Page 49 of Betrayed by His Highland Wife

Heart thumping, panic took her. She was here. In his arms. Half-dressed. Or, to put it more accurately, half-naked. Both of them were.

Looking up from her haze, Nora blinked some more. Her hair was a mess, she was sure, but that was not what concerned her. Being found here was. After all, her father was still somewhere around. What if he saw her?

With creeping realization, Nora remembered her predicament.

An awful surge raised itself in her chest. She felt cold and nauseous. Hurrying around, Nora quickly retrieved her clothes, although extricating them from the floor of the study beneath a sleeping William was not as easy as it looked.

She absolutely did not want to wake him. Being caught there was bad enough, but if he awoke, it would make things more difficult still.

With a pang, Nora realized she had not told him. All that time last night, and she never did the one thing she was meant to.

Watching his sleeping face, Nora sighed. He looked so peaceful there. Asleep, William seemed thoroughly different, his face shorn of its usual intent, gentle and innocent.

Nora's thoughts flashed back to last night. Then, he had been anything but innocent. A small smile twisted around her lips. Despite everything, she would not change that night for anything. But just the same, she needed to hurry off.

If William saw her, it would only complicate things. Grabbing her few remaining things, Nora looked both ways before exiting the study. Glancing at the empty castle corridors, she drew a breath. Hopefully, she could make it back to her chambers before Sorcha missed her.

As she ran, Nora's head was thumping. A hot stream of emotions overcame her. She had failed in her mission. She could not kill William, that was obvious now. Perhaps it had always been. But worse still, she had failed in her attempt to warn him.

With fear rising in her throat, she remembered her father's words. I will kill ye…

And not only that, but William as well.

Staying there was not an option. With a bursting heart, Nora realized what it was she had to do.

She must leave tonight.

* * *

"Nora? Where are ye, lass? Supper goes cold."

William's voice filtered through the hall doors. Hurrying to take her place, Nora felt a lump creep up in her throat. This would be the last time she saw him. How on earth was she going to cope?

"Och, excuse me, I apologize," said Nora, smiling and finding her seat. Behind her, the servant tucked her in fully before preparing her plate.

Sensing nothing wrong, William looked triumphant.

"Dinnae fash. Ye're here noo, an' just in time. We have game pie an' hearty mutton chops. Dig in."

He beamed widely, helping her to her seat. Then, pouring some wine, he gazed at her dearly.

"What happened to ye this morning, hen?" he hissed, whispering into her ear.

Nora pretended not to hear, turning away with a grin.

The hall was at best a quarter full. Most of the family members had already left, and Nora sensed greatly that William had arranged it so they would be undisturbed. All the same, there were courtiers and servants bustling about who might overhear.

Beside him was Alasdair, his friend. Watching him unsurely, Nora waited carefully until he was gone before talking. Both he and William seemed to be enjoying a good laugh, and Nora could only speculate what they were chatting about. Her, perchance?

Watching William so elated made her heart turn to dust. He was so happy, and she was about to ruin it. Taking a deep breath, Nora resolved to keep the tears at bay. What she was doing was for a good reason. Better to break William's heart now than drive a six-inch wedge of steel through it.

"My sweeting," said William, turning to her and giving her his fullest attention.

Nora flinched and felt her blood fizzle. The sensation of his grip made her wobble. Now he was watching her, holding her, and a very real emotion pulsated within her. This was going to be hard.

"M'Laird," said Nora, pouting. She pulled a face and made him laugh. Anything to burn the intensity of the moment. It was sitting too hard on her. Nora made herself smile as the legumes were passed and a sort of thin, watery pottage was served up.

"'Tis better than it looks. Really," said William, none too encouragingly.