Oh God, oh God, oh God!The desperate plea echoed through her head.
Married.
Her step faltered as a wave of hurt heaved inside her, filling her chest and pressing against the back of her eyes before she could push it back again.
No!She would not cry for him. He did not deserve her tears.
Butmarried?
A dry, burning sob shuddered through her. Why did it have to hurt so much? How could she have let this happen? She knew better. She was no wide-eyed innocent that believed in happy endings and faerie tales. Her eyes had been opened to the cruelty and unfairness of the world a long time ago. She’d never wanted to lose her heart to a man. She hadn’t thought it possible.
She’d chosen a different path.
It wasn’t fair. Hadn’t she suffered enough?
“Muriel!”
God, no! She ran faster. Out of the gate. Beyond the realm of his power.
But he’d never been one to show restraint. “Damn it, Muriel.” He grabbed her arm, jerking her to a stop. “By God, you will listen to me.”
She bristled, pain turning to anger. She hated when he talked to her like that. The cool, imperious Earl of Sutherland to her insignificant minion.
How could this stern, harsh man have won her heart?
Because he wasn’t always like this. In those rare, unguarded moments, he could be funny and tender and passionate and—
“I love you, Muriel.”But not enough. She caught her heart and forced it back into position. In her chest, not in the clouds.
Lifting her chin, she met his gaze. “Do not touch me.”
Never again would she give him the right to touch her.
If only the memories were so easy to push away.
He dropped her arm, something in her tone penetrating his icy fury. He was the one person left in this world to know exactly why a man’s forceful touch was so repugnant to her.
Trying to maintain as much of her dignity as she could, she resisted the urge to walk away and faced him. “Was there something you wanted?”
His eyes narrowed at her cool, indifferent tone. “I did not object when my sister seated you at the dais.” She tried not to flinch, but the cruel reminder of their different stations stung. His face darkened, oblivious or uncaring of the pain he caused her. “But I will not have my Hall turned into a bordello.”
She was so shocked, she didn’t know what to say. She could only stare at the handsome face of the man who now seemed a distorted stranger to her. What he insinuated wasn’t possible—not for the man she’d known.
How had it come to this? How had something so wonderful become so twisted?
Because she hadn’t given him what he wanted?
“You’ll have to forgive me,” she said stiffly, trying to hold on to the shreds of her flagging dignity. “I do not understand to what you refer!”
He leaned closer, his dark-blue eyes flashing with a dangerous emotion she didn’t recognize. “I refer to the way you conducted yourself with a guest in my house.”
It took her a moment. “Do you mean Gregor MacGregor?” she burst out in astonishment.
His mouth tightened.
A gurgle of laughter rose inside her. The idea was so ridiculous. MacGregor was a handsome rogue, and she’d been flattered by his attentions, but it had never crossed her mind—
She gasped, understanding striking like lightning.He’s jealous. This man who’d shredded her heart to pieces was jealous. That was why he was acting like this.
