Murdoch stared him down. “Do not give me your airs, boy. I want your word that you will treat her as a lady should be treated.”
“For God’s sakes, man, I am neither a fiend nor a monster.” Alec’s response was terse and tight-lipped. Maxwell’s request prompted in him a faint admiration for the man’s protectiveness, though he was in no mood to admit it just now.
“Your word, your grace.”
“You have it.” Alec’s tone was tight. “Now may I pass? And I would like a little privacy, if you please.”
Murdoch stepped aside. “She is at the end of the path near the fountain.” From the sound of it, he was certain the old man was gritting his teeth. Well, he was gritting his teeth as well.
Alec strode down the winding path. In her blazing gown of red, it was easy to spot her. He knew the exact moment she heard him. She whirled and stared him down every bit as much as her uncle had, he noted with a faint annoyance.
“Lady Maura,” he drawled. He executed a deep, exaggerated bow—
And felt the sting of a slap the instant he straightened upright.
His jaw clenched. He leveled a gaze on her that would surely have made many a man fall back.
“What was that for?”
“For saying that…that I…”
“That you were amenable to my advances?”
“Aye!”
“I fail to see why I should be chastised for speaking the truth.”
She glared at him but said nothing.
“Anything else you wish to say, Lady Maura?”
“As a matter of fact, yes! Was it necessary to…to…”
“To defer to you regarding the details of our night together?”
“Yes!” she hissed.
“I thought it only appropriate, since in all truth I remember quite well what we did with our clothes on…but not off.”
The way she swallowed didn’t escape his notice. He was right, he decided blackly. He was being played like a pawn, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.
“Ah. I see you do remember. Indeed, I recall quite vividly hearing you moan when I bared your breasts. It came the instant you felt my mouth on your—”
Her hand shot up. Alec caught her by the wrist, thwarting her. His other arm banded around her waist. He shook his head. “You should cease your hostilities, I think. After all, I came to tell you the news.”
He could feel the way her chest rose and fell, the way her breathing quickened. He held her fast.
Little by little her eyes inched up to his. “What news?” she asked, her voice very low.
He bent his head so his lips just brushed her ear. “Congratulations, Irish. I came here for a bit of angling and caught myself a bride. And you—well, you’ve just snared yourself a Scotsman.”
Chapter Six
On her wedding day, Maura woke to the sweet sound of birdsong. She lay very still, listening as the birds trilled and whistled and sang to each other just outside the window. A faint wistfulness swelled within her.
The Irish considered it lucky to be wakened by birds singing on the morning of the wedding. But she was afraid she would be forever damned in hell for her actions over the past few days.
With a sigh, she pushed the coverlet aside and walked to the washbasin.
