Page 206 of Wicked Highland Heroes

A maid entered with a pitcher and two mugs. She set them on the small table near the hearth, then hurried out.

“Would you pour us some wine, Lady Rhoslyn?” he asked as the door clicked shut.

She remained frozen for a moment, then jerked into motion and crossed to the table. A moment later, she appeared beside him and extended a goblet. He dropped his second boot on the floor and took the wine. Rhoslyn took a quick step back and then crossed to the window. She opened the shutter and gazed outside.

“It is a beautiful night,” he said.

“Aye,” she replied, her voice wistful.

Talbot wondered how receptive she would be tonight if not for Dayton. He finished the last of his wine, set the goblet on the table beside the bed, then stood and unfastened his belt. He tossed it onto the bed, then pulled off his surcoat. Rhoslyn glanced his way, but said nothing. His shirt and undershirt followed, and she finally faced him.

Her gaze shifted to the markings on his right arm.

“How old was your sister when she died?”

“Fourteen,” he replied.

“I am sorry. How did she die?”

“A fever.” He crossed to the table with the wine and refilled his goblet.

She joined him and he froze when she lifted a hand and traced a finger over the picture of his sister on his arm. Her light touch sent a skitter of gooseflesh along his skin.

“It is so smooth,” she said. “The skin isna’ marred at all.” She looked up at him. “It is as if the picture is a part of you.”

“It is,” he replied.

She stared for a moment before tearing her gaze from his and taking two steps back. “I have no sisters or brothers,” she said. “It canna’ be easy to lose a loved one.”

“You lost two loved ones.”

She nodded and took a sip of wine. “How long ago did your sister die?”

“Ten years,” he replied.

Her eyes lifted to his face over the rim of her goblet “Do ye ever forget?”

“Nay. But the pain does ease.”

“The shock has subsided,” she said as if speaking to herself.

“That is a start,” Talbot said.

“Do you still miss her?”

“Aye.” More often than he liked to admit. Talbot finished his wine in two big gulps and set the goblet on the table. He went to the door that adjoined the solar. “I will see you in the morning, Lady Rhoslyn.”

She frowned. “Where are you going?”

“To sleep in your bed.”

“But I thought...” She glanced at the bed, then frowned. “Are you going to leave your clothes strewn about your room?”

He shrugged. “What better way to make your maids think we were occupied with consummating the marriage?”

“But they will see my mussed bed.” Her mouth twitched in amusement. “St. Claire, you willna’ get a wink of sleep in my bed.”

“Why is that?”