Page 47 of The Highlander’s Unexpected Wife

Chapter Fourteen

The knock became more insistent. “Who is it?” Cameron called.

“The maid, sir, with your dinner,” a girl replied.

“Quick, get behind the changing screen,” he whispered to Alison. She frowned, and he said, “Your dress, Alison.”

Her mouth parted in a small gasp, then she hurried behind the screen. Cameron opened the door and two maids entered, carrying platters laden with food. They set the platters on the table, along with a decanter of brandy, then curtsied and left. He locked the door, then bade Alison return to her seat by the fire.

Cameron poured two tumblers of brandy and handed one to her. “This will settle your nerves.”

She sipped the brandy. He filled two plates with cold meats, cheeses, and several sweetmeats, then gave her one. He grabbed his plate, then sat. Alison nibbled on the meat and cast nervous glances at the door.

“What happened with the man?” he asked with as much gentleness as he could muster. He wanted to ride back to the brothel and beat every man there.

She returned the meat to her plate. “I hit him with the water basin—the man Sarah sold me to.”

“You are certain you killed him?” Cameron hoped she had. He finished his brandy in two gulps.

She shook her head. “He was bleeding and didn’t move.”

Cameron rose and set his plate on his seat, then refilled his glass. He returned to his seat. “Finish your brandy.”

She took another sip. “Will a magistrate believe that I was defending myself?”

Cameron looked up from his plate. She stared, eyes wide. Dirt smudged her cheek.

“No one will know it was you.”

“How can you be sure?”

He smiled gently. “Only a fool would risk a dawn appointment by insinuating that Viscountess Weston frequents brothels.”

She slowly nodded. “It was horrible. I prayed you would find me.”

He lifted her face. “And I did. You belong to me now.”

She frowned. “I am not going to marry Robert, am I?”

The question startled him, but he said in a neutral tone, “Do you still want to?”

She dropped her gaze. “When that man kidnapped me, I gave not a single thought to Robert.”

Relief flooded him. With a finger under her chin, Cameron tilted her face upward. “There is no need to feel guilty, love.”

“But I promised to marry him.”

“Were you and he ever intimate?”

Her brow furrowed, then her mouth fell open. “I beg your pardon. Robert is a gentleman. He would never— I would never—” Her cheeks reddened.

“Then you need not worry,” he said. “After all, you didn’t break your promise on purpose.”

“I wouldn’t have broken the promise at all had I not interfered in Erin’s business.”

It wasn’t Miss Lennox’s business, but her father’s. Cameron said, “Would you like to hear a secret?” Her mouth parted in surprise, and Cameron had the impression she wasn’t certain. Still, she nodded, so he said, “I am pleased you tried to save her from me.”

“You are? Why?”