Whoops. Had she blundered? “No. He doesn’t live there.” That was true. Her cousin had never been to Scotland. “He…” Good God. Where should he live? Where would be far enough away, yet close enough to the Campbell seat? Charlotte wished Thea was here. She knew her history. Wait, though…she did know of a place. “He lives at Fort William.”
Simon’s eyes were like twin blades of steel. “AnEnglishsoldier.”
For a moment, Charlotte wasn’t sure how to answer. She certainly seemed to be putting her foot in her mouth. Or, maybe, since this was Scotland, she was putting both feet into boggy ground that would suck her under.This is what happens when I don’t outline a story.But this was no time for self-recrimination. She was going to have to fly by the seat of her pants this once. And…maybe… Insight flared. “Yes. He is. He’s a soldier. That’s partially the reason I do not want to marry him.” She looked again at Greer since she still didn’t think she could meet Niall’s gaze. “He’s on the wrong side of the war. Just one reason I don’t want to marry him.”
Silence met that remark. Simon and his father exchanged glances. It seemed like an eternity before anyone spoke.
”Ye do have a point, lass,” Niall said.
“I still doona like it,” Simon growled.
Simon was beginning to irritate her. She was doing her best with this fabrication, although she didn’t think anyone would appreciate the irony of it except her. She lifted her head and stared back. “I do not like it either, but it is what it is.”
He was not cowed. Instead he narrowed his eyes. “I still doona believe your friends would have left ye.”
“I already told you why they would have to leave,” she shot back. “What else can I tell you?”
“Nothing more.” Greer glared at her brother. “’Tis possible when her friends saw her with Niall, they kenned she would be in good hands and knew it would be safe to leave.”
Charlotte managed to avoid gaping at her. That was a ploy worthy of a Regency heroine, although fifty years too early for this time.
“Enough of this talk,” Niall said suddenly. “Greer speaks true. Frasers will protect those who want protection.” He looked at Charlotte and his gaze softened. “And ye will have mine, lass. I swear it.”
Charlotte swallowed hard, hoping she wouldn’t succumb to actual swooning. Nothing in her novels could compare to the sincerity of the oath he had just given her. And she…she was a fraud.
****
Niall suspected Simon and his father were not happy with his avowal to protect Charlotte, and those suspicions were confirmed when he was summoned to the council room shortly after dinner. Both his sibling and his parent wore combative looks he knew only too well.
“Ye might as well have your say,” he said as he pulled out a chair and sank down on it.
Simon looked at their father, who gestured that he should begin. Turning to Niall, he looked ready to spit fire.
“’Tis bad enough we are housing a Campbell, but have ye gone completely barmy? She is betrothed to aGrant.”
Niall shrugged. “One she says she doesna want to marry.”
“A convenient story, mayhap,” his father said.
“What do ye mean by that?”
“Deceiving ye by telling the tale and gaining your sympathy,” his father replied, “to keep ye from discerning the real reason she is here.”
If anyone knew anything about a thing or two about deception, it was his father. The man was an expert at it and equally expert at concealing it. Niall wasn’t sure what his da’s real motives were, but he needed to stand his ground.
“What do ye think the ‘real’ reason is, then?”
It was his father’s turn to shrug. “Campbells and most Grants are allied with the government. Can ye nae figure it out for yourself?”
Niall ignored the bait. He also refrained from reminding his father thathehad sided with the government to suit his own ends. “I believe the lass.”
Simon waved a hand. “’Tis because ye want to tup her. Ye canna see what lies behind the bonnie looks.”
“I doona want—”
“Aye, ye do. ’Tis written plainly on your face.”
Niall scowled. He hated when his brother could read him, but he couldn’t deny that lust served well as a distraction. Nor could he deny the feeling itself. He’d provedthatjust this afternoon. He squelched his anger—never an emotion to allow when he was about to do battle—and smiled at Simon.
