Page 43 of The Highlander’s Improper Wife

“Your wife heard our conversation,” she said.

When Fiona reached her side, she clasped Caroline’s hands and held her at arm’s length, her gaze sliding down Caroline’s frame. Her eyes came back up to Caroline’s face as she gave another approving nod.

“Come.” Fiona led her around the couch. “Sit.”

Caroline lowered herself on one end while Fiona sat at the opposite.

“You must forgive me and my sister for not attending your wedding,” she said. “Taran did not think we could withstand the day and a half ride he made, and he was unwilling to send us by coach.”

Given the girl’s obvious headstrong mind, Caroline wagered she understood his logic.

“‘Tis a long ride,” she said.

“Indeed, it is,” Fiona agreed. “But as Taran knows, I am quite capable of the journey. Our sister Horatia could not have countenanced it. In that, my brother was correct. But then, he could have sent her with a large entourage and allowed a week for the journey.”

“Why did he not?”

“Because he believed I would feel obligated to remain here by my sister’s side and not elope,” Fiona replied.

“I will take you over my knee,” Taran said in a low voice.

“You will do no such thing,” she said without looking at him. “Do not worry,” she said to Caroline, “he is not a man given to beating women…much.”

Caroline couldn’t resist asking, “What is he given to?”

“He is given to holding a grudge.”

The answer came so quickly, Caroline blinked in unison with Taran. “You are mistaken, if you think I will not administer a beating to your backside.” He gave a harsh laugh. “Perhaps your new husband will ride to your rescue and allow me to be done with killing him.”

Fiona turned a hard look on him. “You have salvaged your pride by saving me from a night of debauchery. Make good on this ridiculous threat, and I will leave you, dowry, and even my sister, far behind.”

His expression turned contemplative. “And if you do carry his child?”

“You care nothing for that.”

“But I do,” he said. “I cannot save you from a fortune hunter only to have you and your child waste away in poverty.”

“But you can,” she said, her mouth set in a grim line.

Caroline’s pulse jumped. His sister had not exaggerated when she’d said he was unforgiving. “She has made her decision and acted up on it,” Caroline said. “What hope have you of undoing the deed?”

His head shifted in her direction. “This is not your concern.” “I believe I like her,” Fiona said.

“Why condemn her for taking matters into her own hands?” Caroline asked.

His eyes narrowed. “Taking matters into her own hands?”

His quiet tone sent apprehension coursing through her veins. ‘Come to me when you can’, he had told Aphrodite. ‘After you have fulfilled your obligation to your husband’ had been his meaning.

He had not asked her to abandon her duty, only to return to him after she had satisfied that duty. Lord Taran Blackhall had fulfilled his obligations, expected Aphrodite to do the same, as he expected his wife to do. His response to Fiona couldn’t help making her wonder if he didn’t already despise Aphrodite for choosing to deceive her husband. How much greater will be his loathing when he learned his wife had cast him in both roles?

“A woman who creates her own destiny risks losing all,” she murmured.

“What?” he demanded.

“As you say, what if she carries his child?”

Taran’s gaze shifted onto Fiona. “Little did Ross understand the web woven around him.”