Page 60 of The Highlander’s Unexpected Wife

Chapter Seventeen

Nausea roiled in Alison’s gut. Cameron started around the table, then stilled when she said, “What do you mean, Henry?”

“He died at sea six months ago,” Henry spat.

“Dare I ask how you know this?” She knew the answer, but had to say, “I received a letter from him a little over a month ago, urging me to begin preparations for our wedding.”

“Another one came after that,” Henry said. “I did not want to upset you. He died at sea. Some sort of fever.”

Alison’s head reeled. “Get out, Henry.”

“Alison.” He took a step forward.

She whirled and raced from the room, down the hall and into the dressing room. She spotted a screen in the far corner and barely reached the chamber pot there before she emptied the contents of her stomach. Her throat tightened and tears burned behind her eyes. Could Henry truly be so despicable as to lie about Robert? He had to be lying. Robert had written. They had planned their wedding.

“Alison.” Erin appeared at her side and grasped her arm. “Come quickly.”

Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she turned to Erin. “It cannot be true.”

Erin’s gaze softened. She placed a gentle hand on Alison’s arm. “Your husband is ready to kill your guardian. You should come if you want answers.”

Did she really need to know more? Had she been betrothed to a ghost these last six months? She jumped to her feet and they hurried back to the dining room.

Cameron held Henry by the collar. He raised his fist as Alison reached the door. James seized Cameron’s arm and swung him around. Cameron’s eyes caught on her. The pain and fear she saw there twisted her heart. Alison yanked her gaze from his and crossed to Henry.

“Do you see what your husband is, Cousin?” Henry demanded.

“Silence,” she snapped.

His eyes widened. “Alison, you—”

“How could you?” Alison cut in. “I trusted you. My father and mother trusted you. You are my family.” Had she really shared her home with a man she never really knew?

“I have lost everything. You were all I had left. I wanted to protect you…love you. We would suit.”

“I would have shared everything I have with you.” She blinked away tears. “You knew I loved him. Why would you let me go on planning a wedding?” She swallowed hard. “The letters. Were they from Robert? Or was that part of your deception?”

“Nae. I only hid the one letter. Do you not understand? I wanted to save you from the pain.”

“You wanted my money,” she snapped. “You said so yourself. You’d lost everything. Do not contact me, Henry. We are nothing to each other.”

She fled the room, rushed upstairs to her quarters. She slammed the door, collapsed onto her bed and let the tears fall. Robert had no siblings and his mother had died before he’d left for the navy. Alison should have been able to mourn him. Did his father know? He, too, was a navy man, an admiral. Like Robert, he was at sea. It was possible even he didn’t yet know of his son’s death.

She curled into a ball and closed her eyes. Silent tears streaked down her cheeks as she recalled her innocent youth, falling for a dashing young man, and promising to be true until his return…

Alison started awake at the click of the door latch. The drapes had been drawn, but sunlight streamed through the gap. Had she fallen asleep?

“Alison?” Cameron came into view and stopped beside the bed. “Are you hungry?”

She shook her head, unable to speak for fear she would cry again. She longed for him to hold her, but needing him was a betrayal of Robert. He sat on the mattress next to her and she couldn’t halt the tears. He pulled her against him and traced circles on her back while making gentle shushing sounds. She wasn’t supposed to find comfort in his arms. She was supposed to marry Robert. He’d died, and she had gone blithely into another man’s bed.

“I have loved him my whole life,” she said through sobs.

Cameron stilled.

Fear sent her heart into a wild rhythm. She suddenly wished he would leave, yet feared he would leave and never return.

“Shall I send Erin to you?” he asked.

He didn’t want her. Why would he? Had he ever truly wanted her?

She nodded and when he pressed a kiss to the top of her forehead, she feared her heart was truly breaking.

He rose and she glimpsed his strange, sad smile. “I will send her directly,” he said.

Then he left.