He stared at her without saying anything, his expression unreadable. The hard rise and fall of his chest was the only indication that anything significant had just occurred.
“It won’t work, Meg. Not this time. You won’t change my mind.”
“Why not?” she said, stung by his rejection. “I know you want me.”
“I can hardly deny it. But passion isn’t the issue.”
Meg’s heart broke. Again. Was that it, then? He wanted her, but not enough to marry her? Tears gathered behind her eyes. She had only one more question. “So was it true, then? What you said to Lord Huntly? Did you only agree to marry me for what I could bring you?”
She studied his face, looking for a flicker, a change, anything. With each second that passed, despair sank deeper into her chest.
He stood perfectly still. “What do you want from me, Meg?” His voice sounded so strange. Hoarse. Strained.
“The truth.”
“You heard what I said. Why do you doubt it?”
“I thought that perhaps you meant to protect me.” She hesitated. “I didn’t want to believe what you said to Lord Huntly. Tell me that wasn’t you in that room, Alex. Tell me I couldn’t be so wrong.”
His face remained impassive. She wanted to shake him. How could he just stand there and deny everything between them?
“Please, Alex.” She clutched his arm. “I have to know.”
“Does it really matter?” he asked, a hollow edge to his voice.
“How can you ask that? It means everything. I gave you everything.” She took a deep breath. “I never told you that I was engaged once before.”
She’d surprised him.
“I was sixteen and a fool. I came upon him making love to a serving girl in the stable, bragging about how he would be chief one day.”
He swore. “Oh, Meg—”
She held up her hand and shook her head. “Don’t. Don’t feel sorry for me. It was a lesson I thought I’d learned. I trusted you with the future of my clan. I saw something different in you, Alex.”
Alex turned away from her, staring out into the darkness. She’d just about given up hope when he spoke.
“I saw you outside the door.”
“Then you knew I was listening.” Her heart soared with the implications.
“I knew. I wanted to drive you to Jamie. I thought it was for the best.”
“But why? I would have waited for you.”
“Would you?” He laughed harshly. “You have a duty to your clan, you must marry. I doubt your father would find an outlawed son-in-law the proper choice. Just tell me one thing. Is there a child?”
“Would it make a difference?” she asked softly.
His jaw clenched. “Meg…”
She wanted to lie. “No. There is no child.”
He let out his breath. She couldn’t tell whether he was relieved or disappointed.
“Then nothing has changed. I am not the man for your clan, and you still do not belong here.”
Meg didn’t care. All that mattered was that she had not been wrong about him. But when she thought about the pain he’d put her through, she wanted to scream. Instead, she peppered him with furious accusations. “How could you have let me believe that? Why didn’t you confide in me and give me the choice? Why didn’t you tell me you were going to fight on Lewis?”
