Most of all, he was thankful she wasn't harmed.
"Well, I thank you for your generosity, kind sir." MacGillivray bowed. "I will have my wife prepare you and your lady a hearty supper for this eve."
"I would greatly appreciate that. We'll be leaving just before dark."
MacGillivray quirked a brow as if he thought that odd. "As you wish, sir. I hope you get some rest between now and then. I regret that I have nay more rooms to offer you. Once the smoke clears, 'haps you could sleep here for a few hours."
"Aye, but first, I wish to go outside for some fresh air. My betrothed is sleeping in her chamber."
"Very well. We'll nay disturb her." MacGillivray ambled down the stairs.
After listening at Cat's door for a moment and hearing her rustling about inside, Torr exited the building.
What the devil had gotten into him? He'd come dangerously close to taking the lass and ruining her life.
'Slud, how he wished she had not come to him for help. How he wished she was not an innocent. How he wished many things. He had never seen or tasted anything as sublimely sweet as Cat. If only he weren't cursed... If only he were a laird who could truly offer for her. But he had naught to provide her with an abundant life. And her promised to another, besides.
If he took her, there would be no turning back. He could not fathom all the adverse consequences. But he did not ken how long he could resist her. Especially when she was not opposed to seduction.
She'd asked him to be her husband. Never had he imagined such words coming from her mouth. Of course, 'twould be his grandest dream to marry her. But impossible.
His boots thudding over the cobblestones, he paced beneath the window of the chamber where he'd ordered her to get some sleep. How could he banish her from his mind while also guarding her? Another impossible task.
After a few minutes, his sensitive ears picked up the sounds of animals running along the muddy road. Not horses' hooves, but... paws. Large paws, the pads slapping and splashing through the muck.
"What the devil?"
He could not believe his eyes when a large pack of wolves rounded the bend and charged toward him.
