Page 18 of The Veiled Wish of a Highland Bride

Archibald knew these words were a lie even as he spoke them, but he told himself that it was his physical attraction that held him so spellbound. Nothing more.

“Nae, Archie! All our life I have done yer bidding, but this is reckless even for ye. I cannae let ye do that, my laird. With Dallas looking for a way to kill ye, our allies defeated and scattered, the last thing you have time to be doing is helping a lass seduce her own husband. I cannaebelieveye agreed to such a thing.”

“Ye will watch yerself, Lennox,” said Archibald, his vision clouded with anger. “I am still the Chief of Clan Macnab, even if ye’re like me brother. I cannae listen to ye for everything.”

Lennox was clearly furious, but Archibald hardly cared. His friend could keep his opinions to himself where Mia was concerned.

“As for Dallas,” Archie muttered, “we will come up with a plan to get a hold of him.”

Lennox broke the long, fiery gaze with which he had regarded Archibald, and looked to the ground. “My apologies, my laird. I will nae forget myself again.”

Archibald ignored him and took a seat at the table, gesturing for the lass. He watched as Lennox exited the tavern, closing the door behind him... but not until he had said his final words.

“Do as ye please, my laird,” Lennox rasped. “I will nae waste another breath.”

* * *

After arriving at the keep, Mia rushed to her room.

She decided that she needed to change out of the boyish clothes she was wearing and take a bath before she went to see Bram. But there was something else on her mind.

From the moment she had left Archie, she had thought of nothing else but him.

She blamed it all on the almost-kiss they had shared, but she was beginning to feel it was more than that. She could see his teasing smile and hear his deep voice when she closed her eyes, and this was preciselywhyshe needed to see Bram.

Perhaps he could talk some sense into her and chase the butterflies from her belly.

That was not all. The guilt she had been battling since she stepped foot into the keep was intense. Mia felt as if she were living a lie, doing whatever she wanted outside but playing the subservient wife inside the keep's walls.

After her bath, she walked towards Bram’s study. She felt a little more confident than usual, her heart thumping loudly. Her confidence was a façade to hide the fear that she felt within. She almost felt as though Bram would be able to read her infidelity on her face—he had a knack for uncovering the truth.

It helped Mia ignore her thoughts of Archie.

Mia turned the corner to see yet another maid running out of Bram's study. Her heart bled as the maid smoothed her rumpled skirts. Whatever she wanted to tell Bram, she would say with her heart ripped open.

The study was as it always had been, save a few papers on the floor, pushed aside to allow for God-knew-what. Mia heaved a sigh as she pushed the door open. Bram was leaning over his desk. When he saw her, he scowled.

“Yes? How may I help ye, wife?”

Mia smiled pleasantly, in the way Archibald had instructed her. “I was told ye asked to see me, my laird.”

“Ach, aye. Ye were out all night, I was told.”

“Aye, but—"

He raised his hand to silence her. “I dinnae care where ye went or what ye were doing, Mia. But ye should ken that if my reputation is ruined because of ye—if there is talk of bastards in my keep—Iwillhave to kill ye. So be careful nae a person saw ye.”

Mia gasped.

Bram didn’t blink. “Ye ken that the Murray clan has always been a beacon of power and strength. Ye are part of the clan by marriage, nae matter how it came about, and ye will do yer most to uphold our values. Or do ye nae care what people think of ye?”

In all honestly, Mia did not care, but she knew Bram was taunting her with the question. She replied, “Aye.”

“I am glad we have come to an understanding,” Bram said, turning back to the papers he was leafing through.

Mia stood there for a few seconds. It was as though Bram could notseeher.

“Do ye really think it is impossible?” Mia said abruptly. She saw Bram lift his head again. “Do yereallythink it is so hard to have the sort of marriage the clan thinks we do? To have love and friendship? To at least have respect and share a bed?”

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