Page 14 of Married to the Highland Devil
He laughed, and she did the same. The blend of their tones mingled together and filled the air. Duncan felt his nerves relax for the first time in a very long time.
The need for funds to sustain his clan and clear his father’s debts had weighed down on him for months now. He had done everything to try to raise the funds he needed to pay off his debts, but nothing had seemed to work.
The longer he waited, the worse the pressure became. His clansmen needed him to find a bride, and Arran’s story of the English bride had inspired him to make this trip.
Duncan hadn’t believed he would actually win her hand.
“What is it like in the Highlands? Do I have to wear these ridiculous corsets all day and sit down to style my hair like I have a dinner to attend?”
“Nay,” he answered with another laugh. “Our lasses wear earasaids, and ye can wear yer hair as it pleases ye.”
“What about the teas and dinners?”
“We dinnae do any of that,” he answered again, and his lips quirked higher.
“And what about children? How many do you intend to have?”
He paused and did not answer for a long minute.
“You do not want children?” she asked. “Because I have never thought of having any.”
“Oh,” he finally said.
Duncan had known this conversation would come up. He could only imagine the thoughts going through her mind at that moment.
Duncan always knew he would have children one day, but he could not think it was the same for her.
“Yes…. What I am saying is… I know you expect me to, and—”
“I dinnae expect ye to do anythin’ ye dinnae want, Amelia,” he cut in. “I wouldnae touch ye unless ye want me to.”
“I take care and provide for everyone who is a part of my family. Ye are a part of my family now.”
She smiled, and that warmed his heart. “Well, my mother wanted three, but she was blessed with only me.”
“Do ye want three too?”
She was silent for a long time, and when she finally spoke, her voice shook. “I have never thought of children. I grew up alone, and after my mother passed away, it was just me and Lily. Shortly after, I lost my sight, and my father never remarried, so it has just been me ever since.”
“I am so sorry,” he said and touched her shoulder. “It must have been hard after yer maither passed.”
“It was. I still miss her a lot,” she told him. “I have not thought of children because I did not think I would ever marry or have any. How do I care for a child when I am blind?”
“If ye do decide to have bairns, then ye wouldnae have to care for them alone. Ye would have me and Yvaine and my maither with ye,” he said in a solemn voice.
His hand stayed on her shoulder, and the urge to touch more of her overcame him. They were talking about their future now, and Duncan felt his insides melt.
The thought of making love to her entered his mind. He knew he would get lost in her and never want to have any other woman. Even now, staring at her lips made him want to kiss her.
The heated rush that swept through him made the hand on her shoulder quiver. Duncan willed himself to look away from her, and he cleared his throat to get rid of the tension he felt.
“We should continue our travel. I think Maple is well rested.”
“Your horse’s name is Maple?” she asked with a chuckle, and he stroked her chin, unable to stop himself when the urge came. “That is a funny name.”
“I ken,” he answered. “My sister named it when it was just a foal.”
“I would love to meet your sister.”
