He looked at her as if it were obvious.
“It is because ye arenae from me clan,” he answered. “Ye have no family making claims and no reason to hold me to them when the month is over.”
That was a practical answer, but it made her feel somewhat disappointed.
Still…
“I daenae think they will believe it so easily,” she argued. “I am a knitter, nae a noblewoman. If they observe me closely enough, they will realize within a day that I am a fraud.”
He frowned darkly. “They will believe what I tell them to believe,” he declared. “Ye will be presented as the daughter of a distant family, taken in under me protection.”
His story made sense, but she still had other things to consider. What will happen afterwards?
“And when the month is over, what happens, me Laird?”
“Ye walk away. So do I.”
Emily looked into his warm hazel eyes, alight with anticipation of her answer, and could not help but feel drawn in. His eyes filled her with the same warmth she had felt all those years ago when she had been saved from the freezing loch.
His gaze had her thinking deeply about what this would mean for Elize. No more cold rooms, good clothes, and food. If she accepted his proposition, they would move from the wretchedness of their past to near affluence.
Still, none of those reasons had her nodding her head. Her only reason sat in front of her, his warm hazel eyes lulling her into a sense of safety she had not felt once in the past twelve years.
Adair watched her stare at her hands for a long moment, his heart thudding in anticipation. He hoped she would agree. It was a risky plan, but none of his councilmen knew her, and she had arrived too conveniently for him to ignore.
“I will do it, me Laird,” she answered suddenly, and he felt elation surge through him.
“Alright,” he said, remembering to keep his voice level despite his excitement at having something to trump his council.
“One month and nae a day longer,” she added, most definitely more to herself than to him.
He nodded in agreement.
Her eyes met his, and for a moment, he frowned, wondering why his heart skipped a beat.
It was the odd sensations she evoked in him that had made him consider asking for her help, but now that she had agreed, the month they had to play a loving couple loomed ahead like a beast he shouldn’t have awoken.
He pushed the thought away, choosing to focus instead on the fact that he could finally proceed with his plan and finish thingsearlier than he had thought possible, and in such a convenient way, too.
“We shall announce our impending nuptials at dinner tomorrow eve, but I will first introduce ye to me councilmen,” he explained, needing to keep her abreast of his plan. “If we’re successful in convincing those old men, we will be able to do the same with the rest of the clan.”
She nodded.
“Shouldnae we decide on a more convincing story?” she asked. “Ye ken that a few of yer people have seen me already.”
He lifted a brow at her thoroughness. She was much like him in wanting to ensure they covered all bases and leaving no chance for anyone to poke holes in their story.
“Aye, I will think of something before the introduction to me councilmen,” he answered.
“Alright, me Laird,” she said. “I shall leave ye to yer thoughts, then.”
“Alright.”
She rose to leave. When she reached the door, Alec lifted his head to watch her from his spot by the fire. He didn’t lie back until she had shut the door behind her and her footsteps faded down the hallway.
Adair understood the dog’s sentiment very well. The lass was indeed an enigma that had drawn his attention, and now that she was under his roof, he would not rest until he had fully learned her secrets.
For the next month, lass, ye belong to me.
