Page 25 of The Highlander’s Unexpected Wife

“I will not be your sacrificial lamb,” she hissed.

“Marriage to me isn’t quite that bad,” he said.

“It is,” she said without hesitation. “But that is beside the point. I am to marry—”

“Robert Thomson,” he finished for her. “Aye, you have told me. Forgive me for saying so, Lady Alison, but for a woman who sees clearly our relationship, you are being particularly obtuse in regard to your engagement to Mister Thomson.”

Her mouth dropped open. “I beg your pardon?”

“I can only conclude that you are standing firm because you do not wish to marry me. I understand that. But I must wonder if you do not truly wish to marry Mister Thomson, either. You are not so naïve that you fail to realize the seriousness of the situation. If he wanted you—was desperately in love—he would take you as his mistress now. Not his wife. Let me assure you, however, I will take the marriage vows seriously.”

She snorted. “I do not believe you.”

Cameron couldn’t believe it. This woman was working as hard not to marry him as most women did to trap him into marriage. Was it really fair to force her? It was, for she really was completely ruined.

“Lady Alison, surely you can see that a marriage to a future earl is preferable to life as a ruined spinster…or worse?”

“My God, you are arrogant,” she retorted.

“Be that as it may, I propose a compromise.”

Wariness appeared in her eyes.

“I am not proposing anything indecent,” he said. “Quite the contrary. We will remain engaged—”

“We are not engaged.”

Cameron sighed. “We will become officially engaged. Once Mister Thomson returns, you will explain the situation to him. If he still wishes to marry you, you may then cry off on the grounds of my philandering.”

“See, we are not truly engaged, yet you are still planning to continue on as a rogue.”

He shook his head. “Not so. I will remain the devoted husband-to-be until Mister Thomson returns. If he does not agree to marry you, we will then be married post haste.”

“I do not see the need for the charade,” she said.

“Your faith in Mister Thomson may be unshakable, but do you honestly believe you can fend off your cousin until then?”

“What?” she blurted.

Cameron had hit a nerve. “My reputation as a rake is far less accurate than my reputation in business. There is mischief afoot. He plots your future and I daresay he will not wait for Mister Thomson to return. He intends to marry you, my lady.”

Her mouth dropped open. “He is my cousin.”

“I believe your father’s title went to a distant cousin, which means Hamilton can never claim that. However, there is a way for him to take full control of your money.”

“He can no more induce me to marry him than can you,” she said, but a fraction of the fight had gone out of her voice.

He gentled his tone. “Forgive me for being blunt, but he can, if you are pregnant with his child.”

She drew a sharp breath. “Henry can be intolerable, but he is not a cad.”

“I beg to differ. Be honest, my lady, your male guardian should be forcing me to marry you. Why isn’t he?”

She hesitated, then shook her head. “He wouldn’t.”

“Then I take it, you decline my offer to a betrothal until Mister Thomson returns?”

Alison drew herself up. “I am capable of taking care of myself. But I thank you for your concern.”