Page 64 of His Secret Highland Bride

“Well, he didn’t.”

“But you didn’t, either.”

That was true enough, but Lindsay wasn’t ready to concede her mistreatment.

“If we could see to the room for my father. He needs to rest after such a long day, and I’m afraid I wish to retire as well. I managed to find my room with the help of a maid, and my things have already been taken there.” She pointed to the room next to the laird’s chamber.

“You don’t wish to stay with—”

“Nay.” She definitely did not want to stay with Shane. The laird.

Tory nodded, and Lindsay followed the woman to a room two doors down from Lindsay’s new room. “This chamber is set up for guests. If anything else is needed, I can see it done.”

“This will do.” She nodded.

“It was much more impressive before Deirdre stole a number of items and then Shane had some other things sold off.” Tory frowned.

“The bed seems comfortable. That is all he requires during his stay.”

As if she’d called for him, her father arrived at the top of the stairs.

“I don’t know what the devil is going on, but this place is a right mess.”

“I’m sure we’ll set things to rights tomorrow. Please rest, and we’ll talk again in the morning.” Her father relented and went inside.

“I will have a maid sent to you to help you ready for bed,” Tory said.

“It seems a waste to have dressed just to change again, but I thought it was the only thing that would soothe my father.”

Tory nodded and hovered at the door as Lindsay went in her chamber. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry my brother planned to end his marriage to you. That must have been upsetting.”

Lindsay pressed her lips together and nodded.

“I hope in time you can forgive me for not saying something sooner. I’m looking forward to having a sister.” The woman smiled, and Lindsay felt her anger slip away. She imagined Tory was only doing what her brother ordered her to do. After all, he was the laird. Everyone must obey the laird.

Lindsay may be forced to obey him as well. She would do her duty as his wife and mistress of the castle, but as for the matters of her heart…that was over.

…

Shane went to the laird’s chamber and took a deep breath to steady himself before opening the door to find it…empty. Stepping back outside, he spotted Tory.

“Where is my wife?” he asked.

Tory pointed to the room next door. “She’s acquired Deirdre’s room and asked not to be disturbed for the night.”

“She is ordering everyone about already?” Had she known he was the laird all this time? He didn’t think so.

“Can you blame her for being angry? She went from being married to a man she thought cared for her to being cast aside by the laird.”

“But I wasn’t going to. I had come up with another plan.”

Tory sniffed. “Too little, too late, isn’t it.”

“You do understand how ridiculous this is? We’re both married to the people we were supposed to be married to. So no harm was done. I don’t see the issue here.”

Tory glared at him. “If you think that, you’re more foolish than I ever realized, brother.”

“I lied to her, but she lied to me as well. We were both wrong. Doesn’t that count for anything?”