Page 31 of Married to the Highland Devil
“I am askin’ what ye want to do,” he said. “Yer, after all, the reason why we are celebratin’.”
Amelia felt tingling nerves rise to the surface again, and her toes twitched inside her brogues.
“I did not realize I had a choice in the matter,” she said before setting her spoon on the plate again. “I do think a feast is a good idea, but I shall not be in attendance. I rather not have attention on me at all.”
“Oh,” Yvaine gasped then.
Amelia heard the disappointment in the girl’s tone, and her heart sank a little. She did not mean to dash her excitement, but she hated being the object of anyone’s attention.
Besides, how would his people react if they found out he had traveled all the way to England and returned with a blind bride?
Amelia knew she was not good enough to be the lady of his keep. He only wanted her dowry, and her father had agreed because he feared she would find no one else.
“I shall excuse myself,” Amelia said now, feeling bitter tears form in the back of her eyes. “I bid you all good night.”
“Wait,” she heard Duncan call just as she pushed her chair back and rose to her feet.
She turned away from the table, but he bolted out of his chair and closed the distance between them.
“I shall walk ye to yer chamber,” he offered.
She did not object as he took her hand in his and led her away from the table. Amelia’s chest rose hard, and the emotions tightening there made it difficult for her to breathe again. Her nerves fired up all at once because he was near, and she didn’t think she could say any words to him now.
“The feast is a long-standin’ Scottish tradition,” Duncan said to her as he steered her in the path that led to her bedroom. “It will mean a lot to us if ye change yer mind.”
“I did not think it was important for you to display me to your entire clan,” Amelia answered and drew her hand away from his because the warmth of his touch already began reaching her heart. “But I shall consider it.”
“It isnae a display. It is a celebration.”
She nodded but kept her mouth shut, not wanting to speak to him any further.
Amelia heard his sigh then he stroked her chin a little and made her gasp. Her lips fell open because his touch ignited a fire inside her.
“Do not—”
“I ken yer angry with me, Amelia,” he cut in. “I brought ye here, and I abandoned ye, but that isnae the case. I dinnae and cannae abandon ye… I had many duties to attend to, and I… I should have come to check on ye.”
“I do not need you to check on me, Duncan.”
“Then what do ye need? Name it, and it shall be done.”
“Why do you care what I need? You made yourself pretty clear the last time. You shall care for me and protect me, but that is all our marriage is. We are not friends, so I do not see why you should care.”
“Dinnae be so stubborn, Amelia,” he chided now, and the earlier coolness in his tone had disappeared. “I am only tryin’ to help.”
She scoffed then leaned against the door behind her a little. “I am not stubborn,” she protested. “I am only being practical. I do not wish to bother you.”
“This isnae a bother… I asked.”
“Well, I do not wish to tell you.” She turned to open the door, but he clapped a hand over hers and spun her around again.
“What are you doing?”
Alarmed, Amelia shoved hard against his chest to free herself, but his steady grip did not budge, and she remained trapped in the embrace of his hands on her shoulders holding her steady.
Her eyes flew wide open, and her frown deepened. “Duncan…”
“Yer here in my castle as my wife, and that means regardless of how it came to be, I am responsible for ye. Now, tell me what ye need, and I shall make it happen, Amelia. That is all I ask.”
