Page 20 of A Rogue in Moonlight
“I watch over my mountain and my glen. When Reverend MacIan invited you here to teach, did he know your brother was a revenue officer?”
“I did not know it then. Patrick was appointed to the post after I agreed to come here. But his jurisdiction is south of the loch, so he may not come here except to visit me and make sure I am safe.” She wanted to make that clear.
“As the laird, I will guarantee your safety.”
The Laird. Did he mean laird of the glen—or the smuggling laird Patrick mentioned? A yearning swirled in her, a hunger for adventure, excitement. She squared her shoulders against the feeling. “You may be the one in danger. The king’s men are looking for the one called the Laird.”
“I have heard that. They know where to find Kinloch if they want to talk to him. They suspect me, but I am innocent of all—except kissing a bonny lass in a moment of weakness. And for that, I apologize.”
“No need,” she murmured.
“As for what you saw tonight, the excise men are often after me. I am laird of a glen where free traders roam. It is not uncommon, and the laird is often to blame if the actual offenders cannot be found.”
“What of the smuggler called the Laird? Is that you?”
“She is bold. I am laird of this glen,” he said, jaw set, brows lowered.
“But you hid from the excise officers and your kinsmen lied. Why?”
“For your protection. Some revenue officers are worse scoundrels than the men they chase.” He took her arm. “My kin and tenants will not harm you, I promise. But there are other rascals in these hills, so be wary. If word gets out that you are sister to an excise man, it could go badly for you and your brother. It is not in your best interest to speak of it here. And I must question whether you should be in this glen at all.”
“I just arrived today, and I have been hauled about rudely, threatened with pistols, and—”
“And kissed. I know.”
“—and my brother wanted me to leave—”
“You should have listened.”
“—and now the laird of the glen wants me to leave too? I came here to do good work for the Edinburgh Ladies Society for the Education and Betterment of the Gaels. I agreed to teach here.”
“The what?”
She repeated the name. “It is not amusing,” she said as he chuckled. “I promised to teach until summer. School begins soon. There are children waiting. I will not leave.”
He cupped a hand on her shoulder. Fiona felt some indefinable magic flow from him into her. The same feeling had overtaken her earlier and quite melted all reason and resistance. He bent his head toward her. For a moment she thought he might kiss her again. Herhead tipped back, her body waited.
“Best go, lass,” he murmured. “I will speak to the reverend. In the morning, I will send a gig and driver to take you to Auchnashee. If there are expenses for your return to Edinburgh, I will pay them. You may keep the rocks,” he added.
“You have neither right nor cause to dismiss me.”
“I do it for your welfare.”
“Only Reverend MacIan can excuse me. He invited me.” She stepped past him, feeling angry. She did not want to leave. Already the glen drew her, and so did its laird, though she did not want to admit that. Nor could she explain that she was here to satisfy her grandmother’s last request—to find fairies and sketch them, and to find and marry a wealthy Highland laird. Clearly she would find neither here. But she would not go.
“I am no threat to your smuggling interests, if it worries you.” She spun to walk to the house.
“Miss—Fiona! Wait.” Her name, spoken in his deep, rich, lilting voice, sounded beautiful. Magical. She turned. He took her arm.
In the misty twilight, as he loomed over her, all else vanished. Wildly, impulsively, she felt enchanted, as if he were indeed one of the Sidhe. “Listen, lass,” he said. “This is just not the time for you to be here. Trust me in that.”
“I will not speak of what happened. We have a bargain. Let that satisfy you.”
“Never bargain with the fairies.”
“So you said. What do you mean? You are not one of them—are you?”
He bent toward her, and her head went back. She did not want a kiss, and yet it was all she wanted.
