Page 132 of Highland Spy

And would have to kill him.

Chapter 32

In another life, Ariana might not have felt so impressed by the ball at Glenbuchat Castle. But that other life was long cold in her thoughts, and to her, the night sparkled like magic.

The buzz of conversation filled the air like the melodic hum of a violin, and the many flickering lights glowing around the castle reminded Ariana of a sky lit with a million stars.

She wore a lovely gown of jewel-green silk, the kind her parents would have had made for her in preparation for the meeting of a new suitor. And she’d met many—all fruitless endeavors, of course.

But this was different.

Connor exited the carriage and held his arm out to her in silent invitation. She’d been talked into the idea of playing at husband and wife lest she appear a whore on his arm, as she had no lady to attend her.

Her hand trembled somewhat and she slipped it quickly into the crook of Connor’s arm lest he notice. Deep down inside her hummed a lightheaded thrill at pretending to be his wife, and the quiet suggestion of intimacy hung in the air like sparkling cloth of gold.

Connor rested the warmth of his hand over hers and smiled down at her the way a man would gaze upon his wife. His eyes were warm and tender, his chest puffed out with pride at the woman on his arm, a slight smile curving the sensual line of his mouth. Ariana’s pulse thrummed faster and her palm began to sweat against the fine sleeve of his jacket.

He leaned closer to her and the delicious scent of him brought images fluttering through her mind she’d rather not be thinking.

“Pretend we like each other tonight, aye?” His whispered words were a caress against her ear and the sensitive side of her neck.

A delicious wave of chills glided down her back. Her cheeks went hot.

“I think I can do that.” She spoke without looking at him lest she fall into something from which she could not be free.

Tonight was not for stabbing herself with the memory of painful words and acts. Goodness knew there was far too great an arsenal of those floating in her mind.

No, tonight was for celebrating the nearness of her freedom.

Together she and Connor made their way toward the large stone entry of Glenbuchat Castle. He stopped before they could walk in and touched the underside of her chin, tipping her face toward his.

Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.

“Ye look bonny.”

Pleasure warmed her cheeks despite her best efforts to squelch her reaction. His hand came up and gently, tenderly, stroked her cheek.

“You don’t have to pretend to like me so well,” she teased.

He gave a carefree shrug. “It’s the truth. Ye look lovely. Touching yer cheek was the bit extra to convince the masses, but I canna say I minded it.” He gave her a wink, and an excited energy fired through her.

No.

She couldn’t let him ease his way past her defenses like this.

“It’s yer turn.” He gave her an urging nod.

“My turn?” She looked up at him. The light from all the candles flickered golden across his face and reminded her of the previous few times they’d spoken in the solar at Kindrochit.

Those nights seemed so very long ago.

Suddenly their charade was too intimate, too tempting.

“Aye. It’s yer turn to tell me I look lovely too.” He held his free hand toward her in invitation and she laughed in spite of herself.

She also had to grudgingly admit he did look handsome. He’d dressed like a laird again in a pale linen léine and a new plaid kilted over his narrow hips in pleats.

They stopped behind another couple to patiently await their entry.