Page 11 of Dark Side of the Laird
How to answer? I shrugged.
“’Tis. I heard her say so this morning after Mass.”
I didn’t want to sound like a jealous wench, or lay claim to the laird. Our relationship was a quiet one. We knew the clan suspected, but neither of us had come right out and said it openly.
“I hadn’t heard it was official.” I pulled a white bulb from the ground and stuffed it in my basket.
“She says ’tis only a matter of time.”
“Hmm.” I did not want to be having this conversation. At all.
“Whoever ends up married to him will be a lucky woman,” she sighed, then cleared her thought. “Of course, I only hope that we’re lucky in gaining a mistress.”
“I’m sure his lairdship will do what’s best for all of you.” God, I hoped he did—and that what was best was me.
“Or what the king orders,” the woman answered, sounding almost as depressed as I felt.
Another dreadful reminder that I may not have a choice in this future after all.
I tucked another onion in my basket, pretending my eyes were watering from their scent and not because I felt like I was once again floundering with no place to belong.
4
Logan
With Emma out of earshot I took two menacing steps toward Isabella, closing the distance between us. The scent of her perfume assaulted me—strong and spicy. I found my nose offended when I’d gained so much pleasure from the light, floral scents of Emma.
“I knew ye’d come around,” she purred, reaching out and sliding a manicured nail down the length of my arm.
I jerked away in reaction, gritting my teeth.
I wanted to throttle her. Wanted to take her by the upper arms and shake the life from her. Without a doubt, I knew that if I touched her, I would end up doing damage, so I kept my fists clenched at my sides.
“Ye know nothing. Stay away from Emma,” I growled.
A flash of fear sparked in her dark eyes, but she masked it before I had a chance to truly examine it. “Oh, darling, ye couldn’t possibly—”
I grunted. “Dinna use your feminine wiles on me. They have no place here, and I’ve no use for them.”
She pouted, going for sultry, but it only made me think of a spoiled brat. How many men had she won over with her ploys? How many suffered?
“Logan—”
“Laird,” I interrupted her, wanting to take her down a notch or two. “I’ve not given ye leave to be so informal.”
“But we are to be married,” she whined and gave a slight stomp of her foot.
“Nay, my lady, we are not.” I kept my voice level and serious.
“The king says—”
“King James says a lot of things. Think ye are the first to have been brought here?” I questioned, venom dripping from each word, as I leaned closer to her face, letting her know just how damn serious I was. “Think there are not many who have walked this path before ye? And yet I remain a bachelor.”
She swallowed, searching my eyes for the truth, and she’d find it there, for certain she would, because I let it shine through.
“This time will be no different,” I said, lips curling into a cruel grin.
There was one difference—I’d never had to deal with a woman before like I did with Isabella. Never had to be so mean-spirited.
