She worried her lower lip between her teeth, waiting for him to tell her what she had done wrong.
“Ye have done nothing to get in trouble,” he assured her. “Come sit here. I merely wish to discuss something with ye.”
Oh?
She took the seat he indicated and waited with bated breath for him to continue.
When he moved around the desk, her breath caught in her chest, especially when he sat on the edge, close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his body and breathe in his masculine scent.
She had caught it yesterday, but even now, he smelled like the outdoors. Like the morning dew with a hint of something distinctly male. It was pleasant, but she refrained from breathing him in too deeply lest he think her insane.
“What I have to discuss with ye is a matter that requires the utmost discretion,” he started. “And should ye refuse, I would understand. What I would not appreciate, however, is if it leaves the confines of this room.”
That was rather suspicious, but she chose not to say anything even though alarm bells were already ringing in her head.
“I will keep this between us, me Laird,” she promised with a firm nod.
He watched her for a moment, then nodded.
“Me councilmen have taken it upon themselves to pressure me into marrying and have gone so far as to suggest they choose a wife for me. But that is one thing I cannae agree to, as I have no intention of marrying a woman I daenae ken,” he said.
She frowned, wondering why this had anything to do with her.
“I understand why ye may wonder what this has to do with ye, but I have considered it rather carefully,” he said, as if reading her mind, “and yer arrival seems almost like Providence.”
She nodded. “How may I help ye, me Laird?”
“Me councilmen willnae remain quiet if I daenae give them a name, and I assured them I would have one within a month, but I see no reason to wait until then,” he explained. “I need a betrothed for one month, nae a real one, just a name to give them so they cease pestering me until me braither’s wedding has passed.”
He paused and looked at her intently. He didn’t need to say anything else for her to know what he intended to ask.
“I am asking ye to be that name, lass.”
Emily looked at him, unable to say anything, and he took that as a sign to continue.
“I daenae want ye to think me dishonorable because I ask this of ye. If there was any other way I could put off me councilmen for some time, I would take it, but me duties take all me time, and courting someone is the last thing on me mind right now.”
“But how would it even work?” she asked. “How would we convince them?”
“I have thought about this,” he assured her. “For one month, ye would be presented to the clan and the council as me betrothed. We will take our meals together, go on walks when required, and be seen together, but nothing more. I willnae take any liberties with ye that will compromise ye. And at the end of the month, I will tell the council that we agreed to break off the engagement, and ye will be released from the arrangement.”
The sheer intimacy of what he described had her heart racing in her chest.
She would have to pretend to be this man’s betrothed and be courted in front of his people? If he had such a good idea of how to court a woman, why didn’t he pick someone from his clan? Why her?
“Me Laird—” she started.
“Daenae refuse just yet,” he interrupted. “I ken ye will need something to convince ye, and I assure ye I will do me best to provide ye with all the comfort ye need. Do ye have any family?”
“Only me sister, and she is here in the castle with me,” she answered.
“Good.” He nodded. “I will have them move ye and yer sister out of the servants’ quarters and into proper rooms, and ye will have fresh clothes, food, and the protection of me name for as long as ye remain in the castle and even after the month is over. If ye choose to leave after, I will make sure to help ye both go somewhere safe with enough means to start anew.”
It was almost too good to be true.
Butwhy her?
“Why me, me Laird?” she asked. “I have been nothing but a servant all me life. Why would ye choose me for such a great responsibility?”
