Page 42 of Claimed Highland Brides

The long red-haired man behind the counter looked up, blue eyes glimmering with curiosity. "Aye, Campbell." He nodded at the warrior familiarly, eyebrows raised at Fiona.

"Wilkins. Ye recall that debt of honor ye owe me?"

The man's eyes widened even as he nodded. "Aye."

"I need tae use yer backroom for a while and nobody ken aboot it."

Wilkins' eyes narrowed. "Now look here Campbell, I owe ye my life but I cannae let ye defile the lassie on my premises...no." He shook his head as well as waved his hands to make the point. Both Fiona and Daividh began to protest at once.

"He isnae⁠—"

"I dinnae mean tae defile anyone! We just require somewhere private to talk."

"Talk?" Wilkins sounded supremely skeptical, his eyes on their joined hands.

"Aye."

Wilkins made a grumbling sound in his throat but unlocked his back room and let them through. Daividh nodded his thanks as he walked through the door, propelling Fiona ahead of him. She wheeled on him as soon as he closed the door behind him. “Have ye lost yer mind? Do ye think my uncle willnae hear o’ this?”

“I ken he willnae.”

“Oh? And how d’ye ken tha’?”

“Because there isnae any love lost between Wilkins and my liege. Also, Wilkins owes me his life. He keeps my secrets.”

“And is that wha’ I am? Yer secret?”

Daividh shrugged. “That is what I wanted tae speak tae ye aboot. Ye’re a leddy, aboot to be married tae a laird, and yet here ye are, wi’ me. Wha’ is this, Lady Douglass? Wha’ are we doing?”