Page 49 of His Secret Highland Bride

“Her name is Tory. If you were to see her again.” He gave a nod and looked off toward the castle. “She’s family.”

Lindsay nodded, happy that he shared this information with her. “You may need to apologize to her.”

“Yes. I believe I do. I’ll see to it first thing tomorrow, when I return to the castle.”

“What are you doing home so early? I wasn’t expecting you until later this evening.” She was more than happy to see him. But if he was only there for the nooning, she didn’t want to get her hopes up.

“I needed some time away from the books. And I wanted to spend the day with you. A reward for keeping my sanity after the mess the books are in.”

She pulled him into her arms, and he leaned down to kiss her hair. And then her neck.

“I thought we’d spend the day by the river.” He kissed her lips and then pulled back slightly. “But now I only wish to see the inside of the cottage until it’s dark.”

She smiled and dashed toward the cottage with him quick behind her. Being chased was quite fun, but not as much as being caught. Their laughter soon turned to gasps and sighs as they made love.

As he’d said, it was dark before they were finally sated enough to see to their dinner. They put together a quick meal of apples, cheese, and bread, but rather than eat at the table, they lounged in bed and took turns feeding each other. He even used her stomach to hold his sliced apple, and she giggled when he took a bite of juicy fruit, allowing his tongue to linger on her heated skin.

Since she was sticky, he suggested they bathe together in the chilly river. Goose flesh pebbled her skin until he pulled her close to his hot body.

“How are you so warm in this frigid water?” she asked.

“Thinking of what I plan to do to you when I carry you over to the plaid has me overheated.”

“You should carry me out of the water before I turn to ice.”

He did as she asked, her legs wrapped tightly around his waist as he held on to her arse to keep her secured to his body. Her wet skin heated, and as he slid inside, she welcomed him with a long moan.

It seemed they couldn’t get enough of each other. This new activity had claimed her every thought when he was away and their every moment when he was there.

She couldn’t be happier.

…

On the way up to the castle the next day, Shane frowned despite the sunny morning. He’d been careful not to lie to Lindsay, but he’d never corrected any of her assumptions or been honest about who he was.

She had no reason to think he was the laird of the MacPhersons. At this point, he’d dragged out the deception so long he doubted she would believe him when he did tell her the truth. Would she be happy to live in the castle and be the lady of the clan, or would she be angry with the burden he’d placed on her?

He had other things to worry about today, like making sure the clan was worthy of a lady such as his Lindsay. He was only in the castle a few minutes before his sister entered the study. She stood by the door, arms crossed tightly across her chest and her foot tapping.

“Good morning to you, sister,” he said to put off the tongue-lashing she was sure to give him.

“Don’t call me your sister when it is clear you do not think of me as family,” she snapped.

Folding his hands on the desk, he nodded toward the chair sitting to the side. “Won’t you have a seat so we can discuss this?”

“Nay. I don’t need a seat. I need the truth. You are married?”

“Aye. You met my wife in the village yesterday, as I understand it.”

“Why did you not tell me? Why does she refuse to live in the castle?” she asked.

Shane was equally relieved and irritated that the truth hadn’t come out. It would have taken the decision out of his hands. Lindsay would know the truth even then. But however it had come about, his ruse had remained intact despite his sister meeting his wife. He decided to tell his sister the truth, and not just because it would be near impossible to keep two women in the dark regarding his deception.

“She doesn’t refuse to live in the castle. She doesn’t know it is an option to do so.”

“She doesn’t realize the lady of the clan gets to sleep in an elaborate room in the castle?”

“She doesn’t know she is the lady of the clan. She doesn’t know I am the laird. When we met, I was simply a soldier returned from years at war. And she cared for me as that. I have no wish for her to know I misled her, even if I also wish she knew the truth. I can’t be certain she would be happy to learn who I am.”