear.
“Is all well, m’lady?”
“Certainly not,” she replied, adding a touch of anger to her voice, and Harris shifted his weight.
“However I have offended ye I deeply apologize, m’lady, but I am at a loss as to what I have done,” Harris said with concern.
“Ye shouldnae be apologizin’ to me.”
“I shouldnae, m’lady?”
“Nae.”
“Maisie, dinnae be cruel to the poor man.”
Harris looked back at James and held out his hands warily.
“What has happened?”
“I want ye to answer a question for me, Harris,” Maisie said sternly, “and I want it to be the truth.”
Harris scratched at his magnificent beard and nodded.
“Dae ye have feelings for Jean?”
He froze. His mouth opening and closing helplessly as he searched for words.
“The answer is ‘yes’, Harris,” James said helpfully from behind him.
Harris stuttered and then nodded, clearly unable to speak.
