Page 24 of The Highlander’s Unexpected Wife

“You seem to want to marry her,” Hamilton said. “I am giving you an out. Take it and leave her be.”

“I’m afraid I cannot. I know my reputation. Society believes we are lovers.”

“I care nothing for what Society believes,” a woman spoke behind him.

Cameron turned and smiled. “My lady, I am relieved to see you.” He crossed to her. When she didn’t offer her hand, he bowed. “Thank you for seeing me today. I received no replies to my letters, so wasn’t certain you had received them.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly. “There was no need to reply to your notes—as you know, sir,” she said. “By now, you must know there will be no marriage between us.”

Cameron smiled gently. “I applaud your loyalty to Mister Thomson. You are an intelligent woman, so you must know that a gentleman will not remain engaged to a woman who was found in another gentleman’s bedchambers.”

“I have never known a rake so determined to marry a woman as are you.” Her eyes narrowed. “I assume you know I am a wealthy heiress?”

An unexpected laugh escaped before he could stop it. “Forgive me, Lady Alison. Are you accusing me of being a fortune hunter?”

She arched a brow that said if the shoe fits…

“You are wise to beware of fortune hunters,” he said. “I will have my solicitor send over an accounting of my finances. You will see that I am, shall we say, comfortable.”

“If it isn’t my money, then what is it you desire?”

“I would think that is obvious.”

“Please,” she said in exaggerated tones. “You take me for a fool. Do not say that you were so struck by my beauty that you simply cannot live without me, or that you suddenly see the error of your roguish ways and have decided to settle down with a good woman.”

This time, he was able to stop the laugh that rose to his lips. Still, he couldn’t resist asking, “Are you a good woman, my lady?”

“Better than you deserve,” she replied.

Cameron grinned. “In that, we agree. If you want the truth, my lady—” He broke off. “May we speak in private?”

“There is no need for that,” Hamilton said. “Alison has made herself clear. Now leave, or I will have you forcibly removed.”

“Henry, for God’s sake, I have had enough of you for today,” she said in obvious frustration. “Leave us.”

He strode to where they stood. “Nae. Aside from the fact that would not be proper, I do not trust this man.”

She pinned him with a hard stare. “Unless you intend to lock me in my room, then I suggest you leave. As the viscount has made perfectly clear, my reputation has already been compromised. A conversation in your study is hardly grounds for concern.” She arched a brow. “Otherwise, I will simply meet him at a time and place of my choosing when you are not present.”

Cameron was impressed. The clever minx had her cousin dead to rights. If Hamilton refused, the knowledge that she would once again meet with him in private was no idle threat. Cameron suspected she knew Henry would relent with that threat hanging in the air.

Hamilton’s mouth thinned. “Five minutes, Weston. After that, I will have you thrown from my house.” He looked at Alison. “I will be just outside should you need me.”

She didn’t reply. Hamilton left and, when the door clicked shut, Alison motioned for Cameron to follow her to the far side of the room. When they reached the hearth, she whirled on him.

“What are you about, sir?” she said in a low voice. “You are not in love with me. In fact, you have no wish to marry, at all.”

“I did compromise you, my lady.”

She rolled her eyes. “Rubbish. You did not entice me to your bedchambers, as you well know. You didn’t even know I was there. I came to be in your house, in your bedchamber, of my own doing. If anything, it is Erin you should be offering for, not me.”

“My lady, I will drag you bound and gagged in front of a minister before I will marry your cousin.”

She blinked, then he realized his mistake.

She gave a slow nod. “So your father has had enough of your philandering and has put his foot down, has he?”

“I asked you to marry me of my own accord,” he said. It was the truth—even if his father had commanded him to marry.