Page 60 of Highland Vows of Betrayal

“… more than I ever expected…”

“Thank the wee man above for that.” He gave her quick fleeting kisses to her lips, cheeks, and thoroughly across her still heaving breasts. She giggled at those touches and threaded her arms across his neck, bringing him back to face her. Their lips moved softly together as they settled, his body still connected to hers.

Scarlett felt palpable sweat on her body, heat emanating from her skin, as if the fire still burned inside her.

“Well, we jumped the wedding, did we nae?” she said sleepily. He chuckled, his fingers resting on the curve of her breast.

“I’m glad of it.”

“As am I.” Coming to the study that evening had changed everything. Now she knew Noah better than ever before—not just his body, but his heart as well.

How can he bear such sorrow? How can he bear the sorrow life delivered to him?

“I have that wish, remember,” she whispered. “Ye recall our knife game—the winner is granted a wish.”

“If yer wish is tae do it again, I will happily oblige, but ye might still be a bit sore,” he chuckled, prompting her to do the same.

“My wish is something else altogether.” Somewhere in her mind, she knew she’d done an awful thing. She had lain in sin with her sister’s husband-to-be. It was a betrayal, but one she was unable to resist.

I care for him, much more than I should.

“My wish is that ye never take a mistress.” There was an awful lump in her throat; she was abruptly sad to ask for Eloise’s sake, not her own.

“Scarlett,” he whispered, stroking her tangled hair that came loose during their lovemaking. “I havenae spent a moment with a mistress since our conversation yer first day here. I dinnae wish for a mistress.”

And she believed him.

Reaching up, she kissed him again, trying to thrust away all thoughts of the future. She thought only of being there, connected with Noah, his body entwined with hers.

* * *

Scarlett sat in the library, humming a tune to herself when a tap sounded at the door. She sat forward, hoping it would be Noah. The last three days they’d spent much time together.

“Me lady? A letter has just arrived for ye.”

Scarlett took the letter and waited for the guard to leave. The moment he was gone, she ripped it open.

There is only one who would write tae me. ‘Tis the letter I have been waiting for.

Peeling back the paper, she found Eloise’s handwriting before her.

Dear Scarlett,

I am so sorry my letter has taken so long. I am nae sure if ye have written tae me in France or nae, as in the end, I never left these shores. I was about tae board the boat when I received information that Avery was in Scotland!

I am delighted tae tell ye I have found our brother. What a reunion it was! I cried for so long, and when I told him of ye, he cried as well. He’s heartbroken that yer life has been hidden from us. We must find a way for all of us tae talk soon, tae be together, and tell one another of our lives. Avery has a tale of his own tae share, but I will let him tell ye himself when we meet. I cannae wait until we are together at last.

As ye can see, it has taken less time than I thought tae find him, so the time has come for us tae swap places again. I am obligated to marry Laird Chatttan, even if it is far from the future I desire.

Scarlett broke off to swallow uncomfortably, her hands shaking. She imagined Eloise’s marriage to Noah and didn’t doubt her sister would be happy. She’d be cared for by a passionate good-humored man with more heart and depth of feeling than Eloise could ever be prepared for.

“Ye will be happy—a happiness I envy with my entire soul,” Scarlett whispered before she carried on with the letter.

I have made arrangements tae return tae the tavern where we met. I will be there two weeks earlier than we agreed on. I’ll meet ye there on Saturday, the night of the full moon.

Best nae write back tae me. I fear our letters could be intercepted and the truth of our subterfuge discovered. I shall meet ye then, and we will discuss everything then.

Yer loving sister,