“Miss me?” he whispered near her ear.
The warmth of his breath tickled, and the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood up. The dark, rich brogue was like molten lava that had seeped into her bones. But she heard the mockery and wanted to curse him, almost as much as she wanted to sink against him and beg him to take her again.
“N-no,” she answered, her voice shaking.
“Liar.” He let go of her, backing away. It took a few moments to compose herself and for her pulse to return to normal before she turned around to look at him.
“What are you doing here?” she asked. “I thought you said you would be away this afternoon.”To give me time to recover from this morning’s teasing.
He quirked his brow, amused, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. “I am. I’m leaving right now. I just came by to remind you of our lesson tomorrow.”
How could she forget another swimming lesson? She smiled sweetly. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“So am I.”
She didn’t miss the naughty innuendo and bit back a giggle; she could well imagine what he had planned. But his plans would come to naught. “Oh, by the way,” she said offhandedly, “I’ve invited your sisters to come along.”
One corner of his mouth lifted. “Afraid of being alone with me, Flora?”
She straightened her back. “Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous.”
He chuckled, knowing the lie for what it was. Shewasscared of being alone with him. Of what she might agree to if pushed. And he’d been pushing hard, very hard.
She lifted her gaze to his. “I just thought the girls might like a day away from the monotony of the castle. It will be fun.” She paused. “Perhaps Allan could go as well.” His eyes narrowed, guessing what she was up to. “You did promise to reconsider your decision about Mary.”
He gave her a long look. “I have.”
“And?”
He shook his head. “I’m sorry, lass, but my decision stands. The alliance with Ian MacDonald of Glengarry is too important.”
Flora didn’t bother to hide her disappointment. “I see.” But she didn’t. He still didn’t understand. Still didn’t see that his sister should have a choice. He saw only duty.
“And what about you, Flora? Have you reconsidered?”
“How can you speak of our marriage when your sister is so unhappy? You would force her to a marriage she doesn’t want.” She let the implication fall. She could never marry a man who had so little regard for his sister’s wishes. It was too similar to what had happened to her mother.
His gaze hardened almost imperceptibly, but she recognized the small changes in his expression that weeks ago would have seemed nothing.
“I am not forcing her. Mary understands that we all must make sacrifices for the good of the clan, why can’t you?”
But marriage shouldn’t be a sacrifice she should be asked to make. Flora knew he was right: Mary would go through with it out of some warped sense of duty. In that they were very different. “I would never marry a man in that situation.”
He tensed. “But this isn’t about you. It’s about Mary. This isn’t your fight, yet you’ve turned it into your personal crusade.”
Flora bristled. “You’re wrong. I only want to give Mary a chance at happiness. I thought you would understand.”
“I do understand, Flora. But my sister’s feelings are not the only issue.”
“But you said—”
“I did not promise to change my mind, only to reconsider. I did so.”
“But—”
“Do not try to manipulate me to your bidding, Flora.”
“Are you sure it is not the other way around?” she asked, referring to his seduction.
