Page 91 of The Laird’s Lost Wife

Another silence fell between them. Their gazes met and held, and he felt a familiar tingle run down his spine.

I want her again. Want to touch her, want to kiss her.

There wasn’t much space between them, but somehow it seemed an insurmountable gap this time.

Then Daphne turned away, and the spell, which felt like the only way to describe what had fallen over them, was broken.

“I’ll see ye tomorrow, then,” she said tightly.

He nodded, saying nothing, and watched her slip out of the room.

CHAPTER 21

Daphne staggered into her room, her breath catching in her throat. Had all that really happened?

Did we just announce our betrothal to half of the castle?

A small fire had been lit in the grate, which surprised her. Generally, no fires were lit in her room unless she made them herself.

She pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes, pacing up and down.

I daenae ken what to think. I daenae ken how to feel.

On the one hand, she hadn’t agreed to wed Hunter. There was still his vow, and the fact that he hadn’t yet told her why he made it. On the other hand, there was no point in denying that she felt as if she were on fire around him. Her skin prickled, her spine tightened, and heat coiled in her gut.

Nay, nay, nay! I am thinking with me heart, nae me head. Me head tells me that this is a bad idea.

But how do I get out of it? Do I even have the strength?

A tap on her bedroom door made her flinch.

“Go away,” she called weakly. “I’m… I’m nae in the mood.”

“Ouch!” came a muffled female voice from outside. “Ye stepped on me foot.”

“Then get yer massive flippers out from under me feet,” retorted a much more familiar voice. It was, of course, Ceana.

The second voice growled. “Watch it, lass. Lady McKane or nae, I can still…”

To forestall any potential bloodshed, Daphne hurried over to the door and wrenched it open.

Skye and Ceana stood there, glaring at each other like cats getting ready to fight. They both flinched, spinning around to face her.

“Daphne, pet, are ye all right?” Ceana gasped, shouldering Skye aside and leaping into the room first.

Skye followed, shooting her a glare.

“I heard it all,” she added. “It’s all anyone can talk about—yer betrothal.”

Daphne briefly closed her eyes. When she opened them, Ceana was much closer, looking worried.

“He cannae force ye to wed him,” she said bluntly.

“What are ye accusing me brother of, Lady McKane?” Skye scoffed.

Before Ceana could snap back, Daphne hastily spoke up. “Force me? Nay, nay, it’s nothing like that. It’s just a shock.”

Ceana eyed her uncertainly. “So ye kent?”