Page 14 of When the Laird Conquers

“Ah… Ah, yes, of course I did,” she stammered, her hand falling onto her chest.

It drew his eyes to her heaving ripe bosom, which flushed a tempting pink.

“Goodness, what was it?” She laughed awkwardly. “Oh, yes, I remember…” she trailed off, her gaze following the line that cut up the middle of his muscled chest to his collarbone, her head slightly tilting to one side as her gaze reached his neck… and then his lips.

“Lass?” Gordon prompted, for his own sake.

She shook her head, clarity returning to her eyes instead of glazed admiration. “I’m sorry for the intrusion. I didn’t realize that a training yard meant… this kind of training, with… um… sharp weapons and such.” She coughed. “Since you’re a man of obvious discipline, I assumed you might have a lot of rules that I wasn’t yet privy to, so I didn’t want to just barge into your study without asking.”

“Me study?” His eyes narrowed in suspicion. “What do ye want to go in there for?”

“Well, my Laird, I should like to write a letter back home, to let my aunt know that Lizzy and I are safe and well and under your protection,” she explained in a rush. “She will, of course, inform my father. Although I will say nothing of the… um… agreement between us for now, lest he suffer apoplexy.”

There was that faint edge of hope again. Gordon didn’t care for it, yet he didn’t quite know how to make it any clearer that their ‘betrothal’ would not and could not lead to an actual marriage.

“Why, does yer faither have a weak heart?” he asked instead, keeping his voice even, almost cold.

She grimaced and shrugged. “A broken one, certainly. I dread to think what he would have to say about a union between me and a Sc⁠—”

“Fine,” he interrupted sharply, aware that most of his soldiers were no doubt eavesdropping.

They wouldn’t exactly take kindly to hearing that their Laird was betrothed to an Englishwoman either. Then again, most of them were looking at her with intent appreciation, which Gordon rather wanted to smack from their faces.

“Fine. Write yer letter,” he added. “Ask Iona for the key.”

With an annoyingly bright grin, Agnes thanked him and turned to leave.

“And lass?” he called.

She paused and glanced back at him over her shoulder. “Yes, my Laird?”

“Ye were right about the rules,” he told her darkly. “We’ll discuss them tonight over dinner. Leave the bairn with Iona, so ye willnae have to keep coverin’ her ears.”

Agnes’s mouth fell open, that torturous shade of red reappearing in her cheeks. He watched her throat bob and imagined his lips grazing that warm skin, before she nodded, quickly turned her head, and hurried off to the castle.

Left with fresh frustration that made him pull his sword, he glanced at Keith and muttered, “Round two.”

5

… Do not tell Papa just yet of my news, but do let him know that I am safe. And please, dear aunt, be assured that I know exactly what I am doing.

Yours faithfully,

Agnes (and Lizzy)

Satisfied that the letter said everything that needed to be said about her situation, getting betrothed to the most dangerous laird of all, Agnes carefully folded up the paper and poured on wax.

She had forgotten to bring her own seal, but the Laird’s was right there on the desk. It would have to do. If nothing else, it would provide legitimacy that she had not made anything up.

“Goodness, what is wrong with you?” she murmured to herself, her throat strangely choked up.

Lizzy, who was loosely strapped to her chest, snuffled in her sleep. Sadly, not much of a conversationalist.

“It is not as if you are never going to see your aunt or father again,” she scolded herself as she pressed the seal into the dark green wax. Almost black, in truth.

I hope she doesn’t see it and think it is bad news.

“I mean, it’s not as if Papa wants to see me anyway,” she continued, talking to herself as she might once have talked to her sister. “He would probably be glad if I married the Laird because he wouldn’t have to think about me anymore. How luxurious it must be to be able to grieve for as long as you please without having to concern yourself with others.”