Page 29 of Love Beyond Words
He smiled sympathetically.
“Lass, ye owe me nothing. Ye doona need to attempt to make me feel less guilty. I know I held ye in my arms.”
“I’m not trying to make you feel anything. Our handshake was the first time we ever touched. When I woke up, I was on one side of the bed and you were on the other.”
He didn’t appear to believe me, but I could see by the way he started to speak but then bit his lower lip that he’d decided not to argue with me.
“If that is the way ye remember last night, I am glad of it, for I dinna care for the way I felt about myself this morning. The thought that I frightened ye or made ye feel unsafe wounded me greatly. I’m glad that we may put all that happened last night behind us.”
I smiled and crossed my arms as I leaned back in the chair. With that discussion out of the way, I felt much more comfortable.
“Me, too.”
He nodded in agreement and then took a deep breath before speaking once more. His tone this time was more direct, and far less friendly.
“Now, lass, forgive me for being so blunt, but why did ye lie to Harry? I doona know ye. I know with certainty I’ve never seen ye before in my life. So what are ye doing here, and how do ye know my real name?”
So much for being comfortable.
Chapter 16
Raudrich watched Laurel closely as she shifted in the seat. She was beautiful. With blonde hair that fell just past her shoulders and thick, dark brows that framed icy blue eyes—even blurry—she was more attractive than he imagined she would be. It made his dreamlike memories of the night before come to life in a way that made it impossible to deny what had happened.
He’d not been dreaming. When the lass had woken, she’d not been on the other side of the bed. Why then, did she wish to pretend that nothing had happened? He believed her when she said she wasn’t trying to ease his guilt. What then wasn’t she telling him?
There were so many things he wanted to ask her, but he thought it best to start with the most pertinent question. They all needed to know why she was here.
“Why…why am I here? Would you believe me if I told you that I’m not quite sure?”
He shifted and then cried out as the pain in his side ricocheted down his body. His damn ribs were going to be a problem. He didn’t have time to lay in bed while they healed. He would have to call on the other men to use power they truly didn’t have to spare to heal him. There was so much they all needed to do to protect their home and people now that Timothy was gone.
Before he knew it, Laurel’s hands were on him. Gently she leaned toward him, placing her arms underneath his. Her movement was so intuitive, so natural, that he didn’t question it as she spoke gently near his ear. The feel of her breath against his neck sent shivers down his spine.
“Here.” She lifted him off the pillows, as she reached behind him to adjust them. “That doesn’t look like the best position for those ribs.” After a few moments of maneuvering, she released her grip and encouraged him to relax. “See if that is any better.”
It was. He sighed as he relaxed into the greater support that was now built up behind his back.
“Aye, thank ye.”
Smiling, she resumed her seat next to him.
“You’re welcome. I’m sure you were about to tell me no—that you wouldn’t believe me.”
She was right. He didn’t.
“Ye are not from this village. To come to our territory requires not only a long journey by horse, but also the short distance between this isle and the mainland by boat. Why would ye make such a journey if ye dinna know yer reason for doing so?”
Laurel sighed and leaned forward to rest her elbows on her knees as she spoke to him. It was a casual position and one he’d never seen a woman rest in. He found it rather endearing.
“You’re going to think I’m crazy.”
Laurel’s accent was one he’d heard before. He sensed that if he could simply place it, so many answers about the strange woman would fall into place.
“Where are ye from, lass? Yer speech is uncommon, but I’m sure that I’ve heard it somewhere before.”
Laurel’s expression lifted, as if his acknowledgment gave her hope.
“Boston.” She hesitated and then continued. “In…in the colonies.”
