Page 39 of The Laird’s Sinful Claim

"Aye." He hesitated, and she saw something like uncertainty cross his face. "The Cèilidh, it's important. Tae the clan. They need tae see us taegether. Need tae believe we're a properly married couple."

"I understand."

"Dae ye?" He took a step closer. "Because if this daesnae look real, if people start questionin' whether our marriage is legitimate, word will get back tae the Duke."

"Then we'd both be in danger." She held his gaze. "I know what's at stake, David. I was there when the Duke questioned us. I saw his face."

"Aye. Ye were." His expression softened slightly. "Ye did well, by the way. At Alnwick. The blush when ye mentioned the marriage bein' consummated, that was a nice touch."

"It wasn't a touch. I was mortified."

"Even better." His mouth quirked in what might have been a smile. "Natural is always more convincin' than rehearsed."

"I'll remember that when I'm pretending to be madly in love with you in front of your entire clan."

"Ye dinnae have tae pretend tae be madly in love. Just fond. Comfortable with me. Like a married couple should be."

Elinor thought of the past few days. The way they'd bickered and negotiated. The night in the inn when he'd touched her and she'd nearly used a favor to make him stop. The kiss on his cheek in the courtyard that had surprised them both.

Comfortable.

They were not comfortable with each other.

"We'll manage," she said finally. "We've managed everything else so far. Now leave."

She saw his shoulders shake slightly. Laughter, barely contained. "As me lady wishes."

The door closed behind him, and Elinor was finally, blessedly alone.

She sank onto the edge of the bed, pressing her hands to her hot cheeks. The way he'd looked at her in that wet chemise. The way his voice had roughened. The way she'd felt when his eyes had dropped, just for a moment, before he'd dragged them back up.

She felt something warm and unsettling that coiled low in her belly.

The next morning, Ainsley arrived with breakfast and an offer to show Elinor around the castle. Elinor accepted gratefully, desperate for distraction from thoughts of David's face when he'd seen her. David's voice dropping low. David's hands touching her in the inn, making her feel things she didn't want to name.

"This is the great hall," Ainsley was saying, gesturing to the massive space. "Where the clan gathers fer meals and celebrations. And through here is the kitchens. Oh, ye'll love Cook, me lady. She's terrifying but in the best way."

Elinor tried to focus. Tried to memorize the layout, the names of servants who curtsied as they passed, the details that would help her navigate this new life.

But her mind kept drifting.

The way his jaw clenched when hd looked at me. The way his eyes darkened.

The way he turned away like it was hard for him to do.

"—and this is the solar, where the ladies usually gather fer needlework, though there havenae been many ladies lately, and—me lady? Are ye listenin'?"

Elinor jerked her attention back to Ainsley. "Yes. Sorry. The solar. Fer needlework."

"Are ye alright?" Ainsley's freckled face was concerned. "Ye seem distracted."

"I'm fine. Just still tired from the journey."

"Of course." Ainsley's expression turned knowing. "And the laird probably kept ye up late, discussin' clan business and such."

"Something like that." Elinor's face heated. "Actually, where is David's office?"

"His study?" Ainsley pointed down a corridor. "East wing, second door on the left. But me lady, the laird daesnae like tae be disturbed when he's workin'. He's very particular about…"