Page 86 of The Highlander's Princess Bride
“Again, you did not take advantage of me,” she said in a frustrated tone. “And I’m not a lady. I’m a governess, entirely able to support myself without you making such an unnecessary sacrifice.”
“You won’t be a governess for much longer if this gets out. And itwillget out.”
Nick was quite certain of that. He wouldn’t be surprised if Angus was right this minute blabbing to the tenant farmers and anyone who would listen that the laird was to marry Kade’s Sassenach governess.
She sucked in a slow breath. “Then I will leave my position today, Lord Arnprior, before there is opportunity for gossip to spread.”
His heart jolted, but he forced himself not to overreact. “Such a sudden departure will have the opposite effect, my dear.”
“Sir—”
“And what about Kade? You don’t wish to leave him, do you?”
“Of course not,” she said. “I’m exceedingly fond of him.”
“And do you wish to leave me?” he asked casually.
She grimaced. “That . . . that is hardly the point, my lord. You cannot wish to marry someone like me.” She seemed genuinely shocked by the notion, as if he should be revolted by the very idea of marriage to her.
“You’re right—I don’t wish to marry someone like you,” he said quietly.
Hurt darkened her pretty blue eyes, and her mouth twitched a wee bit. Then she steadied herself and nodded. “Of course not.”
“I wish to marryyou. Specifically,” he added, just to make it clear.
She looked so perplexed he could almost imagine he was speaking in tongues and that neither of them had received enlightenment.
Then her chin went up in a stubborn tilt. “As I said, that will not be necessary.”
His headache was starting to worm its way back into his brain. Perhaps it was time to take a different tack. “It is entirely necessary if you don’t wish to see me ruthlessly maimed and then murdered.”
She crinkled her brow. “Sorry?”
“What do you think will happen when Sir Dominic and Alec hear what happened between us? And, trust me, they will.” He would tell them himself, if he had to.
Victoria sank down into a chair. “Oh, God, this is a disaster.” She flicked him a scowl. “One ofyourmaking, I might add.”
He raised a skeptical eyebrow.
“All right,” she huffed. “Mostlyof your making. I did kiss you back.”
“You did. But rather than a disaster, I see this as an opportunity—for all of us.”
She crossed her arms. “Oh, really?”
“I get a wife, you get an earl,andwe set a grand example for my brothers. If I marry such a kind, thoroughly good woman, it should encourage them to do the same.”
“We should get married to encourage your brothers?”
He winced at her sharp tone. “The most important reason is that I refuse to see you harmed in any way by my actions.”
She leaned forward and rested her forehead in her palms.
“Victoria, do I repulse you?” he asked gently.
“You know you don’t,” she said, looking up.
“Do I frighten you in any way?”
