Page 14 of Tempting the Highland Captive

Amelia made a small sound of distress, then took Ron’s arm and ushered him out of the hall and up a flight of stairs. She paused at the top to ensure that no one had followed them, then hissed in a small voice, “What is it that ye want o’ me, Kyall?”

“I want what ye owe me with interest.”

“Interest?”

“Money.”

“I dinnae owe ye anything,” she denied vehemently. “Ye are supposed tae be dead. I dinnae owe a dead man anything.”

“Aye, but I am nae dead as ye can plainly see,” he stretched his arms out to gesture the length of his person alive and vibrant if not a bit dirty. “And ye owe me a consummation, along with a living as that which yer husband would be entitled to.”

He could tell that she wanted to slap him but restrained herself. “And what do ye plan tae do with this money?”

“I will go tae France as a mercenary.”

“Ye have nae desire tae remain here and challenge my authority as laird?” It was a risk, her asking him such a thing, but she had been brave, and he admired her for that.

“I dinnae wish tae remain in Scotland any longer than I must. I wish tae leave the past upon its shores.”

He could see her mind working behind the myriad emotions in her eyes. “I will give ye money, but I will nae give ye a consummation. Ye will have tae earn the money by playing the role o’ my husband, a military captain recently home from the Americas. When the time comes that the village is rebuilt and the clan safe, then ye will return tae the life that ye wish. Do ye ken enough about being a warrior tae convince the men o’ the clan?”

Ron chuckled. “I do.” He nodded. She clearly had no notion as to who he was or what he was capable of. She had plainly not made any inquiries about him upon leaving him in the prison, though he had been treated better from that day forward. “And how do ye plan tae explain my leavin’ ye?”

“Ye will be called away by the king tae serve once more. We can get a private annulment and nae man o’ the clan need be any wiser about it.”

“An annulment?”

“Aye, the marriage was nae consummated.”

Ron shook his head. “Ye must prove that lass, which means witnesses. Annulments are nae private matters. Ye would nae only have tae prove that we had nae lain together, but that we were incapable o’ doin’ so. As ye may have noticed the last time that we were together, I am fully capable.”

Amelia’s face blanched white, then turned crimson. “I see…”

Sighing, Ron shook his head in frustration. “I will testify that I could nae bed ye.” She opened her mouth to say something, but he held his hand up to stop her. “I will do this for a price, but if I am required tae prove my words before others, then we both ken what will happen. My reputation is already ruined. It will nae harm me further tae say such a thing, but it could harm ye if we fail.”

Amelia took a deep breath and nodded. “We will face that if it comes.”

“Aye, tae the price then.”

Amelia shot him a warry look, but after much haggling they finally agreed on a price. “Tae be paid upon yer departure and nae a day sooner,” she warned him, the expression on her face much like that of a mother scolding a disobedient child.

Ron stifled a chuckle at the absurdity of their situation and nodded his confirmation. “Agreed.”

“Now what tae say tae the clan,” she murmured to herself, as much as to him.

“How about starting with as much o’ the truth as ye can bear tae,” Ron recommended. “The truth is easier tae remember than a lie.”

“I cannae tell them the truth.” She shook her head. “It would be a disaster.” Amelia then proceeded to explain to him the lies she had told since their wedding and the circumstances that her father’s wishes upon his death had brought about.

“I see,” he murmured thoughtfully. “I understand why ye wished tae wed me a bit better now, but I am certain there were other ways o’ goin’ about getting what ye wanted, lass.”

“I am certain that there are, but I was limited in my options and time was o’ the essence.”

“My sympathies at the passin’ o’ yer Da.” He meant every word. He knew all too well the pain of losing a parent and she had lost both of hers.

“I thank ye for yer kind words, but that is the past and I have moved on. I must lead my people in tae the future, safe from their enemies.”

“I can help with that. I am a good hand with a sword.”

Amelia smiled for the first time since the conversation had begun. “I thought ye might be. Ye have the look about ye.” She blushed then and he smiled back. He liked the way her eyes slid over his muscles in an almost yearning fashion.

“Are ye certain ye wish tae hold tae the nae consummation?” he murmured stepping closer to her and running his thumb along the side of her cheek down to the corner of her mouth. His eyes lingered upon hers as he dipped his head to kiss her.

Her eyes went unfocused for a moment, her breath catching in her throat, but then a loud booming sound from below stairs jarred her back to reality and he saw the fight enter her eyes once more. “Quite certain,” she answered, then ran down the stairs to see what was going on. “I will send Maggie up tae show ye yer room,” she threw over her shoulder as she went, leaving him to stand alone in the corridor atop the stone staircase to wait.

“I will have ye in my bed, wife.” He smiled knowingly at her fleeing form. “Ye will beg me for it afore I am gone.”