Page 46 of The Highlander’s Improper Wife

“Kill me?” Taran looked at Fiona. “The pup thinks well of himself.”

“You called, my lord?”

Caroline jumped at the sound of Patterson’s voice as everyone’s attention shifted to the butler, who stood at the other end of the hallway.

“Caroline,” Taran said. She looked back at him. “This does not concern you. Retire to our bedchambers. I will meet you there presently.”

She shook her head. “If I am to be made a widow only a day after being wed, I think that concerns me greatly.”

He scowled. “You and your family have a habit of underestimating [TS2]me.”

She ignored the flutter in the stomach at the recollection of how Taran had threatened her uncle with a dawn appointment. “What do you expect?” she replied. “What reason have we to believe you can go about engaging in duel after duel and come out the victor?”

“It is not duel after duel,” he said, as if injured. “This is but the second.” “In as many days,” she reminded him.

“Coincidence,” he muttered.

“Good lord,” Fiona snapped. “Taran, you are mad. Ross, we are leaving.”

Taran seized her hand. “Nay, sister. This whelp and I have unfinished business.

Patterson, those pistols.”

“As you wish, my lord.”

The butler shuffled to the drawing room and brushed past Caroline.

“Lord Blackhall,” Reverend Gordon admonished.

“Taran,” Fiona began.

“Fiona,” Ross cut in, “you should retire with his lordship’s wife. I will see you presently.”

She gaped. “You are as mad as he is.”[TS3]

The young man shook his head. “I will not spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder. We will settle this once and for all.”

“The final match,” Taran said in a soft voice.

A tremor rippled through Caroline and she knew the others had caught the dangerous note in his voice when they quieted.

“Lord Huntly,” the reverend broke the silence. “You are no match for Lord Blackhall.

Let me speak with him.”

“Listen to him,” Fiona pleaded.

Taran’s head dipped in her direction. “What is this? You have set the stage, yet do not wish to finish the play?”

“This is no play,” she snapped.

“Indeed.”

She levelled a look as dark as his own at him. “You will—”

“Huntly,” Taran shoved Fiona into his arms, “take her.”

The young man caught her. Taran whirled and Caroline realized his intent even before his eyes met hers. She retreated with the plan of locking the drawing room door against him, but bumped into a body.