Page 16 of Her Accidental Highlander Husband

Despite his discomfort, he must have managed to fall asleep, because he woke in his bed.

His room was empty, and for a moment it was easy to believe everything from the day before had been a dream. Except his bed still smelled of Mari.

She was real. And she’d just slipped out the door.

He dressed quickly and hurried to catch her. When he got to the corridor, he found her hovering by the stairs. He stepped closer and understood what had caused her to pause. Lachlan and Kenna were arguing in quiet hisses.

“I’m just saying I have a responsibility to keep the clan safe, and your sister being here may bring down a battle with the bloody English.”

“She is my sister. You canna turn her out. She has nowhere else to go.”

“We can give her funds.”

“Funds are not the same as having a home and family.”

“I’m merely considering all of our options.”

“Well, you can discard any options that end with sending Marian away. I’ll not have it, Lachlan MacKinlay. If you put her out, I’m going with her. And I’m taking my boys with me.”

“They are our boys, and you’re not going anywhere. We’ll come up with something everyone can agree on.” With that, they quieted, and he heard their footsteps move farther away.

Mari looked mutely up at Cam with sad eyes.

“Don’t worry. Kenna always gets what she wants in the end. Lach likes to play the one in charge, but he’s happily wrapped around his wife’s little finger.”

“He’s not wrong. I could be bringing great danger to the clan.”

Of course Cam knew this, but he wouldn’t allow the thought to take root. Mari was his wife now, which meant he had a duty to keep her safe and give her a happy life. He didn’t know the unpleasant details of her former marriage, but he knew she deserved better than whatever she’d been through.

No duchess would up and decide to kill her husband and run off to the wilds of Scotland alone unless she had no other choice.

“Shh. Don’t even think it,” he soothed. “If the worst were to happen, I would keep ye safe. You’re my wife now, and I protect what’s mine.”

When she frowned and looked away, he thought maybe she didn’t want to be his. She hadn’t chosen to be his. He hadn’t asked her thoughts on the matter. Neither of them had a choice, so it seemed like a waste of time to discuss it.

He let it go and escorted her down for the morning meal. Kenna and Lach were still unhappy and silent when they got to the head table.

Mari slipped her hand from Cam’s. “Please excuse me. I need a moment,” she whispered, and left before he had the chance to stop her.

Chapter Seven

Cam hesitated, unsure if he should go after Mari or not. She’d asked for a moment and it seemed rude not to give it to her.

He wasn’t the most knowledgeable of men when it came to a woman’s feelings. He knew how to please them in bed, and how to make them laugh. But the serious things… He’d never had much occasion to know such things. But now he had reason. He had a wife, and she was upset over what his clod-headed cousin had said in her hearing.

That being the case, it should be his cousin who should fix things.

“What’s wrong with Marian?” Kenna asked before Cam reached the table.

He pointed at Lach. “He’s what’s wrong with Mari. She heard the two of you arguing on the steps and she knows he wants to send her away. Could ye not have such discussions in your chamber so she’d not hear your stupid plans? Not that you’d get very far with such a strategy. If Kenna hadn’t already ended the notion, I surely would have.”

“I’m the laird. Why doesn’t anyone listen to me?” Lach complained. When Kenna tilted her head expectantly, he let out a sigh and tossed his bannock on the plate. “Fine. I’ll see to her and make sure she knows she’s welcome.” He continued to grumble under his breath as he passed by Cam to leave the hall.

“Know this, laird. If you make my wife cry, I’ll hurt ye during drills today.” It was no empty threat. He enjoyed making his cousin work for it. The man had been a soldier for years, fighting for the French in Spain. Lach certainly knew how to evade and attack, but Cam gave him a good show.

When Lach was out the door, Cam took his seat. A serving maid brought him his food, smiling attentively. A day or so ago he might have winked and stirred up a conversation. But instead, he offered a brittle smile and turned his attention to the woman sitting next to him.

“Thank you,” Kenna said.