Page 50 of Saved By the Cruel Highlander
There was a moment of silence before Holly said, “I dinnae think ye are a beast, Elias.”
Elias was silent. He held a bite of cheese over his mouth, hesitated, and then ate it, not replying to her comment.
Do ye nae believe me, or do ye want to be a beast because it makes it easier to hide yer pain?
After Elias ate the cheese, he changed the subject. “Ye have quite an interest in botany. I’ve seen ye spendin’ quite some time with Cassandra. I like that, as she’s always been like a sister to me. It’s important for me that the two of ye get on. Have ye always been interested in botany and healin’?”
“Nay, nae always,” Holly explained. “It’s only since—” She shut her mouth.
What was she supposed to say? The truth?
“What are ye hidin’?” Elias demanded.
“What? Nothin’,” Holly blurted.
“I can see it on yer face, Holly. Ye’re hidin’ somethin’ from me, and ye are terrified to tell me. Why are ye so interested in botany?”
“Nay reason,” Holly managed, taking a sip of her ale to calm her nerves.
“She told me some of the stuff ye’ve been askin’ about, and I didnae think anythin’ of it until now, but ye have me wonderin’. Will ye tell me?”
“There’s nothin’ to tell.” Holly could feel her voice cracking.
“Ye’ve been askin’ about poisons. Now, I dinnae think ye are the malicious type, but ye’re hidin’ something from me. Is that yer plan, Holly? Do ye mean to poison me and run away with me money?”
“Nay!” Holy gasped. “I would never do such a thing. I… well, ye ken that I was betrothed before I was betrothed to ye.”
“Aye, I remember that well, but I dinnae ken what that has to do with me. Am I goin’ to live to regret agreein’ to wed ye?”
“Nay, there’s nothin’… Just give me a second to explain.” Holly sighed through her nose and took another sip of her ale. “Before I was promised to ye, I was promised to Felix. I was never in love with him. I thought he was a good man, but he isnae. I caught him in town one day, talking to someone. That’s when I heard his true plans. I didnae lie to ye about him wantin’ to take me money. I found out he had a lover and they planned to live together.”
The words spilled out of her.
“His plan was to wed me and then poison me, but to do it slowly, so as nae to draw suspicion. Then, he would take me money and live with his lover. That’s why I wanted to ken about poison and its effects and what might cure me. It’s in case he tries to do somethin’.”
“Ye think he still wants to poison ye?” Elias asked, his face darkening.
“Nay, I dinnae think so, but I want to be safe. Now that I’m promised to ye, he willnae try anythin’. I’m sure of it.”
“So, that’s why ye wanted to wed me? I’m what? Yer armor?”
“Nay,” Holly gasped. “I mean, aye, kind of. I needed a way out because I couldnae let him ken that I kenned, or he might have done it. But if he kenned that he could never get me money, he would leave me alone. And ye need to wed anyway, so we both get somethin’ out of this—and I ken we should get wed. I like bein’ with ye, Elias. It was all for convenience at first, and many folks get married for that reason, but it’s more than that now, is it nae? I mean, we do like each other, do we nae?”
Elias’s nostrils flared as her words sank in. His face was so red that a dip in the water might not be a bad idea.
“I wanted ye to ken now,” Holly continued, “that I could have kept it from ye, and we would have still wed, but I told ye because ye deserve to ken. I only kept it from ye when I first met ye in case ye said nay to me. I couldnae take the risk. I ken that wasnae honest of me, but I was worried he would kill me. Now that he kens I’m yers, he’ll leave me be. I want to forget all about him, Elias.”
“Aye, is that so?” Elias asked.
“Aye.”
He turned to her. “Ye want to forget all about Felix Grant?”
“I already have,” Holly said. “I don’t think about him when I’m with ye.”
“Is that so?”
“Aye.” Holly looked toward the water and blushed. “When I’m with ye, ye make me think of very little except for ye.”
