To the soundof her breathless laughter when she'd spotted those deer. To the taste of her lips when he'd finally given in to temptation and kissed her.
She's a means to an end. Nothin'more.
He'd been tellinghimself that for two days now. Was starting to suspect it might be the biggest lie he'd ever told.
"Ewan."
Leon's voicepulled him from his thoughts. "What?"
"I askedif ye're sure about this. About keepin' her here." Leon's expression was serious now, all traces of amusement gone.
"I'm sure.”
"Just be careful,"Leon said quietly. "She's MacMahon's niece. His blood. And when this is all over, she's goin' to have to go back to her clan. Ye cannae keep her."
Why nae?
The thought rose unbidden,unwanted. Ewan shoved it down ruthlessly.
"I ken what I'm doin',"he said firmly. "Now go prepare that missive. I want it sent out before?—"
A knockat the door interrupted him.
"Come in,"Ewan called out, grateful for the distraction from Leon's too-perceptive observations.
The door opened,and Aisla stepped in, followed by?—
Maia.
She looked nervous,her hands clasped in front of her, her grey eyes wide with apprehension. The green dress looked good on her, highlighting curves that Ewan was trying very hard not to think about.
"Me laird,"Aisla said, her tone carefully neutral but her eyes dancing with suppressed amusement. "Miss Maia needs to speak with ye. She says it's important."
Ewan raised an eyebrow."Ye've only been in yer chambers for what, ten minutes? Ye cannae possibly have gotten into trouble already."
Maia flinched,and he immediately regretted the sharp tone. "I—I dinnae mean to, it just sort of happened?—"
"What happened?"Ewan leaned back in his chair, studying her. She looked genuinely distressed, which made something protective stir in his chest. "Aisla, did someone bother her?"
"Ye could say that,"Aisla said, and there was definitely laughter in her voice now. "Lady Laura paid a visit."
Ewan's expression darkened."What did that woman do?"
"She was just—"Maia took a breath, then the words came tumbling out in a rush. "She said ye wanted her and that I shouldnae get any ideas about ye, which I wouldnae anyway because I ken I'm just yer prisoner, but then Kian came in and she started sayin' terrible things to him about how she'd lock him away once she was his stepmaither and I couldnae, I just couldnae let her talk to him like that, nae after—nae after everythin'."
"Slow down, lass."Ewan held up a hand, trying to follow her rapid-fire explanation. "What did Laura say to Kian?"
"She threatenedto send him to the servants' quarters and barely let him out." Maia's hands clenched into fists. "She wasgoin' to do to him what me uncle did to me, and I couldnae, I wouldnae let that happen."
Somethingcold and furious settled in Ewan's chest. "Shewhat?"
"And so I—"Maia's cheeks flushed red. "I told her I was yer betrothed. That ye'd never marry her because ye were already engaged to me. And now Kian thinks we're gettin' married and he's so excited and I cannae tell him the truth because it would break his heart and I'm so sorry, I ken I shouldnae have said it but I couldnae let her…"
She stopped abruptly,breathing hard, looking like she expected him to start shouting.
Ewan stared at her.
Then,despite himself, despite the fury at Laura's behavior and the complicated mess Maia had just created, he felt his lips twitch.
