Page 77 of Highland Vows of Betrayal

“Ye saved my life,” he murmured before she had chance to answer. Her smile flickered into place, but only momentarily.

“I’m here because I love ye.” Her words were simple but powerful. Overwhelmed, he just stared at her. She reached over and clasped his hands around the glass. “Callie said ye had tae drink it all.”

“Tell me again.”

“Ye have tae drink it all.”

“Nae that bit!” He lifted the glass to his lips, downed every last dreg, then placed it on the table beside him. “Tell me again what ye said tae me.”

“I love ye.” She said, not blinking once. “I wouldnae lie tae ye about that.”

“I dinnae understand.” He shook his head, baffled.

“Please, let me explain everything this time.” She reached for his hand and he allowed it. Slowly, their fingers entwined together. “My name is Scarlett, and I am a tavern girl.”

That’s what Athol said.

Noah waited for her to go on, not wishing to interrupt her.

“It was the life I kent,” she explained, starting to recount her tale. “Then, a few months ago, Eloise found me.”

“Before our mother died, she confessed the truth tae her. She feared what our father would do, what could happen tae the two of us.”

“What would he have done?” Noah wondered.

“I dinnae ken.” Scarlett shook her head. “I heard a story once of children sent away and the mother tried for witchcraft. If my mother heard the same tale, then that was the fate she tried tae avoid by separating us.”

“I see.” Noah leaned back, finding himself exhausted by such a simple movement. “She was protecting ye both.”

“Aye.” Scarlett smiled sadly. “She told Eloise the truth as she lay dying, beggining her tae bring the family back together. Tae find me and our brother, Avery.”

“The man ye were with, the one ye embraced.” Noah realized the man with the auburn hair outside the tavern had to be the brother. “He killed Athol.”

“Aye. He stopped Athol before he could come at ye again,” Scarlett explained in a rush to forget the memory. “Eloise wished tae find him, but tae do so, she couldnae come here tae yer castle, nae yet; she needed time. So, she thought I should take her place.”

“And ye agreed? So easily?”

“Nay, nae so simply.” Scarlett shook her head. “Noah, the only world I’ve ever kent was that tavern. The prospect of kenning a sister and brother, that was everything tae me. Eloise said that after we had switched back, she would help me travel, so I can see the world for what it really is rather than the four walls of the tavern where I grew up. I couldnae resist it.” She shrugged helplessly. “The plan was tae be here for a few weeks and then change back. I planned tae keep ye at a distance.”

“Great plan,” he said wryly.

“I wasnae planning tae like ye so much, tae love ye as I do,” she whispered, and her hand tightened around his. “I wish ye tae ken, Noah, I never lied when I was with ye, I never pretended tae be anything I wasnae. When I was with ye, I was myself. I think the only time I was someone else was that first day when I mistook yer brother for ye.”

“Ye mistook Ian for me?” Noah realized, then closed his eyes. “That’s why ye flirted with him.”

“Eloise said she’d heard a rumor Laird Chattan wasnae fond of sweet and overly affectionate women. I thought it would keep ye at a distance, then I met the real ye.” She lifted her head and shot him a look. “But ye broke down my walls.”

“Ye look a bit angry for it.” He smiled at last, feeling such relief wash over him, he couldn’t put it into words.

“Well, it wasnae supposed tae happen.”

He gave way to laughter and kissed her hand.

“It broke my heart tae leave ye and it’s why my heart will break again when I have tae watch ye marry Eloise, so I must leave—"

“I cannae marry her.”

“What do ye mean?” Scarlett murmured.