Page 44 of The Highlander's Christmas Bride

“And your familyknewyou didn’t wish to marry Alec?”

She waggled a hand. “Well, I more or less went along with it.”

It was hard to imagine her going along with something that insane. “That sounds positively medieval, if you ask me.”

“Perhaps, but a deathbed vow is a very serious matter, you understand.”

He understood that the whole thing was bloody ridiculous. “Didn’t anyone take your side?”

“Alasdair did,” she said dryly.

Logan chuckled as he adjusted her foot so he could get a better angle for wrapping it. She really did have a lovely foot, slender and finely arched, with dainty toes that just begged to be tickled and stroked.

In fact, he might even like to kiss them.

He began to wind the flannel around her ankle. “So, Alec rode off to war while you remained at Blairgal, patiently waiting.”

“Not so patiently,” she muttered.

“What’s that?”

She flinched. “Nothing. Could you not wrap it so tightly?”

“Forgive me. I’m a blunt instrument, as I’m sure you’ve realized. But I need to make sure the bandage doesn’t get loose and rub the skin.”

“No, you’ve been incredibly kind. I’m just tired.”

He carefully adjusted the wrapping. “Almost done, but you can’t leave me hanging. What happened when Alec returned?”

“He didn’t come home alone.”

Understanding finally dawned. “He brought Edie home with him?”

Donella’s smile was wry. “Indeed, he did.”

The current Mrs. Gilbride was the former Eden Whitney, an Englishwoman who now ruled her husband’s family with a firm but loving hand. She’d rolled up the entire clan as far as Logan could tell, a remarkable accomplishment for a pamperedSassenach.

“That must have gone down like a treat,” he said.

“You cannot imagine. When I realized that Eden and Alasdair were in love, I knew that to force him into marrying me for the sake of our families would be a great injustice to both of them.”

“And to you, since he didn’t love you.”

“True, but—” A funny sort of grimace contorted her features.

“Did I hurt you?”

She shook her head. “In any event, Alasdair and I soon reached an understanding, and he was free to marry Eden.”

“Why do I have the feeling that you’re leaving out all the good bits?”

“Because I am,” she firmly said. “Are you almost finished?”

He tied off the ends of the flannel strips. “Still, it must have been quite the ruckus.”

Her quiet sigh was so weary it nearly broke Logan’s heart.

“I will only say that I was grateful to depart for the convent immediately after the wedding.”

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