Page 29 of Betrayed by His Highland Wife

Eyes adjusting to the half-light, he pushed forward a thing. A furry thing. It hummed with fear as it was proffered toward her.

Eventually, Nora's eyes rallied enough to make out it was a cat.

"Och," she said, feeling instantly silly.

In William's arms, the cat fussed and spat. It clearly wanted to be off, but taking it, she managed to calm the creature. Glancing at it fully, she saw its eyes, flashing and surly. But then, suddenly, it made peace, licking her slowly and nuzzling her face.

Before she knew it, the cat was her best friend, purring and encircling her fully, waving its tail in the air. Watching her, Will looked at her keenly.

"Are ye alright?" he asked, slowly waiting for her to come around. She loved the look of him there, his eyes peeking around, just checking her out. Suddenly, a flash of a torrid scene came to her. She and William, right there, against the darkened walls, knowing each other.

Her heart came to a cluttering start. As if she were not frazzled enough without thoughts like that popping up. Breathlessly, she nodded.

"Come on," he said, indicating that they leave. Nora had never been happier to leave a place. She was just about to ask who lived there when a voice brought her up sharp.

"Laird William!"

Nora turned around. It was a man's voice. He was standing right on the threshold of the house, his thickset frame silhouetted against the sun. It was so dark inside that it was impossible to see him with his back turned.

Nora jolted, her hand squeezing his. But William did not falter.

"Crivvens," he said, a jovial smile on him. "'Tis Seoras! What are ye doing here? Dinnae ye like yer new cottage?"

While Nora got her breath back, William followed Seoras out of the cottage and into the brushland. Slowly, she revisited her steps back out of the cottage and over to where the two men stood.

Squinting into the sunlight, Nora saw the man. He was a heavyset man of middle age with hair like a sheep fogging his head. His long, gray mane obscured his words, but she gradually pieced them together.

He beamed. "Och, nay, 'tis braw!"

She could not see much besides his hair and bright red cheeks, but there was a smile nestling beneath them. Jubilantly, he brought his face to hers.

"Ye wannae hold on to this one, miss. He's a gud ane!"

Nora just blushed, casting her head down as Seoras continued to froth.

"He only built a new cottage, an' for my family, an' gave us some clothes an' scran." He grinned.

Embarrassed, William smiled softly, looking around.

"Och," said Nora politely. "Where?"

Seoras pointed left. Following his finger, Nora blinked. Next to the old cottage was a much newer one. Now that she had seen it, Nora wondered how the heck she had not noticed it before. Then, to her surprise, was another. And another. In fact, there was a whole line of new cottages right there, practically a small village of little crofts. And constructed properly, as well, in stone, not wattle.

Impressed, Nora looked at William. "Jings," she murmured, as Seoras continued. Now she looked. It was clear he was a shepherd; at the side, his crook, and on his feet, new-looking ghillies. For his station, he was well-dressed, sporting a clean brat and plaid.

"How could I nae have seen it?" Nora wondered out loud.

William just grinned. "Och, 'tis easy to miss seventeen newly constructed houses," he joked. But, in fact, it actually was. Hidden deep in the woods, it was the last thing anyone would be expecting.

With newfound shock, Nora looked at William. "Ye built this?" she asked, her eyes wide and disbelieving.

William just grinned. "Well, not all by myself." He winked. "I had a wee bit o' help, but aye, I paid the coin for it."

Nora marveled as William walked them around, still accompanied by Seoras. Coming up close, the cottages were more impressive than she had first thought.

Turning to William, she smiled. "These are braw wee crofts indeed," she said, genuinely taken aback. "I would be happy to live here myself!"

Seoras nodded beside her. "They are braw, an' the villagers are soon to be moving in."