“Well, they were,” Arthur said matter of factly.
He crossed to the chair across from her in a few, quick steps before easing himself into it. The edges of his kilt rode up, exposing hairy, muscular thighs that Marissa had to tear her gaze away from as she focused on his face once more.
“And yer letters got me council in quite a state,” he explained.
“I didnae intend for that to happen,” she continued in a rush. “I can take it all back. I will meet them and explain that it was a mistake, that they were intended for another Laird Reid, that ye were caught in me mistake. I will…”
He began shaking his head, cutting her words off as she stumbled over them.
“That willnae be necessary,” he grumbled. “Because the solution is quite simple.”
Marissa’s mouth snapped shut. There was something in his tone that she didn’t like.
“And what solution is that?” she asked hesitantly.
“Ye have to marry me.”
Five simple words. That was all it took.
Marissa felt like she might vomit her breakfast right on Laird Reid’s feet.
CHAPTER FOUR
“Are ye goin’ to be all right?” Arthur asked.
He’d had fun toying with the beautiful woman who’d walked into the room. But as he’d said that he intended to marry her just as her letters had implied, she’d looked as if she were about to faint.
Or perhaps she’s about to lose the contents of her stomach.
“I cannae breathe,” she gasped.
Arthur could hear the truth in her words.
“Slow breaths,” he commanded, “just like this.”
He opened his mouth, forcing it into an ‘O’ and drawing in a long, exaggerated breath. He held it for a moment before blowing it out slowly. He did this a few times, giving her a pointed look until she began to do the same.
“Aye,” he said as she imitated him. “I’ve seen many a lad almost lose their kippers on the battlefield. The steady breathin’ helps.”
Marissa nodded, still pulling in measured breaths. Slowly, the color returned to her face, and she looked less at risk of passing out.
“Ye were at war?” she asked finally. His face must have conveyed his confusion because she quickly elaborated, “Ye mentioned the battlefield.”
Arthur nodded. “Aye. Been at war for the last five years. It’s why I am just now findin’ out about me betrothed.”
He leveled her with an intense look, and color rushed to her cheeks once more.
Finally, he asked the question that had been plaguing him since she had begun speaking.
“Why did ye do it? If ye didnae think Laird A. Reid existed, why did ye send letters to him? To me?”
Marissa’s spine straightened, her brown eyes locking onto him. All her anxiety seemed to vanish in a flash.
“That is none of yer business,” she said, sticking her nose in the air.
“It wouldnae be,” Arthur countered, “if ye hadnae made it me business by sendin’ those letters and stirrin’ up me council.”
Her eyes narrowed on him, but Arthur could be patient when he needed to be. He stared back, willing to wait her out.
