She would loathe him, he realized.
As soon as the words left his lips, she would never again look at him that way and he dreaded that moment more than he’d ever dreaded anything in his life.
What was he supposed to do now?
She wanted him to speak to her brother, to bring him to her. How was he going to manage another lie without Elizabet discovering the truth?
And where the hell was he supposed to go now? Certainly not to Piers. But he needed to confide in somebody. Not Iain—he couldn’t involve Iain. Not Colin—he couldn’t place Colin in such an untenable position. Nor Seana—he couldn’t ask her to lie to her new husband.
Christ, never in his life had he felt so alone.
If he confided in Iain, Iain would take his side butinsist they hand Elizabet over to Piers. Broc couldn’t just hand her over to her murderer. It would be Broc’s word against Tomas’s, and who would believe him?
Not Elizabet.
And God’s truth, that seemed to be the only thing that mattered right now.
For now, Elizabet was safe enough in the hovel. No one could tell her anything so long as no one knew where she was. He just needed to be certain Seana would not stumble upon her. And with that in mind he decided to pay a little visit to the newlyweds.
“Do ye realize we’ve no’had five moments alone since before the wedding?” Colin Mac Brodie complained to his wife when they were behind closed doors at last.
It was Seana’s first time in Colin’s bedchamber—their bedchamber—as she’d remained with Meghan until their nuptials and then they had spent their wedding night under Montgomerie’s roof. Tonight, for the first time, Colin had brought her home, and she looked curiously about the room he had called his own, examining all he had chosen to surround himself with—the most apparent, an elaborate bed, which raised her brows. It was obvious what importance he gave the single piece of furniture, for it was ornately carved and polished to a shine—made strong to withstand the most passionate encounter. She cast him a chiding glance, and he seemed to understand precisely what she was thinking.
“I haveneverbrought a woman here,” he assured her. “I had that bed built for you and me.”
“Truly?” She peered back at him, both surprised and moved by the gesture.
“It is my wedding gift to you,” he disclosed, andsmiled that brilliant Colin smile she so adored. Only her husband could manage to look so blessed mischievous and innocent at once.
He came up behind her as she stood running her fingers over the soft blankets that covered the oak monstrosity. “My beautiful wife,” he whispered at her ear.
“’Tis lovely.”
“Youare lovely,” he countered, embracing her tightly. Like a wee child hugging his favorite toy, he squeezed and rocked her gently. But then his hands wandered to her breasts, and he squeezed softly, sucking in a breath in appreciation. Seana laughed at his playful gesture.
“Och, I love your body, woman!”
She loved his, as well, and she reached back to tweak him where she knew he would most appreciate it.
“Wicked wench!”
“I intend to remove every memory of every woman from your mind, Colin Mac Brodie!”
He chuckled at her threat and tickled the back of her neck with his tongue. “What women?” he murmured, and she turned in his arms to face him.
She arched a brow. “You know verra well what women we are speaking of.”
“You are the only woman for me, wife.”
Seana tilted him a coy glance, enjoying his attentions. She knew he spoke the truth, but she still wanted to hear it from his lips again and again—and again.
“The only woman?”
He kissed her again with meaning, closing his eyes. “Aye, my love.”
“And there aren’t any other women still on your mind?”
“Hmm...” He opened his eyes suddenly, “Well, mayhap just one.”
