A knot of tensionballedup in Duncan’s gut.
Angus shook his head. “So that’s it, then. You’ve made your decision, so I’llbe leaving you now, because clearly, like your softhearted brother, you no longer have the stomach for war, either.”
With that, Angus turned and descended the stairs.
Duncan backed up against thewalland pounded his fist repeatedly against the cold, hard stones of the castle corridor.
* * *
The letter to Richard was not easy to write, but it was almost done.
Amelia set down thequillfor a moment and leaned back in the chair. What would her father have made of this decision? she wondered as she glanced about the former countess’s lavish red bedchamber, where she was now situated and would forever remain.
Something told her that—without knowing of Duncan’s dual identity, of course—her father would have been pleased to see her wed the great Earl of Moncrieffe. He was an aristocrat, afterall, who lived in a luxurious palace and possessed more wealth than anyone could imagine. Her father might verywellhave chosen Duncan over Richard last spring, for Richard was the third son of a baron and would have been forced to rely on her dowry and her father’s future generosity, if he’d survived, to provide them with the comforts to which she was accustomed.
Not that any of those customary comforts ever mattered to her, nor did they matter now. Nevertheless, this exquisite palace would be her home and she would spend the rest of her days here, knowing that she had at least steered the infamous Butcher of the Highlands away from his lust for blood and vengeance. She had used what power she had over him to temper his rage.
She thought about that particular power she possessed.…
She was not a fool. She knew he wanted to bed her, and that mutual sexual desire was the basis for everything. It was why he waswillingto give up his vengeance for her. It had played a part in her own actions aswell, for she wanted him.
She could not deny it. She was aroused by his physical prowess and his own personal savage breed of heroics.
And so …
He would come to her bed each night to satisfy his appetite for her body, and she, too, would satisfy her own urges and curiosities. In a way, he would take his vengeance out on Richard through her. Through the ownership of her body. She had resigned herself to it, was even anticipating it—but at the same time it was a frightening notion indeed, to imagine the complete unleashing of that man’s passions.
And her own, aswell.
She sat forward and somehow managed to finish the letter.
A moment later, she was handing it to the footman outside her door, then donning a shawl to go and meet Josephine, Iain’s wife, who had offered to take her on a tour of the castle and grounds. She imagined it was going to be very awkward, meeting this woman who knew everything about the situation, including the reasons why Amelia was suddenly betrothed to her brother-in-law.
Amelia hurried downstairs and entered the reception room where she had met Iain earlier that morning. Josephine sat in a chair by the window with an open book on her lap.
She glanced up and closed it when Amelia walked in.
“I am pleased you did not get lost along the way,”
Josephine said, rising to her feet. “The corridors of the castle can be difficult to navigate.”
Tasteful y dressed in a modest blue silk gown, Iain’s wife was prettier than Amelia had expected. Slender, blond, and blessed with a lovely smile, Josephine exuded a charismatic grace that helped to calm Amelia’s nerves.
“Indeed, I hesitated after crossing the bridge from the keep, but in the end, I was able to find my way.”
Josephine approached and held out her hands. “You’lllearn every corner and crevice of this magnificent bastion before long. I’llsee to it personal y. I am very happy to meet you, Lady Amelia. You have no idea how pleased I was to learn that I would have a sister.”
Amelia was surprised by how quickly she warmed to this woman’s greeting when she had felt so unsure about her decisions and had not known what to expect from Iain’s wife.
“Wewillstrollthrough the interior first,” Josephine suggested, leading Amelia toward the door, “and then wewillventure outdoors and become better acquainted.”
The tour began with a return to the keep, where Josephine adhered to a courteous and leisurely pace through the banquetinghall, the heraldry room, the chapel, and final y into a central courtyard with a decorative stone fountain.
Afterward, they returned to the main castle. Amelia was shown through every cozy guest chamber—she lost count after seven of them—aswellas the library, three drawing rooms, and final y the dining room, the kitchens, and the impressive wine cellar.
At long last, they exited the castle through a side door and made their way along a stone walk that led to the stables.
The sun was shining, and Amelia lifted her face to feel its warmth on her cheeks.
