Page 35 of Highlander’s Sweet Poison

Easing out of bed, she used the water he’d left in the basin to wash her face and dress. After putting her hair up in a simple braid, she stepped out to break her fast and stopped short.

Tearloch was on the other side of the hall, lounging against the wall and glowering at her.

“Nay,” she said as she put up her hand and yawned. “‘Tis too early for yer scowls.”

“Then have yer husband ask someone else to play yer nanny,” Tearloch muttered as he straightened.

“I have a mind to do that, not because I dinnae wish to punish ye, but because ye cannae be bonding with yer wife if ye are always with me.”

“My marriage is none of yer concern.”

“Alexina is my friend, and so that makes her my concern.” She made it a few steps down the hall before she stopped. “Wait a minute. Graeme would not have ye here watching over me unless he needed me to leave the keep. Am I to visit Alexina today?” Hope filled her.

“Nay.” He smiled wickedly. “Yer mother-in-law has requested an audience with ye.”

Hope dashed. “Oh, dear.”

After fretting all though breakfast and attempting to wheedle out the location of her husband to discover if he knew that she would be meeting with his mother, Jillian had to resort to questioning Tearloch about Bridgette MacSeaver, and he was all too eager to answer her questions.

As Fulton’s aunt, Bridgette had visited with Jillian some while they were married, but she had a feeling that the woman hadn’t liked her then. She would be far less likely to like it now that Jillian was her daughter-in-law.

Jillian wasn’t used to family. For years, it had just been her and her grandfather, and when she was married to Fulton, he didn’t let her socialize. Now she had a husband, a sister-in-law and brother-in-law who hated her, and a mother-in-law who may very well serve her aconite poison in her tea.

Except for their nights of passion, her marriage to Graeme was a disaster.

Outside, she took a few deep breaths to try and steady herself, and she didn’t even realize that they had company on their walk until Tearloch growled. Opening her eyes, she turned and smiled. “Art!”

“Morning, Dove. Or, I suppose, I should call ye Lady Jillian now since ye are my mistress,” Art teased, and Jillian leaned over to give him a quick hug. He was a few years older with a face that had already broken plenty of hearts before she met him. He had more of an artistic soul than that of a warrior, so he was never trained as a guard. When Jillian left, he was tending to his parents’ farm and creating the most beautiful paintings in his spare time.

She shuddered. “Oof, please dinnae call me yer mistress. I believe yer parents would die if they heard that.”

Art scowled. “My parents are not something that I wish to discuss with ye.”

That was just fine with her, but she didn’t want him to get into trouble for talking with her. She glanced around to make certain that no one was watching. “Art, I am so happy to see ye and walk with ye, but I fear it wilnae make ye vera popular.”

“Perhaps, but I was never concerned with popularity. I do, however, think that my visit should be short since yer guard dog has his hand on the hilt of his sword. Down, boy. I have no intention of harming my friend.”

Turning, Jillian was surprised to see that Tearloch was indeed arming himself. She shook her head, but it did not affect the guard. Tearloch, it appeared, was a mystery.

“Have ye married?”

“No, I have found none that shine as bright as ye do,” he teased, and when she scowled at him, he ducked his head. “Vera well, I fear that I will have to search elsewhere for my bride.”

“I told ye what would happen if ye kept breaking hearts,” she reprimanded him. When she had friends, they used to all sigh over Art and nearly broke their necks trying to impress him. He’d show interest in one for a short time, but it never lasted.

“‘Tis not my lack of marriage that concerns me but yer current one. Are ye happy, Jillian? I have been so worried for ye since ye left for the loch. I expected never to see ye again.”

“The loch was wonderful, but I suppose all I was doing was hiding. My marriage to Graeme surprised me as much as anyone else, but he is a good man, and he does make me happy.”

Last night, he’d made her very happy, and she blushed at the thought, hoping that Art would not see.

“Do ye love him?” he asked her quietly.

Love. She swallowed hard. “I didnae marry Graeme for love, nor did he marry me for it. Perhaps that is why it will work out.” They stopped at a crossroads, and Art looked to his right.

“This is where we must part ways, but Jillian, if ye ever require me, then ye know where to find me.” Ignoring Tearloch, he gave Jillian a quick hug before separating down his path.

“Ye are Graeme’s wife. Ye should not be hugging other men,” Tearloch said disapprovingly as he relaxed.