The corner of Evander’s mouth twitched, clearly itching to pull into a smirk. Her insides constricted, just once, a strange aching tug that was unfamiliar and yet familiarat the same time.
Trying to alleviate the strangeness, she shifted, as if crossing her legs differently would ease the tension in the small space.
I wouldnae have lain with him,she reassured herself.Even if he is handsome enough to allow it.
That thought was just taking root in her mind when Evander leaned back, stretching out his long legs before him, and gave an odd half-huff that sounded suspiciously like a strangled laugh.
“What is it ye want to ken, lass?” he enquired, amusement crinkling his eyes. “Do ye want me to tell ye that ye were madly in love with me? That it was a whirlwind romance that led to a hasty marriage because we simply couldnaekeep our hands off each other?”
She was still reeling from hiswords when he leaned forward abruptly, putting his face fartoo close to hers. Or perhaps it simply felt too close.
“Shall I tell ye that we spent hot, passionate summer nights in bed together, sheets twined around us, as eager as a pair of young lovers?” he whispered, his voice dropping to a deep, husky growl. “Would ye believe me if I said that?”
Her mouth had gone dry again.
“Shall I tell ye that ye begged me to marry ye? Would ye believe that?”
“Nay,” Skye managed. “I wouldnae. I would never beg a man for anything. Besides, ours was a political alliance, was it nae?”
“Aye, it was,” he responded, his voice returning to normal. “Ye are a sensible and logical woman, and ye quickly saw that our marriage would do good for our respective clans, and beyondthat, for the Highlands. Ye decided that we would marry soon, instead of waiting for the betrothal period to elapse. Ye said—and I quote ye word for word here—that anything could happen, and we had better nae wait. Because after all, tomorrow isnae promised to us.”
His face changed, and he glanced away abruptly. “Ye were right about that, as it turns out. When ye vanished on our wedding night, I wondered if ye had ken something of what was ahead.”
“Well, I didnae,” she uttered. “Nae as far as I ken, at least.”
He nodded. “I am only thinking out loud. And daenae fret, lass. We spent very little time together before we were wed. Certainly nothing untoward happened.”
She shifted again, clearing her throat. “Aye, well, I should hope so.”
“Ye daenae need to hope. I am assuring ye of it.”
He watched her thoughtfully. She made herself stare back, meeting his gaze squarely.
What is he thinking? Is he thinking about me? That seems like a decent guess. And if so, am I a problem to be solved, or only a curiosity?
No answer presented itself. He just kept watching.
The space between them seemed to constrict. He hadn’t so much as shifted his legs, but suddenly she found that the curve of his ankle pressed against the toe of her boot. The point of contact seemed to generate heat, despite the fact that two layers of leather separated them.
Flinching, she dragged her feet away.
His lips twitched again, as if longing to draw up into a smile.
He has a crooked canine tooth,her memory volunteered, sudden and powerful enough to make her flinch.The right one. Ye will see it when he smiles wide.
She gave her head a tiny shake. If her memories were coming back, then surely that was a good thing? Surely the rest would follow.
If it’s a good thing, then why am I nervous? Why is me heart fluttering like a bird in a cage?
No answer presented itself.
She cleared her throat—it would be raw at this rate—and racked her brain for something, anything to say to break the taut silence.
She’d just hit on a decent subject—the weather and the likelihood of rain in the next few days—when the litter jolted and began to slow down.
Evander frowned, his eyes sharpening. He rose to his feet. Well, hehalfrose to his feet because the litter was not tall enough to let him stand to his full height. He wobbled over her, one hand braced against the wall, and knocked on the ceiling.
“Angus?” he called. “What is it? Why are we slowing down?”
