Page 29 of Claimed Highland Brides

There was a pregnant pause in the room.

“Ye dinnae scare me,” Fiona said quietly. Daividh dared to look up to see her gazing placidly at him while Julieta stood behind her chair and glowered. He almost laughed at the picture they made but stopped himself. It would not do to have Fiona thinking he was mad.

“Fiona…” he whispered.

She leaned forward in her chair. “Yes, Daividh?”

“I have something...I have tae tell ye. Ye willnae like it.”

“Aye, is that so? What is it then?”

He sighed tiredly, shaking his head. “Ye’re uncle dinnae act in yer best interest when he sold ye tae Hunter. He acted in his. Hunter is blackmailing him.”

She blinked at him as if waiting for his assertion that he was joking. When he said nothing more her jaw fell open and she gaped. “Ye’re serious?”

“Aye. I’m afraid so.”

“Why d’ye think that?”

He told her about passing the laird’s study and the conversation he had heard. She listened raptly, not interrupting or asking any questions. He wondered if she was indulging him.

“Ye do believe me, do ye no?” he asked when he was done.

She stared at him for a long moment before nodding. “Aye. I think I do.”