Clever-witted.
Breathtakingly bold.
Unceasing Meghan.
When no one wavered, Meghan lifted her chin.
That freckled chin.
He hadn’t kissed it enough.
He wanted to correct that mistake.
There must be some time, some place, in another future with her where he could.
“I will go with you willingly,” Meghan said quietly to her kin.
Something died inside Culross.
His mind screamed and raged and silently begged.
Please. Do not leave me.
Stay.
“If you promise not to duel him,” she finished.
Mr. Smith and McQuoid opened their mouths to speak.
“On your word as gentlemen. On your love of our family.”
Mr. Campbell Smith’s jaw worked.
He turned a glacial stare on Culross.
And a deal was struck.
One that saw Culross’s reason for living walk out—
Toward the future he yearned for.
With her.
Chapter 19
The problem with being part of the McQuoid family is that when one had one’s heart broken, everyone knew about it.
Everyone.
And the problem with the McQuoids—one of the many, many problems—is that they tried their absolute best to pretend they weren’t watching or talking about the one suffering.
Unfortunately for Meghan’s family, they did not possess her same superior acting skills.
All this to mean for Meghan, there was nowhere to go.
There was no escape.
No place to hide.
