Page 48 of The Highlander’s Kilted Affair

“Well, if ye feel anything like me, I think I have an idea,” Audor replied warmly.

Once they released each other and parted, Benedict looked him up and down. “Are ye well? Was yer mission a success?”

“Never mind that,” Audor replied. “What news o’ the attack? I returned immediately when I discovered it.”

Benedict was shocked. “Ye heard about that? It only happened yesterday.”

Audor smiled mirthlessly. “There’s nae much I miss, braither.”

His words hit Benedict in the gut. If that were true, what else did he know? Did he know about himself and Evelyn?

Who could possibly have told him? Everyone at the castle thinks ye are he.

Someone didn’t. How else had Audor heard about the attack?

“I’m sure ye have already done everything that is needed tae deal with it,” Audor continued. “I trust ye implicitly, Benedict. Even on me return, I didnae worry fer a second that the clan was in danger kenning that ye were here and in charge.”

Benedict dropped his gaze. The guilt washed over him like a wave in a storm, crashing down on him and nearly taking his breath away.

I trust ye implicitly, Benedict – well, ye shouldnae. I’m a wretch.

Audor gazed at him for a long moment. “Are ye all right? Something is bothering ye. Has something happened?”

With every fiber of his being, Benedict wanted to confess. He wanted to open his mouth and let it all pour out, to rid himself of the guilt that had been eating away at his soul. And yet, it was as though he had been struck dumb. Like his mind had been wiped clean of all the words he knew, for he had no idea where he ought to begin.

The shame he had experienced while Audor was away had been nothing in comparison to the battle that was raging in his soul in that moment. He had been so confident when he had told Evelyn he would talk to Audor about their love, and yet, now that his brother stood before him, all he could feel was disgrace at the wrongs he had committed behind his back.

“It has been a difficult few days,” was Benedict’s only reply.

“Then sit, braither.” Audor gestured to the chairs beside the fire. “We will drink, and ye can tell me all that has occurred in me absence.”

Benedict did most of the talking, while Audor listened with interest. He was careful, of course, to omit all the occasions he had spent with Evelyn, but his brother clearly noted that.

“And what of Lady Sinclair?” Audor said. “I ken I put ye in a difficult position, Benedict. I’m also sorry that me journey took me away from me duties for longer than I had anticipated, but I am sure ye compensated fer me absence.”

Aye, I did that all right.

“Lady Sinclair is fine,” Benedict said shortly.

Audor gazed at him, one eyebrow lifting on his forehead. “I’m sure she is. But how did it go? Did she believe ye were me?”

Benedict had thought she had, right up to the second she told him she hadn’t. Which happened to be the entire time.

He shrugged. “There is nae reason she shouldnae. I didnae dae anything ye wouldnae have done.”

Apart from betray ye and sneak around behind yer back.

“And so, ye spent some time with her,” Audor pressed, clearly wanting far more than Benedict was willing to give.

“O’ course I did. Just as ye requested. In fact, we had several adventures.”

Benedict then went on to tell him about the boy they had found stuck in the tree. Telling the humorous story, he couldn’t help laughing, and soon enough, Audor was laughing too. He was careful to omit the parts where he teased her about looking up her frock, though. He was certain his brother would not have appreciated that part of the story, and besides, he didn’t want to give away too much.

When Audor seemed satisfied that Benedict had done right by Evelyn, he asked about the attack of the previous day. Again, Benedict gave him the details, specifying that he was certain it was an opportunistic attack, and that he didn’t believe there were more a than a few of Laird Keith’s men on their clan lands.

“Be that as it may,” Audor said, when he had heard the full report, “I want tae call the council again. I ken ye have met with them already, but there is something further I wish tae discuss with them.”

An hour later, the council were back in the study and having welcomed Benedict home, which felt more than bizarre, the meeting commenced.