Page 143 of The Highlander's English Bride

“My leg is fine, and stop trying to change the subject.”

“I don’t even know what the subject is, so how can I change it?”

His brother rolled his eyes. “Idiot.”

“That does seem to be the general opinion around here.”

“You do realize you’re going to have to marry the lass now.”

Graeme scowled. “But nothing happened.”

Royal ticked up an eyebrow.

“Well, nothing much.”

“Nothing much is more than enough.”

“Not if you keep your blasted mouth shut. You can be sure I won’t be blabbing about it, and neither will Sabrina.”

“Sure about that, are you?”

Graeme frowned. “Why would she say anything?”

“Because you love each other?”

Graeme shook his head. “In this case, it’s not a good enough reason.”

“You mean thatyou’renot good enough,” Royal gently corrected. “Or so you think.”

Those words clawed at his guts. Graeme sank into the club chair, struggling to manage his emotions. It was hellishly hard, because a hint of wildflowers and passion still lingered around him.

“I know I’m not,” he tersely replied.

“You don’t know a bloody thing. Of course you’re good enough for Sabrina. Why you fail to see that is beyond me. Whatever minor sins you’ve committed are long in the past.”

“Not according to—” Graeme bit off the words.

“According to our father?” Royal quietly finished.

“They weren’t minor sins, either, as our esteemed parent made clear.”

Royal frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“About Mother. It was partly because of me that she . . .” Again, he couldn’t say the words.

“What?”

“That she died.”

Graeme winced at the stunned expression on his brother’s face, then looked away. But at least the secret was finally out. He’d promised Grant that he would speak with Royal and tell him the truth. He’d kept to his promise, and the deed was done.

All that now remained was for the final blow to fall.

“Graeme, look at me,” Royal said.

When he reluctantly met his brother’s gaze, he saw only compassion and affection.

“That’s errant nonsense, laddie,” Royal said. “Please explain to me how a little child was responsible for Mamma’s death.”

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