Page 39 of Highlander's Runaway Seductress
“I am a thief, Amelie, nothin’ but a dirty, deceitful criminal. I steal from the rich and try to live day by day. I have nothin’ to me name but a horse and a second set of clothes on me back. Why would ye want to get involved with someone like me when there are better men out there for ye?”
Stepping off the bed, Amelie went to him. “Does it nae matter to ye that I love ye?”
Her words were as effective a punch to his gut.
“Ye cannae. Amelie, see sense. Ye cannae love me—I have done nothin’ for ye to care about me much less love me! Months ago, all I wanted was to find ye and carry ye to yer father for the money. That was all I had seen ye as: a way to get money.”
“Was,” Amelie echoed. “Ye saidwasinstead of is. What changed?”
Gritting his teeth, Damien made to utter words he had never thought he would ever say, but then, decided against them. The words,I love ye toowould never leave his lips.
“Because I think ye’re too young to ken what that means,” he said unkindly. “Ye’ve never been with a man before and ye cannae fall in love with the first man ye meet. I’m a scoundrel, Amelie. Ye should have higher sights than me; and I promise ye that when yer father introduces ye to more men, I’ll only be a faint memory.”
His tone was so harsh that she stepped away from him, her gaze flitting between his eyes, searching for any crack.
Damien made sure that his expression was as hard as stone. She saw what he wanted her to see: a callous, unfeeling scoundrel that felt nothing for her.
“I cannae believe ye!” Amelie snapped. “Ye said ye wouldnae confuse me again, but ye’re doin’ it right now! If ye feel nothin’ for me just say it!”
Just the opposite—I feel too much for ye.
Instead of saying yes, or no, Damien turned to the door. “There just cannae be anythin’ between us.”
He left with his stomach feeling like a net of twisted knots, knowing that he had broken Amelie’s heart, but it was better to cut it in the bud. Hopefully, Amelie would take his intimate actions as just lustful. Love had no part in lust and if she would accept that, all would be better for them both.
He made it to the attic and plunked down on the thin mattress there, only to press the heels of his hand into his stinging eyes. If only Amelie could see that it was for the best; that she had a life ahead of her that did not include him in any way.
It pained him, like a heated halberd jabbing through his body, and then when the lance pulled away, salt and vinegar was rubbed into the wound. She would never know the depths of the emotions he had for her, and Damien was adamant on it staying that way.
15
Dolberry Castle was covered with snow but that did not stop Amelie from being overwhelmed by the majestic fortress, placed high atop a rocky ledge. The castle was two stories on the outer wings, three stories for the keep that she could see peeking over the battlements, and there were turrets on each corner of the thick walls.
There was a wide, now frozen, moat at the base of the mountain and beyond that was a heavy iron gate that appeared locked shut. A dark pathway snaked up the hillside to the other gate that guarded the castle itself.
“Oh,” Amelie looked up at the towering castle with awe and intimidation splashed across her face. “What a wonderful castle the Laird has.”
“Aye,” Damien replied, while trying his best to keep his tone neutral.
Things had become strained between them, but she realized that Damien was not going to renege on his words or actions. Amelie was beginning to resign herself that perhaps she would be better off without him. It had cut her to the core and a few places felt hollow, but if he were not willing to mend it, she could not force him.
“When I was here, the parishioners had not seen the Laird for months,” Damien added. “I hope it willnae be too hard to get an audience with him.”
Amelie sank back into the bed of the cart and turned away. Her heart was a riot of emotions, confusion was heavy because she still did not know why Damien had drawn away so quickly. She also felt fear and anxiety about facing the Laird.
“Daenae ye worry, lass,” Ben assured her while he patted her arm. “Ye’ll do fine when ye see him.”
Turning, Amelie gazed over the town around her. Far from the humble huts she had seen in the city, the houses were made of thick oak wood, and the road underneath her feet was built of cobblestones instead of dirt.
Then she looked back at the castle, “I’m nae sure if I would like to live there.”
“In the castle?” Ben’s brows raised to his thinning hairline. “Why nae? I’d imagine it is the best place for ye. Ye’d have maids at yer beck and call, the finest foods, and dresses of the best cloth. Why nae?”
“That is nae the most important thing. I will look out of place there. I wouldnae ken what to do with servants because I take care of meself.” Crossing her hands over her chest, Amelie’s tone dipped.
The horse started off, and they moved off to a lane that headed toward the castle.
“I think there is more to that reason then ye say,” Ben muttered.
