Page 42 of A Virgin for the Highland Beast
“It’s been a busy day.”
“Do yer sisters ken?” Hunter asked.
He didn’t have to say the name for Emma to know who he was talking about.
She bobbed her head. “I couldnae go into detail, but they understand why we must push the weddin’ day to tomorrow,” she stated as she turned her attention to the inky blackness engulfing the courtyard. “The question is, though, are ye ready?”
“I hope so,” Hunter answered. “As long as everythin’ goes smoothly, yer cousin could show up at night and he’ll have no say in the matter.”
“Let’s pray for rain then to slow his progress,” Emma said.
The laughter that escaped Hunter’s mouth shocked her. She’d never heard it before and wondered why he didn’t do it more often. It was hearty and seemed so out of place but felt like the right thing to ease the tension.
“I think ye might be the only bride in history who’s askin’ for rain on her weddin’ day,” Hunter said.
“Givin’ the circumstances, I think it would be best, do ye nae?” she asked as his chuckle eased the fears and worries brewing within her.
“Aye, it might be,” he said, taking her hand.
Emma glanced at their fingers entwining, and while Hunter didn’t say a word, she understood his meaning.
“I want to thank ye,” she said. “Ye seem to be the one givin’ up a lot more. After all, when Geoffrey does come, it’ll nae be me blade that meets his.”
“Nor should it be,” Hunter said, his tone turning icy. “Once we are married, ye’ll have nothin’ to fear ever again.”
“Ye ken, I’ve been so scared for so long that I dinnae ken what that will be like,” Emma confessed.
“Nor do I. But maybe we’ll find out together?”
Emma glanced at Hunter and nodded as his grip on her hand tightened as if to reassure her. She found herself longing to press her body against his. To bask in his strong embrace and let the world disappear. As she inched closer, the compassion in his eyes burned evermore brighter.
Yearning for his kiss, Emma leaned against him. The air between them grew heavy as she stared at his lips, longing to caress them once again. Before she could rise up to meet him, she felt a brush of his skin on her forehead.
“Ye’ve got a big day tomorrow,” Hunter said as he leaned back and released his hand from her grip. “Best get some rest.”
Emma’s eyes widened as she once again felt the sting of rejection. She didn’t say a word as Hunter turned around and walked back inside, leaving her wanting something she wondered if she would ever have.
Emma watched him as he spoke with Katie and Violet. The emotions within her were jumbled and confused. She couldn’t help but wonder if he’d ever make any sense to her. His contrasting behavior, at times tender and warm, at others distant and cold, left her feeling puzzled.
“Are ye ready?” Lydia asked as she stepped out on the terrace.
Emma nodded as she glanced to the banquet hall and noticed the elderly men surrounding Hunter. She noticed the way their beady eyes hunted for her and wondered what they thought of all this.
“Suppose I am,” Emma finally answered.
“Ye dinnae sound so certain.”
“I am,” Emma stated a bit more boldly. “Come tomorrow, Laird MacRoss will be me husband.”
“Ye ken, despite everythin’ that’s happened, I am happy for ye. At least yer future is secure now. There’s nay way Geoffrey will ever be able to get his hands on ye.”
“Lydia, ye realize I’m doin’ this to secure yer future as well, do ye nae?” Emma asked as she noticed the sadness in her sister’s eyes. “Me marriage to the Laird will ensure that ye can marry whomever ye want. After tomorrow, ye and Nora and Isobel will be safe.”
“I hope so,” Lydia said as her gaze drifted to the blackness of the courtyard.
“Let us get through tomorrow, and maybe that’ll ease yer troubled mind,” Emma said, guiding Lydia back into the warmth of the banquet hall.
“Ye’re the one gettin’ married,” Lydia said. “Do ye nae think ye shoulIettin’ some sleep, too?”
