Page 79 of The Highlander's Auctioned Virgin
“Nae Thomas?” Elinor echoed, her mouth dropping open in surprise.
“Ye’re me wife.”
“Nae yet.”
“Elinor– ”
“What? ‘Tis true.”
“The point is,” Ciaran continued anyway, “if I cannae protect ye on me own, then I’m nae worthy of being yer husband.”
He saw it, even if for a brief second. The look of satisfaction flitting across her face. It had disappeared just as soon as it had come.
“Is that nae one of the qualities ye’re looking for in a husband? Protective?”
Elinor laughed. “Ye remembered.”
“I would be remiss nae to.”
Silence descended between them, this time less tense. More companionable. The slightest smile tugged her lips upward.
His eyes moved away from her lips and back to her face. What he would not do to grab her and kiss her right now. Take her on the table nearby.
He shook off the thought. No, he would never do that. Not when it could lead to a child. And that was the last thing he wanted.
The silence must have lasted for quite a long time, for he started when Elinor broke it.
“I shall ask the stable boys to fetch our horses,” she declared in a soft voice.
“And I,” Ciaran said, walking past her to the door, “shall go finish me breakfast.”
He didn’t look back at her, just pulled the door open and stepped out, the creak of the hinges filling the gap between them.
He walked back to the dining hall, his feet quickening across the floor, thoughts swarming his head unrelentingly.
He wouldn’t just be responsible for himself on this trip. He’d be looking out for her as well. And he’d be damned if he let anything touch a hair on her head.
It had been an hour since breakfast, and Anna sat on the edge of Elinor’s bed, watching her sister get ready.
The room smelled of fresh bathing oils and wood. The mirror before Elinor reflected the light filtering through the two windows in the room.
“Are ye certain?” Elinor asked while adjusting the neckline of her dress.
“I am nae some kind of bride monster, Elinor. ‘Tis yer wedding. It’ll still be here when ye return.”
“Aye. But ye have been very passionate about the preparations. I am afraid that leaving ye alone would ruin yer plans.”
“Dinnae worry. I daenae expect ye to do much for this wedding. All ye have to do is get ready on the day, and we’ll have nothing to worry about. This is also important. A clan is settling in yer village. The most appropriate thing to do is to visit them, even if their laird is yer husband.”
“Husband-to-be,” Elinor corrected.
Why is everyone ignoring that?
“Oh well,” Anna muttered. “Ye can go. The wedding will be perfect . That much ye can be sure of.”
Elinor grabbed a string of pearls from her vanity.
“Are ye certain it is wise to wear that?” Anna added, her voice rising a little. “If bandits on the road daenae take it from ye, it may fall during the ride.”
