Page 90 of Ghost of the Ton

The flare of joy in his heart was tempered by the realization of what it signified…

…that he was in danger of falling in love with his wife.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Riverview Cottage came into view and Mia froze as she saw movement inside. Had whoever ransacked her home returned for more?

Hamish took her hand. “There’s nothing to fear, lass. It’s only Lachlan.”

“How do you know?”

“H-he had a mind to visit ye.”

The front door and opened and Lachlan appeared. “Ma’am,” he said, before bowing to Hamish. “Master Hamish.”

“Is there anything I can help you with, Lachlan?” Mia said.

The young man shook his head. “No, thank ye, ma’am. Master Hamish, there was no trouble. Maisie came with a basketful of nettles—we’ve washed them and left them drying on the kitchen table. I kept the fire going, as ye can see, and I went outside regular to check the woods, like ye said.”

“Hamish?” Mia said. “What’s been going on?”

“Master Hamish asked me to watch over the cottage for ye, seein’ as ye’d had some trouble,” Lachlan said, despite Hamish’s frowning at him.

“That’s enough, lad,” Hamish growled. “Be off with ye, now. I’m sure Brodie’s needing a hand with the horses.”

The young man glanced at Mia, then nodded and set off. She turned to Hamish to see him smiling, a faint color on his cheeks.

He set her basket on the table in the parlor. “It was the least I could do,” he said, “after…”

“After I accused you of ransacking my home?”

“Yer home will be safe now, lass, I assure ye.”

“So you know who’s responsible?”

He let out a sigh. “It’s like ye said, I’m the one responsible because I’m the laird. But I’ve sent a message to every man and woman at Glenblath to tell them to leave ye be or face retribution. They’ll listen to me.”

“Will they?”

“Loyalty to the laird runs deep in the Highlands. Anyone—man, boy, or woman—disobeying their laird forfeits their right to live on his land.”

His hand still on the handle of the basket, Hamish dipped his head. When he lifted it again, she saw regret in his eyes.

“I ought to have spoken to them before, lass.”

“About what?”

“Had I told everyone, from the moment ye arrived, that ye were my wife and they must respect ye as such, this wouldnae have happened. Instead, I…” He shook his head. “Will ye forgive a man for behaving like a stag’s arse? I may not have treated ye with the respect ye deserve—and as such, ye’ll be well rid of me when the time comes. The least I can do before ye leave us is ensure that ye’re safe.”

She reached for the basket. Their hands touched, and she caught her breath at the fizz in her stomach. Then he released the basket and watched while she took it into the kitchen and placed it beside the pile of nettles.

“What must man do to be offered a cup of tea?”

Mia turned to see him smiling at her. “Would you like a cup of tea, Hamish?”

“Why, that’s most gracious of you, fair lady,” he said, in what Mia could only assume was an attempt at an English accent.

She suppressed a laugh as she filled the kettle and set it over the fire, then she took one of the chairs beside the fire and gestured to the other.