Page 52 of A Highland Duke to Claim Her Heart

Emotions crashed through Ewan, almost too fast for him to keep track of.

His first instinct was to get angry. After all, his brother might not have conjured the storm that had shipwrecked him, but hehadchosen to go on a sea journey just weeks before his wedding. Ships were notoriously dangerous, especially in Scotland, where summer did not seem to even out the oceans. He had risked his life for nothing, simply to get away from his responsibilities.

And then he had returned, claiming that he had not been ready for those responsibilities.

Ewan had every reason to be furious at him for his about face.

But there was another emotion lurking underneath this one, and it stilled his tongue.

It was guilt.

Because part of what Christopher was saying was true. He had taken Christopher’s fiance. He had married her, without waiting even an appropriate period of time. And while he did feel that it had been the right choice at the time, maybe he would have made a different one, would have refused to marry, if he had not found her so beautiful and alluring.

And that was where the guilt was coming from.

Ewan desired Cassandra. He had desired her from the first moment he had seen her stepping into the lake. Perhapsthatwas why he had been so easily talked into marrying her. And even now, it pained him more than he could say to imagine what it would be like had Christopher not disappeared, had he had to spend a lifetime watching her be married to his brother.

Ewan’s mouth was very dry when he spoke.

“If I have wronged you, brother, then I apologize.” He looked Christopher square in the face. “Unfortunately, I cannot now undo what has been done. Cassandra and I are married, in the eyes of God and man.” From the lack of skepticism on Christopher’s face, Ewan felt reassured that she had not mentioned the lack of consummation. “But I would like to make amends to you in any way that I can. Name it, and it shall be done.”

Christopher sat back in his chair, and something loosened around his mouth and jaw.

“If you mean that, then there are some ways you can make this up to me,” Christopher said. “I have… debts… that are in need of fulfilling. I was going to use some of the dowry that came with my wife, as well as the stipend you had promised me on the occasion of my marriage, to pay off these debts. They are not large, but they hang over me. If you were to pay these, brother, then I would consider your own debt paid.”

“It is done,” Ewan said, before he had even had a chance to fully process what his brother had said. But even as Christopher’s face split into a smile, Ewan did not regret his rashness.

Christopher’s debts might be larger than he was making them out to be, but it would give him peace of mind, and perhaps restore their relationship, to feel that this business had been resolved between them.

And perhaps,a small voice in the back of his head said,he will also leave Cassandra alone now.

Ewan shifted in his chair. Was that why he had agreed so readily to pay off his brother’s loans? Because it might mean Christopher would lose interest in Cassandra?

“Thank you,” Christopher said, standing. “I shall provide you with more information forthwith on how those can be settled.”

After he was gone, Ewan decided to stretch his legs. However, the gardens did not provide as much peace as he would have liked. Within a few minutes of strolling through them, he encountered Lord Pembury, who was striding purposefully in his direction.

“Your Grace.” Lord Pembury bowed before him. “I was just looking for you. I came to bid you farewell. Lord and Lady Whitmore and myself are leaving this afternoon. I shall accompany them back to Edinburgh, where we shall consider everything you have told us about farming in the Highlands.”

“Very good,” Ewan said, nodding to him. “I trust that I was able to convince you of the efficacy of the drainage systems, and of keeping them in the public domain as long as possible.”

“You certainly made a compelling case,” Lord Pembury said. And although his words were vague, his smile was genuine. He held out his hand, and Ewan shook it.

“In regards to another, more delicate matter…” Lord Pembury cleared his throat, not yet releasing his hand. “My daughter…”

“What about her?” Ewan asked, too sharply. He immediately regretted his tone. But Lord Pembury did not look angry.

“I simply wanted to thank you for your gentlemanly behavior,” Lord Pembury said. “I know that Lord Christopher’s return must be shocking and confusing, but I believe that you made the right choice at the time. We could not know he had survived his dreadful shipwreck.” He hesitated. “But I hope you are aware, Your Grace, that if you leave a door open, then you should not be surprised when another man walks through it.”

Lord Pembury gave him one last, meaningful look, then dropped his hand.

“Thank you again for your hospitality and for your fascinating ideas.”

He then turned and left. Ewan watched him, a vague feeling of unease stirring in his stomach. If even Lord Pembury had noticed Christopher’s attentions to Cassandra, that did not bode well.

But at least it told him that it had not been in his head.

If you leave a door open, then you should not be surprised when another man walks through it.