Page 397 of Wicked Highland Heroes

Iain seated himself beside Victoria and took a long drink of ale from the cup before him. “I see you have met my wife,” he said to Liam as he sat the mug down.

“Wife?” Liam’s eyes widened. “I didna’ know you were wed.” Looking at her, he grinned. “You did not tell me that you had married the MacPherson.” “You did not ask, my lord.”

Liam burst into hearty laughter. “True.” He transferred his attention to Iain. “You have a fine wife.”

Iain nodded, though Victoria doubted he agreed.

“But I am surprised you would let her go riding alone.”

Iain’s gaze shot to her, and Victoria froze.

“’Twas fortunate we came upon her,” Liam went on. “The lass was in a sad state when we found her.”

Iain’s mouth thinned. “A sad state?”

“My lord,” Victoria began, but he silenced her with a hard look, then addressed Liam.

“What do you mean?”

“She was crying. ’Tis sad to find a woman that way.”

“Christ,” Iain exploded softly, and emptied the contents of his mug in one long gulp.

As the evening passed, it didn’t escape Victoria’s notice that her husband directed his attention to Liam throughout the meal. Neither did she miss the fact that everyone at the table seemed as aware of this as she. The mood lightened when Katherine appeared and introductions were made. When Victoria finally rose, making her excuses for the night, she almost jumped out of her skin at the sound of Iain’s chair scraping across the stone floor as he shoved it back.

“I will retire for the night as well,” he said.

She caught the fine edge of tension in his voice and heat rose to her cheeks. She managed to reach the stairs as he offered Liam accommodations and was well up the steps when he bound up after her.