Page 10 of Married to the Highland Devil
“Uh… In Scotland, the meadows are beautiful this time of the year. When I am standing at the top of the cliff behind my castle and staring down at the lands and sea beyond, I forget every other thought on my mind. It is green, and the sea feels wild and unstoppable. I just… It is the best feeling in the world. The one I get whenever I am standing there.”
“That sounds lovely,” she whispered in a voice that made his heart ache a little. Duncan thought he saw a single tear slide down her cheek, but she wiped a hand over her face and sighed. “You win, My Laird. You are the one I will marry. There is no need for you to kill a man with your bare hands.”
Her last statement made him laugh, and she joined him, tossing her head back a little before pushing some strands of her hair out of the way.
“I will let my father make the arrangements. You two need to talk, of course, but you should join us for supper tonight. The cook will make my favorite, fish with wine and mushrooms.” She extended her hand towards him. “I look forward to speaking with you tonight, My Laird.”
He kissed the back of her hand, silently cursing the English fashion for gloves. “Please, Duncan to you, My Lady. We agreed so yesterday, didnae we?”
“It is you that won’t stop calling meMy Lady,” Amelia teased. “I shall definitely enjoy listening to you speak of the world through your eyes, Duncan.”
“Aye, Amelia. Ye willnae regret makin’ this choice… I promise ye that.” When she only nodded, he continued after releasing her hand. “I will speak with yer faither. We shall leave for Scotland tomorrow if that is all right with ye.”
She only nodded again, and Duncan backed away from her before he did something crazy like reach out to stroke the side of her cheek. His gaze dropped to her lips, and he felt the renewed surge of desire that had flooded him the day before.
He stared into her eyes again and let her pale blue irises steal him away. Duncan felt like he was drowning. He couldn’t control what he was feeling. The urges… The need to move closer to her. It was a magnetic pull. One he had never felt before.
One I should ignore. I have already taken a lot from her.
It was bad enough that he was marrying her for her dowry. He could not take advantage of her too, let his thoughts run wild.
Not now… Not ever.
Duncan reminded himself that this was just a marriage of convenience. This desire for her slowly building up inside him was not part of the plan.
He exited the room and continued to the study to meet with Amelia’s father.
* * *
“Yer Grace,” he greeted with a low bow of his head.
“I take it my daughter has approved of you,” Arthur Milton said as he turned away from the window and looked at Duncan. “That is the only reason why she would tell you to speak with me.”
“It is an honor, Yer Grace.”
Duncan noticed the similarities between father and daughter almost immediately. They had the same eyes and smile.
“Please, call me Arthur,” the Duke said and extended a hand. “My daughter is very dear to me, Laird McLennan. If she has chosen you, then you are my choice too. You have met her, and you have seen her…”
Duncan heard the grief in Arthur’s voice as he spoke, and he tightened his resolve right here. “I will never do anything to hurt yer daughter, Yer Grace. I am a man of my word, and I give ye my word on that.”
Arthur touched Duncan’s shoulder then and patted it. “Take very good care of her, please. She is all I have.”
“Ye have my word.”
Duncan had not expected this much care from the Duke.
If he loved his daughter so much, why is he trying to marry her off?
They sat down, and Arthur offered him whiskey.
“I know you Scotsmen prefer this to English tea any day.”
“Ye are right,” Duncan said with a laugh then relaxed on the settee to discuss the journey ahead.
It seemed that the forthcoming days would be eventful.
5
