Page 50 of Highland Vows of Betrayal

“Nae that, Ian.” Noah tore his gaze away from Scarlett and looked to his brother. “I mean that I… I…” he scrubbed his face with his hand, searching for the right words.

I am fond of her.

Unable to voice it, he said something else instead. “I wanted an obedient lady. Someone unlike her. Someone I wouldnae have feelings for. Someone who would just sit in a corner, do what she was told, and whom I would look at as I would look at an ornament in the room.”

“What?” Ian shot to his feet, so baffled that his jaw dropped. “Are ye telling me ye arenae sure about this marriage now because ye actually care for yer wife-to-be?”

“That isnae what I said.”

“’Tis what ye meant though, aye? Are ye thoroughly mad!?” his brother strode forward. “Many a man would delight in such a thing. What is so wrong with ye that ye’d make yerself miserable and nae marry a woman ye actually like?”

“I have my reasons. Maybe the marriage isnae a good idea.” Noah remained calm, even as Ian backed up, holding his hands in the air.

“I give up.”

“What?”

“I give up on ye,” Ian waved an accusatory hand at Noah. “Ye are truly impossible.”

“As I said,” Noah persisted stubbornly. “I have my reasons.”

A tap on the door indicated the end of their conversation. Noah resumed his seat at the head of the table and called for the council to enter. Ian sat beside him, barely uttering a word throughout the meeting and staring at the table, while the council calmly listened to everything Noah said before offering their views.

“What of these men ye spoke of before, Ian?” Trevelyan leaned on the table. “The ones yer scouts told ye about in the villages. The cloaked men, they were searching for someone, were they nae?”

Noah sat forward, realizing that Trevelyan was right. It would be a great coincidence for two groups of cloaked men to be seen within a week.

Unless they are the same group.

“Aye, they were searching.” Ian looked up from the table at last. “Maybe they are still here then. Either they’re searching the forest still, or they’ve returned to their village.”

Something about the idea bothered Noah. Why would the cloaked men spend so much time in the village if they were hunting the next Lady Chattan?

“They could be here now,” Noah said eventually.

“I think it wise we search for them, my laird.” Trevelyan nodded vigorously at him. “If they intend to hurt yer bride, ‘tis an attack on ye and the clan. We must protect ye all.”

Noah hadn’t always seen eye to eye with the elderly councilor, but in that moment, he was in fervent agreement.

“Aye, ye are right, Trevelyan. Something must be done.” Noah stood from his place at the head of the table. “Ian, ye and I will take a group of soldiers to search the village and the forest. If we discover something of these men, even find them, then perhaps we’ll understand why they come after my bride in the first place.”

Scarlett… my bride. That is, if I decide tae marry her at all.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“Scarlett?” Noah tapped on the door to her chamber. When there was no answer, he grew restless. He didn’t have long before he had to leave, and he certainly didn’t have time for Scarlett to test his patience now. Taking hold of the door handle, he opened the door and strode inside.

“In the name of the wee man above, are ye incapable of waiting on the other side of a door?”

“I knocked.” Noah fell silent in the chamber as he caught sight of her. She emerged from behind the screen, a loungewear dress draped over her shoulders. The dress was particularly casual. Her white chemise fit her perfectly, and an overlay of gold silk swathed loosely across her shoulders, gathered around her waist, and fell to the floor. It left little to the imagination. As Noah's gaze wandered up and down her body, he remembered what he had seen the day before at the loch. His mind was filled with images of Scarlett hovering above him as he pleasured her.

“Noah!” Scarlett waved an arm in front of his face. “Why dae ye stare?”

“Cannae ye guess?”

“Ah, ye are insufferable.” she marched away to a table at the side of the room. There was a silver tray on the service, bearing a cup and a jug of mead beside it. Scarlett poured a cup for herself.

“Insufferable, eh? Well, ye didnae say that last night.” When she lowered the cup and turned a glare on him, he took a chance and swiped the cup from her hand.