Page 48 of The Scot is Hers
Giselle closed her eyes for a moment. Her chest rose and fell with slow breaths. When she opened her eyes, she looked resigned. “And so ye thought to butter me up with gifts and charm?”
The accusation in her words stung, and he felt guilt hit him in the gut. “It is an unavoidable situation.” Which was true, as much as he felt bad for it.
She let out a long, resigned sigh. “I know. I’m sorry. I’d just hoped no’ to face them until after we’d wed. When there could be nothing that they could do to sabotage our plans.”
“That would have been ideal, but no’ altogether realistic.”
Giselle smoothed her hands over the book. “Aye, and they probably worry I am dead, off the side of the cliff as the mount I’d been riding intended. Lost at sea.”
“Aye.” Alec nodded, watching her fidget as she tried to come to terms with the bubble that they’d created popping.
“I do hate for them to worry. No doubt my mother has taken ill to her bed. Who knows what my father’s been up to?”
Alec wanted to comfort her, wanted to say “forget it, we’ll leave and pretend the missives were in jest.” But that would only delay the inevitable and make their problems worse. “They will be relieved to know ye’re no’ dead, I’m certain, even if they are unhappy with your choice in a husband.”
Giselle reached out, gripping his hand in hers again. This time she held on tight. “How could they be unhappy when ye are so wonderful?”
“Now, who is trying to woo?” He winked at her, watching her blush.
She laughed. “If it keeps ye bringing me more books, well then, I am happy for it.”
“I would bring ye books every hour for the rest of our days if ye asked.” He was dead serious. And just might do it.
“And what can I give ye in return? More books?”
“That and honesty.”
“I know we’ve no’ known each other long, but I have given ye that, Alec. More so than anyone else in my life. I can promise that I will always do so.”
“Thank ye.” That was more than any woman had given him in a long time. Giselle couldn’t know how much it meant to him. “Well, lass. I wanted ye to be aware of the situation and to prepare mentally for the impending arrival of our unwanted guests.”
“As long as I have ye by my side, we shall prevail.”
Alec smiled, feeling a measure of comfort from those words he wouldn’t have expected. When he’d been in battle, it had been much the same with his comrades. As long as they had each other, protected each other’s backs, sides, fronts, then they felt safer, and the idea of prevailing did not seem so far away. It was the same now with her.
They were both preparing for battle, and they were each other’s allies. A united front.
At least this time, their enemies didn’t plan on attacking with their deaths as the imminent goal. Well, he hoped not at any rate. There was no telling what Keith might do when he found out that Alec had proposed to Giselle, and she’d accepted. Swiping not only his bride but the coin he so badly needed.
“We shall.” Alec reached forward, gripping her hand in his and lifting it to his lips.
“My lord.” His mother’s voice behind him sent an annoyed chill up his spine. Was it now going to be that every moment alone with Giselle would be interrupted by someone who wanted them apart? “This is highly inappropriate.”
Giselle’s face drained of color, and he recalled how she’d told him the previous night that his mother had asked her to leave today.
“Mother,” Alec said, turning slowly to face her. “I fail to understand how delivering my future wife breakfast is inappropriate. In a few days’ time, I’ll be sleeping in the bed beside her.”
That caused a gasp from his mother, her hand flying to her throat, and a glower on her face as she pinned Giselle with her stare. The message was clear in that one look—Giselle had defied her and would pay. Good God, but he had issues to smooth out at every angle. This one, he’d deal with now.
“She’s no’ leaving,” Alec said, watching his mother’s face turn from accusation at Giselle to surprise.
“I do no’ know what ye mean.” A tight smile pressed to her face. “Why would she leave if ye are to be married?”
“That’s a question I was going to pose of ye myself, given your recent request of her.” He straightened and looked his mother in the eye. He loved her as much as a son could love his mother, but he couldn’t allow her to continue to interfere with his life. “Giselle will be my wife.”
“Of course.” The honey was back in his mother’s tone, one which she’d often used when he was a boy to convince him to go her route rather than whatever idea he had for himself. “But best ye maintain propriety until the vows are exchanged in a few weeks.”
“I’m no’ waiting a few weeks.”
