Page 67 of The Lady of Her Highland Clan

Clyde ignored that, kissing her softly on the temple and sending Fiona into fits of delight.

Given the huge surge of waves rocketing all around her body, it was increasingly hard for Fiona to concentrate.

"He's goin’ tae pardon ye an' banish ye from the clan," blurted Fiona. She was working her way up to telling him everything.

Perplexed, Clyde stopped. Then, he laughed. "Pardon me?" he asked with a slow grin. He shook his head. Fiona's eyes ran over him. "Pardon me for what? For him stealing my clan? For him stealing my bride?"

Fiona's eyes widened. "Bride?"

Clyde's eyes danced. Although shackled, he seemed freer. "Och," he said, stroking her hair. "He can have her; that's nae the point..."

Fiona frowned, unsure.

"Ye ken I told ye about Jonet an' her disappearing act?" Clyde said. Fiona nodded. But just the mention of her name had thrown her off-kilter. But the look Clyde gave her told her she didn't have to feel like that.

"Aye," said Fiona.

Clyde looked amused.

"Well, she didnae just run off...she ran off wi' Fraser!" Clyde's eyes widened. Now Fiona understood.

Seeing her face, Clyde laughed. "Dinnae fash, I dinnae care any longer. In fact, it's funny. Just the idea that he would pardon me... Ach, at least there's nae anything else he can take from me."

Clyde kissed her gently on the neck, but Fiona hesitated. His words sliced through her like a knife.

Nae anything else he can take from me...

He raised his eyebrows sardonically. "It didnae even last." He smirked. "She left the no-good scunner. No woman can stomach him."

"Clyde," began Fiona. Inside, her stomach churned. She had no idea how she was going to tell him this. But Clyde was watching her closely. He could see her face had changed.

"I'm sorry, ignore me. It doesnae matter. I dinnae want tae think about Jonet." He smiled, trying to bring her around. But Fiona was unable to look at him.

Despairing, her face was pressed against the wall. Inside, the tears welled in her eyes.

"So I'm nae the laird. Well, dinnae fash. I can go somewhere else. Maybe yer clan, an'..." Clyde began hopefully, but Fiona shook her head.

"Nay," she said sorrowfully. Her eyes were so full of tears, she could not even look at him. "Ye cannae. He wants ye gone from the Highlands. We will nae see each other."

Now she was crying, tears pouring down her face. Clyde looked at her, puzzled. For the first time, the fatigue of the last few days was showing in his face. Fiona looked and could see the tension in his brow.

Even so, his eyes teased her in. As much as she did not want to look, Fiona turned her head to him.

"Clyde, I am going to marry him!"

"M-Marry him? What?"

Clyde's eyes leaped painfully. He looked as if he had been shot.

"I'm gonna marry Fraser," she said, without looking up.

Clyde could not believe what he was hearing. This was history repeating itself!

Fiona's sensual touch, which had just been on his neck, tingled and burned. He stared at her searchingly.

"Why?" he asked. He didn't want to think it, but the question occurred.

Does she love him?