Page 58 of Highland Vows of Betrayal

“Plainly.” He gestured toward her. “Do ye think me so devoid of feeling that my heart wouldnae bleed for the man? Hmm, I would have sworn ye liked me just a little after what happened between us in that cottage on the croft.”

“Dinnae tease me by talking of that night.” She waved her hands in the air. “Ye have a temper. Ye and I both ken it.”

“I do.”

“I thought ye would be angry. Ye can hardly blame me for thinking that.”

“Maybe ye just need to ken me better.” He stood and she fidgeted, wringing her hands together as she stepped closer toward him.

Ah, so near.

His hunger for her stirred again when she came close.

“I dinnae ken ye, nae enough,” she pointed out. “I feared ye would be mad.”

“Then let me correct a few things for ye. I may be quick tae anger, but when I exercise my authority, it is because I am a laird.” He paused, waiting for the words to sink in. “I let the council and the people see my anger, for it makes things clear as to my position. I cannae have people think I’m weak. Such things lead to challenges of authority.”

Scarlett nodded.

“As for Angus.” Noah sighed, thinking of all the times he’d given Angus money. “He comes here and tells me different stories every time because he doesnae ken how else tae get the money. Sometimes I give it, sometimes I dinnae. I wouldnae begrudge anyone ever giving the man a chance. He’s poor and needs all the help he can get sometimes.”

“That is very kind of you,” Scarlett said, smiling happily.

“Yer calling me kind?”

“I dinnae ken. I havenae quite figured ye out yet.” She crossed her arms and tilted her head. “Then again, ye dove over me in a loch tae protect me from deadly arrows, so of course, I say yer kind, aye? Yet ye also wished tae hunt deer…”

“I never hunt for fun.” Noah’s pronouncement silenced her. “I will hunt for food, if necessary, but I get nae pleasure in death. I took ye hunting tae test ye, tease ye, aye I admit it. There is something quite amusing in watching ye match my strength at times.”

“Ah! Ye think I match yer strength?” She laughed at the idea. “I’m guessing ye refer tae character; I couldnae match yer strength in battle.” She looked him over; he had that heated look she recognized and was coming toward her.

“Dinnae tempt me to wrestle with ye, Scarlett. Nae now.”

“Ye have put the idea in my head yersel!”

“Maybe a little.” They laughed, their heads bent close, enjoying themselves together. He longed to “My father always helped people. I wish tae be like him, in some ways.”

“Why in some ways only?” Her question made his stomach clench.

Now is yer chance tae tell her, ye fool. If ye do marry her, she should ken the truth.

He went over to the table, sat on the edge and reached for the whisky carafe, topping off his glass before taking a small sip. “My father was the greatest man that ever breathed.” He looked at Scarlett, seeing she that was tongue-tied, waiting for him to continue. “He was kindness itself, and my mother… she took advantage of his kindness.”

He shifted his weight on the table, rolling the glass between his palms. “Where my father took time tae be a father to Ian and me, our mother never did. She was always busy, doing things, despite the fact she didnae have our father's responsibilities. Little did we ken the whole time that she was betraying our father.”

“Betraying how?” Scarlett murmured, hardly comprehending the matter.

“She had a lover.” Noah’s voice darkened bluntly, and his fingers tightened around the glass. “Her lover murdered my father.”

Scarlett’s reaction was immediate. She gasped and clapped her hands over her mouth, nearly backing into the mantelpiece.

“My mother hardly cared. She probably conspired with her lover.” Noah, said, disgusted. He swirled the amber liquid in his glass, unseeing as he was lost in heartbreaking thought. “We arrested the man, but he escaped before the execution took place. My mother claimed heartbreak, probably over of the loss of her lover, and she took her own life.”

“Heavens above,” Scarlett whispered, dropping her hands to her lap as she tried to understand what Noah and Ian lived through. “This is what ye have held inside ye this whole time?” She placed a hand on his shoulder. Her touch did everything for her and he placed his hand over hers. “History willnae repeat itself, Noah. Nae every woman is like yer mother.”

“I ken that,” he said, even though he feared it in his lowest moments. “When I heard I was tae marry an obedient woman…” He paused and shook his head. “I thought of how my mother always pretended tae play by the rules. But she said one thing and did another. I feared ye could be like that.”

“I’m nothing like that.”