Page 71 of Highland Vows of Betrayal

Scarlett looked away, blushing.

“Scarlett, look at me,” Eloise demanded. “Speak truly.”

“Aye, ‘tis important. Ye must answer.” A newcomer’s voice made Scarlett flinch; a voice she knew well.

“Who goes there?” Avery demanded, reaching for his sword.

“Nae!” Scarlett blocked Avery’s advance, turning to see Noah emerge from the shadows, arms crossed, his expression dark but imperious.

“Well, Scarlett?” he challenged, looking between her and Eloise. “I know what is afoot here.”

“Please, Noah,” Scarlett interjected.

“That is Laird Chattan?” Avery asked, agape.

“Aye, must be,” Eloise murmured nervously.

“Ye arenae Eloise.” Noah accused, pinning Scarlett with his dark gaze, making her wish the ground would swallow her whole.

Pray, dinnae hate me, please Noah.

“Nae, Noah. I am her twin. I am Scarlett.”

He muttered an oath that made Eloise flinch. “How can I believe ye!” he roared. She reached toward him, placing her hands on his chest, but he moved back instantly, pushing her back. “Answer yer sister’s question then. Pray, do! “Tis what I wish tae ken too.”

“Noah, please—”

“Ye professed yer love. Did ye lie? Was everything that passed between us just an act?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Noah felt blindsided, as if Scarlett’s daggers all found their mark in his chest. How could this have happened?

He had let his guard down. Despite his better judgment, he had opened his heart to her. He loved her. Damn it all, he loved her.

“I do. I love ye,” Scarlett whispered.

He looked to Eloise behind Scarlett. They were perfectly alike, yet Eloise stared at him frozen like a statue, and he knew she didn’t have the spirit Scarlett had, not ever.

“Please, let us talk alone,” Scarlett said urgently.

“We dinnae need tae talk, because I ken if ye felt anything for me, anything akin tae love, ye wouldnae have done this.” He glared at her angrily.

“’Tis nae that simple!” she protested.

“Ye lied!” he bellowed like a wounded beast.

“Aye, I did, but for good reasons. Please, ye must believe that.”

“How?” Noah felt such anger rippling him, he could not calm himself. His heart thundered as he glared at her. “After I told ye of my father… I told ye I didnae wish tae marry. I feared deception and look what ye have done!” He held his hands out, gutted. “We werenae yet married and ye deceived me.”

“It’s nae that simple!” Her breath hitched on a sob. In the moonlight, he saw tears coursing down her face.

Before, her tears would have crippled him, but everything had changed between them. Now the sight of her tears induced resentment and anger.

“Dinnae try tae manipulate me now with false tears.”

“’Tisnae manipulation!” She wept into her hands, heartbroken. “If ye would let me explain, I can tell ye everything. All of it.”