Page 88 of Claimed Highland Brides

“Let us give her the night tae think aboot it,” Fiona cut in, stepping between Daividh and Jamesina.

“Aye alrigh’.” His eyes flicked to Delwyn. “Ye should get some rest as well.”

Delwyn bowed to them and took his leave and she was left with Fiona and her husband. Fiona reached out a hand. “Jamesina, if he coerced ye in any way, now is the time tae say,” she said softly.

Jamesina let her lashes sweep downwards, hiding her eyes. She could not hide the flush in her cheeks, however, as she bitterly regretted ever going up to the ramparts by herself. She was embarrassed that her sister had caught her in such a compromising position and now she would have to deal with knowing that her brother-in-law—whom she respected and loved—knew what she did as well. Now they would be forced to deal with the Englishman in a way they evidently did not want to.

“I think I shall retire as well,” she said.

Fiona nodded. “I’ll take ye to yer chambers.”

Jamesina opened her mouth, about to object, but then closed it. She supposed she could not blame Fiona for her abundance of caution. Jamesina had clearly shown she could not be trusted.

They took the backstairs, walking in silence, the torches in their sconces lighting the way for them. Jamesina took a breath several times to say something but could think of nothing.

They arrived at her door without having exchanged a word. She reached for the knob but Fiona stayed her hand.

“Jamesina, look at me please.”

She raised her eyes slowly and met Fiona’s eyes. Her sister sighed. “Are ye alrigh’?”

She sounded so worried that Jamesina could not continue to stand stiffly next to her. She slumped forward, knowing that her more diminutive older sister would catch her.

“I’m sorry,” she said into Fiona’s neck.

“Dinnae fash. It’ll be fine.”

“I dinnae ken what I was thinking. One minute we were standing there, and then he kissed me.”

“Ye’re attracted to him. ’Tis only natural.”

“You think so?” she sniffled, uncaring that she was spreading snot on her sister’s shoulder.

“Tis obvious.”

Jamesina sighed. “I suppose it is. I like him. I dinnae want to marry someone I do not know and I am not attracted to. There is just something aboot him...” She straightened up. “But I dinnae ken if we can trust him.”

“Aye, I dinnae ken either. But love happens to ye. You cannae choose it. ”

They stared at each other helplessly.

“What will we do?”

Fiona shrugged and then smiled slowly. “Let’s sleep on it. Something might occur tae us in the morning.”

Jamesina turned and went to her chambers with a sigh. She really hoped that Fiona was right.

* * *

Delwyn thought furiously as he paced up and down in his chambers. By accident, he had landed in a situation that was to his advantage.

The question is, what will I do with it?

He was very confident that the laird did not trust him. Neither did the laird’s wife. Hell, he wasn’t even sure what it was exactly that Jamesina felt for him.

What about me? What do I feel for her?

Delwyn couldn’t answer that question either.