Page 64 of Secrets of a Kilted Seduction

He stared at her for a moment, seeming surprised that she should make such an observation. “That’s a very harsh way of putting it, if ye dinnae mind me sayin’ so. But yes, I suppose ye’re right. Lairds’ daughters tend tae be wed fer such reasons. But many of them end up bein’ very happy.”

“Dae they? How can ye ken that? Have ye met many?” she asked, secretly bristling at his assumption.

He laughed and looked a little sheepish. “I’ve met a few laird’s ladies, aye, and they’ve seemed happy enough. But I must admit that I mostly met them at parties, and everyone looks happy at a party, eh? I’ve never actually asked them if they are happy. I’d probably get me face slapped fer bein’ too forward.” He gave a small laugh, and Alana followed suit, wanting to keep him talking.

He sipped his drink and eyed her in what she thought was a speculative manner. “Maybe we men prefer tae believe such women are happy because it suits our selfish purposes. Let me amend me opening statement and say some of them are happy with their allotted husbands.”

“Aye, I think that’s likely more accurate. Marryin’ a stranger can be nay easy thing.”

“That counts fer both the men and the women in our class. Anyway, in such alliances, the couple often kens each other beforehand and are betrothed as children. They ken fer years in advance what’s in store fer them and make the best of it.”

“I suppose.”

“In any case, that’s out of the question now since ye already have a husband.”

“Aye, I have. Anyway, ye said the clan had a few ideas about what purpose I might serve fer the good of the clan. What were the others?” she asked.

She knew she was not mistaken when she thought he inched closer to her then. She did not like it one bit but thought she might be getting somewhere, so she let it go.

“Well, it was only one other idea really, and I hesitate tae tell ye what it was. In truth, it makes me blush just tae think if it.”

“Are ye capable of blushin’?” she said jestingly, determined to keep going.

“I may be a man and a laird’s son, but I can blush with the best of them when the situation calls fer it.”

Oh Lord, he’s moving closer!“I think ye’re teasin’ me, Blaine. Come on, dinnae be so coy. What does it matter now if ye tell me? As ye say, I already have a husband. Tell me, please.”

“Ach, ye’re twistin’ me arm now, Alana,” he replied, swallowing the last of his brandy and putting the glass down on the low table in front of the sofa. His eyes were animated, she noticed, as if he was getting excited. He leaned towards her. “All right, I’ll tell ye. The idea was that ye’d marry me.”

“Marry ye?” She feigned surprise.

“Aye, did ye nae consider the possibility? It would make sense. Ye’re the daughter of the laird, illegitimate, aye, but that would nae matter in this instance. ’Tis blood that counts. If ye and I were wed, it would give the clan the strength it needs. Fer I am the legitimate adopted son but lack our faither’s blood. It would be the perfect solution tae carry on the true MacIver line.”

“I’ve been raised tae take over as laird here. I ken everythin’ there is tae ken about governin’ this clan. With ye by me side, well…” He let the unfinished sentence hang in the air and raised his eyebrows.

“I notice ye’re talkin’ in then present tense,” she said, taking a big swallow of wine to mask her discomfiture.

“I’m speakin’ hypothetically, that’s all. Ye’re married tae Tadhg. I told ye it was embarrassin’, but ye forced me tae tell ye the truth.”

She frowned as though she was genuinely thinking it over. Then she said, “But if me faither adopted ye as his son, does that nae make us family?”

In a sudden swift movement she did not anticipate, he was by her side, looking intently into her eyes. “Legally, but we’re nae related by blood. There’s nae reason why we should nae be married.”

He’s flirting with me! But is that nae what I intended? I must persevere. And Tadhg can hear every word. He must be going crazy! Please, Lord, dinnae let him dae anythin’ rash.

“Dae ye think that’s what me faither would have wanted? Would he have approved?”

“I ken it was what he wanted. That was one of the reasons he searched fer ye and yer maither fer so long. And I can prove it too. I have an old document dating back around the time of me adoption. He writes about it in there.”

“Really?” she replied, inwardly stunned by the revelation though she tried her best to hide the fact.

“Aye. Would ye like tae see it? ’Tis with some of his other old papers in a locked cupboard in the other room. I’ve been studyin’ them fer clues as tae who might have abducted him. Come on, I’ll show it tae ye.” He went to rise.

She put her hand on his arm to stop him. “’Tis all right, ye neednae go tae any bother. I believe what ye say. There’s nae need fer me tae see the document.”

“But ’tis only in the room over there. ’Tis nay bother, and I’d like ye tae see

it,” he replied, getting up.