Page 94 of My Highland Love

“Everyone is speculating about the woman who has captured Marcus's heart,” Sophie went on.

“Good Lord,” Elise blurted

Sophie laughed. “Didn't you know, my dear? Marcus is a confirmed bachelor.”

Marcus stilled as Elise looked directly at him for the first time. “Really? I wouldn't have believed it.”

“Why is that?” Sophie asked, the eagerness in her voice so transparent that Marcus wanted to thrash her.

“Because your cousin pursued me with such a vengeance that I would have thought he was desperate for a wife.”

Sophie burst into howls of laughter, and his desire to laugh with her forced him to cough loudly several times.

“Does this,” he began, but halted abruptly to clear his throat before saying, “Does this mean—”

“This means, sir,” Elise cut in, “you should attend to your guests.”

He opened his mouth to reply, then closed it again.

* * *

Elise opened the door to the library and stepped aside. “Forgive me, Lady Whycham. I hadn't expected company, so the ladies' drawing room isn't ready to receive guests.”

“Call me Sophie.” She brushed past Elise. “We shall soon be related. No need to stand on formality. Now,” Sophie seated herself on the divan and waited until Elise had taken a seat beside her, “tell me what my cousin has done to annoy you.”

Elise startled but managed a hasty, “I'm not sure what you mean.”

Sophie's eyes twinkled. “I know my cousin.” She laughed, a small snort escaping in the process. “Still, he did surprise me with the decision to wed again.” She leaned close. “Marcus had formed no lasting attachments since Jenna's death. Though he is no womanizer—he is a remarkably discriminating man—he isn't one to refrain from female company.”

“I didn't have the impression he denied himself the company of women,” Elise said dryly.

Sophie's eyes widened with mirth and she clapped a hand over her mouth. Elise blinked, then gave into the infectious laughter.

Sophie lowered her hand. “All right, Cousin, what has he done?”

Elise hesitated. How did she explain that Marcus hiding the fact he was a rich and powerful man could prove to be his and her undoing?

When Elise had finished relating the tale of how she had come to Scotland and of Marcus's deception, Sophie took a deep breath. “I suppose learning the man you're to marry will one day be a duke could be a shock. But the fact he cares for you—” Sophie halted, and Elise knew her shock showed.

“You doubt his feelings?” Sophie asked.

She didn't, but she hadn't grown used to the idea, and the fact Sophie had so easily seen it made her want to cry. So, she countered with, “How can any woman know what a man thinks?”

“Come now, you must comprehend that Marcus isn't a man to make a commitment lightly.”

“What I comprehend is that Marcus is a man accustomed to having his way.”

“That is true of any man with half a wit.”

Elise couldn't help laughing. “I suppose you're right.”

Sophie's expression softened. “You aren't betraying your husband by loving again.”

Elise nearly choked. “N-no, of course not.”

“There is no one for you to return home to?”

She recalled the blood darkening Steven's coat. “No.”