Meg waited.
It was clear that Alex was waging an inner battle with demons she did not understand.
Her stomach twisted with apprehension. With every stretching second, she fought to hold on to the hope for the future that threatened to disintegrate into thousands of pieces at her feet.
Alex fixed his gaze on Jamie, refusing to look at her. “I do not need you to remind me of my duty.”
Duty.The word ate a hole in her chest. She didn’t want to be a duty. Meg could feel the resentment flowing between the two men, resentment that she feared would eventually extend to her.
Finally, Alex turned and took her suddenly ice cold hand in his. “Meg, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
There it was. Her heart’s desire.
His voice rang strong and steady, in the deep timbre that she loved. He did not hesitate or prevaricate, but Meg’s chest squeezed painfully all the same. The proposal was sincerely given, but not his own. Not his choice. Not spoken with words of love, but compelled by his unfailing honor and nobility.
The truth nearly felled her.He doesn’t want to marry me.
What could she have been thinking, coming here like this?
I’ve forced him to marry me,she realized.But what
can I do? I’m ruined. I have a duty to my family, to my
clan.
With his proposal, she had what she’d come for, but now she wished he’d turned her away.He tried,she remembered too vividly. Her cheeks mottled with mortification. Deep down, she’d honestly thought he’d wanted to marry her. She was wrong. And now they would both suffer.
A hot ball of tears lodged at the back of her throat and blurred her vision. She tried to smile, but it wobbled and fell into an awkward grimace. “I…I…yes,” she finally managed. She was going to cry. She had to get out of here. “I must return to my chamber,” she said over-brightly. With as much dignity as she could muster, she donned her cloak and headed for the door. With one last look at both men, she whispered, “I’m sorry.”
“Meg,” Alex said, moving toward the door. “Wait.”
But Meg pretended not to hear him, dashing as fast as her tiny leather shoes would carry her down the cool, dark corridor.
Oh, hell,Alex thought, catching a glimpse of Meg’s expression as she disappeared down the corridor. He turned to Jamie. “Well, that went well. Not exactly as I would have planned a proposal. What the hell were you thinking?”
Alex would make it up to her later, but it was obvious she’d needed time alone to get over the shock of what had just happened. He could understand the desire to be alone. But Campbell looked as though he had no intention of leaving.
“I never meant…” Jamie paused, seeming finally to realize what his rash actions had set in motion. By barging in here like this, he had compelled the very thing he did not want—Meg’s engagement to Alex. “Damn.” He paced around the small room, considering, looking at Alex occasionally as if he would read the answers on his face. When at last he stopped, the gaze that met Alex’s wasn’t friendly and might not ever be friendly again, but at least it wasn’t twisted with hatred. “I knew something was different with Meg when I returned,” he said. “She fancies herself in love with you. You took advantage of her.”
Love?Alex felt as if he’d been struck. His whole body froze. Was it possible?
Yes.His chest swelled as he realized Jamie was right. Meg must think that she loved him. She would not give herself to a man if she did not believe that she loved him. And the intensity of his reaction told him how badly he wanted it to be true. The knowledge overwhelmed him. Humbled him. Thrilled him. And for a minute gave him hope. Having Meg’s love was something he would cherish forever.
“Obviously, I underestimated you,” Jamie continued. “You work fast. What is it? Money? Land?”
Alex’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s not like that.”
“It’s not?”
Alex shook his head. “I told you the truth. I did not intend for this to happen.”
“But you are not sorry that it did.”
Alex thought for a moment. Jamie was right. He’d tried to protect her by doing the right thing, but he wanted Meg as his wife. “No, I’m not. For the manner in which it happened, perhaps, but not that it did.”
“You care for her.” Jamie sounded stunned.
Alex didn’t need to answer.
