Page 20 of Her Forbidden Highlander Husband

Evelyn thought she might be ill the next morning when Gwennie stood by the door crying.

“Bunny?” That single word communicated what she was truly asking. Where was Liam?

Evelyn had managed to distract her child last night with the excitement of their new cottage and stories by their hearth until she fell asleep. But the mornings had been a time for Gwennie and Liam. Each new day had brought the arrival of an addition to the carved bunny family without fail.

She briefly wondered if he’d carved another wooden rabbit that morning even knowing she and Gwennie were gone.

Evelyn was a coward. There was no arguing that. She’d waited until Kenna had left the castle with her brood to visit Mari before bundling up Gwennie and their few belongings and heading to the village. After getting a less than fair price for her mother’s necklace, she had enough to let a tiny cottage with a single room for them. It was only slightly bigger than Liam’s chambers at the castle, but the bed was narrow. Only just big enough for her and Gwennie to sleep. Perfect.

Evelyn had thought she’d manage sleeping next to him. And even allow him his husbandly rights at some point, but after waking yesterday morning entwined with him, she knew she needed to leave.

The worst part was that it hadn’t been fear that made her tense when she’d woken and felt the hard evidence of his lust pressed against her. It had been her answering interest in the warmth of him.

She’d wanted nothing to do with men for over three years, but her deeply buried instincts had surfaced in response to his touch. She couldn’t allow her body to lead her to pain. And she knew well that only pain came from coupling with a man.

She knew some women enjoyed the act, but she wasn’t made for it. Despite the pleasurable tingling he’d evoked the morning before. She’d felt more than just physical pleasure, she’d felt safe, cherished, and wanted, things she hadn’t felt in a very long time.

She refused to be lured into such things again. She knew how her own once-doting father had turned on her. His own blood. What loyalties could she expect from Liam, a man who barely knew her?

As soon as she disappointed him—and she was certain to do so—she’d be despised. This was better. Or it would be as soon as she consoled her crying child.

“Was I bad?” Gwennie asked and Evelyn felt a sharp jagged pain in her chest.

“No. Of course you weren’t bad.” She brushed away her daughter’s tears, but more came. “We were not sent away, love. I wanted us to have our own home. Together, like I promised.”

The lass looked up at her through lashes spiked with tears and held out one of her carved animals. “Bunny.”

“I will make you a bunny, and it will be the best one of the lot.” She’d make sure of it.

Thinking best surely equated with big, Evelyn selected a good-size log from the hearth and set about fashioning a rabbit from it. The sun had set and a pile of tools had collected around her, but when she was done she held out her offering.

“Broke.” Gwennie helpfully pointed at the large piece of ear that had snapped off during the process.

“Yes, well, he’s a warrior rabbit. Big and strong and he’s seen his share of battle.”

Appeased by the explanation, Gwennie reached out to take the newest addition but struggled to hold it. When it fell, the other ear snapped off at the skull and Gwennie pointed. “Broke.”

Tears gathered in Evelyn’s eyes. It had been only a day and already she’d failed her child.

“Mama will fix it,” Evelyn said. “Mama will fix everything.” If only she knew how.

…

“You’re all sorry excuses for warriors!” Liam shouted at his men the second morning after his wife had left him. “The steel for your swords would be better used for wheels to carry us all away from Dunardry during an attack, for you lot will never save anyone.” He kicked the dirt as the men murmured to one another.

“Perhaps I should go ahead and change my name to MacDonald or Stewart, since we’re sure to be overtaken soon enough.”

He’d never yelled at his men, and it was clear they were confused by his outrage. Rather than try to make sense of it, he threw his practice sword down and stormed off. “I’m done with all of ye.”

He headed for the gate but didn’t get far.

“Ho there!” the laird called.

Liam stopped but didn’t turn to face the man. He couldn’t bear the shame of looking him in the eye.

“What’s amiss? I’ve never seen you run drills like that. Cam and Bryce acted as such only when having trouble with their women. Are ye well?”

When Lach came around to stand in front of Liam, he had no choice but to raise his head and face his laird. “Aye,” he answered, then shook his head. “Nay. Evelyn left and took Gwennie.”