Page 63 of Highland Vows of Betrayal

“My laird?” Marie reached for him.

“Nae!” He looked back at her sharply. “Whatever once passed between us is over now, Marie. Ye understand? It’s over!” She chewed on her bottom lip as she backed out.

“Scarlett!” Noah hastened to the corridor to catch sight of her skirt skipping past the corridor.

He chased her down and eventually caught up with her. She burst through her chamber door and went to close it, but he got there just in time and planted his palms there, pushing it open again.

She jumped back, fleeing across the room. “Leave my chamber, Noah. Now!” she demanded, pointing at the door. He kicked the door shut behind him and followed her around the room.

“Scarlett, please listen tae me,” he begged.

“I asked ye for one wish, and ye said ye’d give it tae me. That was all a lie!” Her voice strained with pain. She dropped to the other side of the bed as he darted round the bed posts, meeting her on the other side.

“‘Twas nae lie.” He stopped in front of her. “Believe me, I ken how bad that looks.”

“How bad? Do ye honestly see that?” She shouted at him, her face dark with rage. “She was ready to disrobe ye. She may as well have clawed yer clothes right off ye!”

“She didnae, did she? In case ye didnae notice, ye are the one I ran after.”

“Oh, lucky me,” she said with thick sarcasm, pushing past him.

He followed her around the room again. She escaped by rounding a table, but he cut her off the other way, forcing her to change path and retreat. “I didnae encourage Marie. I pushed her away; she wasnae welcome.”

“How do ye expect me tae believe that?” she asked wildly. “Ye practically kissed her!”

“I never!”

“How would I know?”

Ye have tae say something, ye fool.

The thought came suddenly. “Because I dinnae want a mistress!” He matched her loud tone. She stumbled back, silent for once. “Everything I said tae ye was true. I intend tae be loyal tae ye completely, for I dinnae want another.”

She stared at him, breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling.

“She was close tae ye, I ken,” she whispered, trying to determine the truth.

“And I pushed her away,” he repeated, closing the distance between them. “Aye, I ken this may be hard tae believe after my behavior, especially the day ye first arrived, but Scarlett, ye…” He trailed off, staring at her, wondering how to put his feelings into words. He sighed and lifted his hand, running his fingers through her red hair, pushing loose locks off her face. It was a touch of affection; one he was glad to see she did not pull back from. “Ye confuse me.”

“Confuse ye?” she repeated, her voice pitched high with surprise.

“Aye. I care for ye, more than I thought possible. That worries me.”

“Why dae ye worry?”

“It wasnae what I expected.” He shook his head. “Maybe I cannae put a word tae the feeling now, but what I do ken is that I dinnae want another. Marie pushed me, but I rejected her, I promise ye that. In fact,” he paused and looked at his other hand, realizing what was still there wrapped in his palm. He lifted it and proffered it. “I got this for ye.”

Her eyebrows rose as she looked at it.

“A necklace?”

“Aye. I ken ye said yer last was one yer mother gave ye. I ken this willnae hold the same significance, but I thought a necklace from yer future husband would mean something.” He handed it to her. “It’s a Celtic shield knot. Legend says it will keep the bearer safe.” She held the pendant aloft for light from the windows to illuminate it.

“Ye give this tae me?” she said in disbelief.

“Of course,” he nodded without hesitation. He felt his heartbeat in his chest, nervous about her reaction. She smiled at once.

“So ye werenae with Marie.”