Page 59 of The Highlander’s Improper Wife

He faced the fire and gave the coals a vicious stab. “The girl needs a good lesson.

Mayhap Huntly can teach her what I could not.”

“You threatened to kill her husband. What did you expect?”

“I expected her to have sense enough to know that marriage at sixteen is a risky business.”

“Marriage at any age is risky,” Caroline said. “But business, nonetheless.”

He paused, but remained facing the fire. “You condemn me for marrying you?”

“You are not at fault for being an astute businessman.”

“It was not I who made the bargain,” he said in a quiet voice.

A sob leapt to her throat, but she bit it back. So he wouldn’t have chosen her as his wife. Did he prefer Aphrodite, or was even Aphrodite unfit to offer her inheritance on the altar of his family estate? Perhaps neither she, nor her alias, were fit to bear his children. Caroline bowed her head. “Perhaps you regret the bargain.” He shoved to his feet. His mouth twisted in pain.

Caroline bolted upright. “Your thigh—”

“Cease worrying about my thigh, Caroline. I have had worse.” “As a result of other duels, no doubt,” she snapped.

He gave her a frank look. “That has been one cause.”

Despite the pounding of her heart, she didn’t drop her gaze. How many of those duels had been fought because of his rigidity? He’d called her reckless. Aphrodite had been exciting, but the goddess wasn’t supposed to be his wife.

Chapter Eighteen

Caroline glimpsed Taran turn down the street in the village. Her pulse jumped and she ducked into the tiny lane just before the town hall. Had he seen her? How had he managed to go to the village at the very same time she had? Anger flared. It was no coincidence. He was looking for her. Wasn’t she allowed a visit to the village without his permission? She whirled back towards the street, then halted at sound of his voice.

“How much, Darby?”

“Now, laird, you canna’ be thinking I would steal more cattle. You warned me.”

“Aye,” Taran replied. “But apparently I was not explicit enough. I will not have you breaking the law in any manner.” “What law have I broken?” “Extortion,” Taran replied.

“Extortion?” the man repeated.

“Extracting money in exchange for not stealing cattle is extortion.” Caroline clamped a hand over her mouth, barely stifling laughter.

“I wouldna’ say extracting,” Darby said.

“I would,” Taran replied. “You know I am the law here.”

“Aye, laird, but surely—”

“Surely what?”

Caroline froze at the edge in Taran’s voice.

“Laird Blackhall,” a woman said.

Taran’s reply to the woman was whisper-quiet. Caroline strained to hear. She inched to the edge of the building and peeked around the side. Taran stood, his back to her, facing a small man she assumed was Darby, and a young woman, belly nearly bursting with the child she carried. Caroline’s breath caught. Long black hair fell across slim shoulders in thick, black waves that reached to full breasts nearly spilling over the woman’s bodice. Despite her girth—and the drab grey dress—she was stunning. Even her shy smile exuded a sensuality that would mesmerize a man like a siren’s call. Any man would throw himself on the rocks for her. She stared at Taran with an adoration that told Caroline that Taran was one of those men. Was the woman Darby’s? A lump lodged in Caroline’s throat. Or was the woman acquainted with Taran…intimately acquainted?

The woman turned her dark eyes on Taran and gave him a mischievous look that elicited a surge of jealousy so hard, Caroline’s chest tightened. She swung back and collapsed against the building. Taran had insisted on returning to Scotland. She began to tremble. She recalled his concern that Aphrodite had become with child after their night in the carriage. Could he already have children?

Caroline gave her head a shake to clear the muddle. What was wrong with her? She’d completely lost her mind, that’s what. Even after Taran had ravaged her as Aphrodite, he’d been honorable, wanting to claim a child if one should result from their union. She placed her hand over her abdomen. What if she had already conceived?

“Where have ye been, laird?” Darby asked.