Page 99 of Claimed Highland Brides

They spoke at the same time and then both stopped to give the other a chance. Delwyn gestured for Jamesina to go ahead and speak.

“Wha’s wrong?”

His eyebrows went up. “I beg your pardon?”

“Wha’s the matter Delwyn? I ken something is.”

He gawped at her, eyes and mouth wide. “How did you know?”

Jamesina shrugged. “Ye’ve the look. I ken how people look when something’s weighing heavy on their mind. Ye seem tae be laboring under something.”

Delwyn drew a deep breath, shaking his head. “Nothing gets past you eh?”

“Weel, I wouldnae say nothing but my da used tae say of me that I saw everything.” She shrugged.

“Your da was correct. You truly pay attention to things around you in a way that is precious and rare.”

She smiled. “Dinnae try tae distract me frae the question. Wha’s wrong?”

Delwyn sighed again, taking her hand and leading her to the chamber and closing the door behind him. He looked her in the eye, his own clouded and troubled. She clutched at his sleeve.

“Wha’ever it is, let me help ye.” Her voice was low and urgent as she tried to communicate with her eyes just how sincere she was.

He closed his eyes and swallowed. “I have something to tell you and I beg you to let me finish and not get upset.”

“Alrigh’.”

His breath came short and sweat beaded his bottom lip as he seemed to cast about looking for words. He took her by the arms and propelled her to the bed where he sat her down and then stood looming over her.

“My sister was abducted by brigands.”

Jamesina blinked twice, wondering if she’d misheard. “I beg yer pardon?”

“My sister, Maegan, she was abducted in London, by brigands. They brought her to Scotland and demanded a ransom.”

Jamesina gasped audibly.

Delwyn nodded. “Yes, it was quite unfortunate. My father refused to pay the ransom.”

Suddenly Jamesina felt as if she’d been doused in cold water as realization swept through her.

He married me for the gold.

Her head dropped into her hands and she focused on breathing in and out.

“Jamie?”

She shook her head frantically as she tried to take in enough air, “Don’t. Don’t call me that.”

“I asked you not to get upset before I finished.”

She lifted her head, glaring at him. “Is that so?”

“I know what you are thinking and you would have been right if you accused me of it at the inn in Drumacree or even the night that I kissed you. I did not mean to be caught doing it but I certainly felt that I benefited from the experience.”

“Oh, ye did? How wonderful for ye.”

“From the first, you captured my interest and I felt that if I must marry someone, then I was a lucky man that it could be you.”