Page 9 of Craved By a Highland Beast

“We were given this upon arrival,” Finlay said, as he handed her a folded letter addressed to her with Macauley’s wax seal on it. Bonnie took it and tore it open, once again fearing that something had happened to Cathleen and Macauley, her eyes quickly scanning the words.

Over her shoulder, she could feel Laird MacGregor’s breath as he stood too close for comfort, and Bonnie shifted her stance in an effort to hide the letter from him. It was easier said than done, though, when he seemed determined read what the page said and shifted along with her.

From the moment she laid eyes upon the paper, she knew the letter had come from her sister, her handwriting so familiar thatit was instantly recognizable. Dread gripped Bonnie as she read that he and Macauley could not make it to the wedding, after all, due to unfavorable weather conditions, and that they were stuck in Clan Drummond after their visit there, unable to go anywhere.

Slowly, she turned to look at Laird MacGregor, wondering how she would escape him now. With Macauley and Cathleen there, she could have managed it, even if it would take some effort. Now that she was alone there, with no one but her guards, any hope of escape seemed futile.

And then, she saw another man approach, one she had never seen before. Much like Laird MacGregor, he was a handsome man, as well as tall and muscular, though upon a first look at him, he didn’t seem nearly as intimidating.

“Good afternoon, me lady,” said the man, bowing to her. “I am Graeme Ruthven, Laird of Clan Ruthven. Ye are Bonnie MacLaren, correct?”

Bonnie froze at the mention of the man’s name. He was the one to whom she was supposed to be betrothed. He was the one the council had selected for her.

Now I’m trapped with them both!

CHAPTER FOUR

Graeme Ruthven.

Evan knew precisely who the man approaching them was the moment he laid eyes upon him. He had thought it would be harder to approach him, but now he was approaching Evan unprompted, and Evan couldn’t help but wonder if he had somehow managed to find out about the plan.

But then his eyes were fixed on Bonnie, as though she was his target and not Evan himself. Did they know each other? Could Evan use her to get closer to the man?

When Evan glanced at her, Bonnie gave no signs of recognition and when Ruthven introduced himself, there was a strange shift in the way she held herself—shoulders hunched and head bowed slightly, as though she was trying to make herself appear smaller.

As though she was trying to hide from him, perhaps.

“Laird Ruthven,” said Bonnie as she gave him a bow. “It is a pleasure tae make yer acquaintance.”

There was an edge in Bonnie’s tone that betrayed her words were not entirely true, but she delivered them with the practiced politeness of a well-taught noble girl. Someone else may have missed it; Ruthven himself may have missed it, but Evan noticed it immediately, simply because he had trained himself to listen for such subtle signs. One never knew when one may find an unlikely ally, and Evan couldn’t help but think that Bonnie could be one such ally to him now.

If she dislikes Laird Ruthven, perhaps she can be convinced tae help me willingly.

But why did she dislike him? It seemed like it was the first time they had met each other and as much as Evan hated to admit it, Laird Ruthven was a good catch for a noble woman like Bonnie—or for any woman, in fact. Others would surely be trying to get his attention, but he had come straight to her to introduce himself.

It must have been her beauty, Evan thought, which attracted him. She was a difficult woman to resist.

“The pleasure is all mine,” Ruthven said with a wide, charming smile, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners. Evan thought he must have been a little older than his own thirty years, but he wore them well. He seemed like the kind of man who looked better as he aged. “Where are the Laird and Lady MacLaren?”

Before Bonnie could respond, Evan jumped into the conversation, taking his chance. “They couldnae make it due tae the weather,” he said, remembering what he had read on the letter Bonnie had received from them. “Me brother an’ I were instructed tae accompany Miss MacLaren instead.”

From the corner of his eye, Evan saw the shocked expression on Bonnie’s face, the way her mouth fell open and her eyes widened in shock. For a moment, he was worried she would refute his claims and tell Ruthven the truth, but then she seemed to think better of it and pressed her lips shut, remaining silent.

She must like him even less than she likes me.

“I dinnae believe I have met ye or yer bother,” Ruthven said, his smile never fading even as his eyes narrowed slightly.

“Evan MacGregor,” said Evan with a small bow, one that Ruthven quickly returned. “Laird of Clan MacGregor. Miss MacLaren an’ I are . . . cousins.”

It was the first thing that popped to Evan’s mind and it was just as good an excuse as any. Ruthven, at least, seemed to believe it, giving no indication of suspicion.

“Then will ye be the ones accompanyin’ her tae Castle Ruthven?”

Evan froze, glancing at Bonnie from the corner of his eye, but from what he saw, she was just as surprised by that.

“Am I supposed tae come tae Castle Ruthven?” asked Bonnie. “Why?”

It was Ruthven’s turn to be confused. “Well . . . ye are me betrothed. Yer council asked if ye could spend some time in yer new home afore our weddin’.”

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