Page 44 of The Highlander’s Kilted Affair

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

She awoke to a gentle shaking, and when she finally opened her eyes, Benedict was gazing down at her.

“It is past dawn, me love. ‘Tis time ye returned tae yer own room ‘afore yer sister awakes and notices ye missing.”

Wrapping her arms around his huge chest, she sighed. “Och, but I dinnae want tae leave ye.”

“I ken,” he growled with a smile. “I dinnae want ye tae go either. But it must be this way, fer now.”

Evelyn pushed herself up and looked at him. “It is the way it has tae be forever, Benedict. This thing between us cannae continue.”

He frowned at her then. “I dinnae think ye understand how much ye mean tae me.”

“But I am tae marry yer braither,” she argued.

“Aye. About that. I had a long think after ye fell tae sleep last night, and I truly want tae speak tae me brother about us.”

Evelyn’s eyes flew wide. Partly from fear, partly from excitement. “But surely, he will hate us fer what we’ve done.”

Benedict shook his head. “I dinnae think he will. Ye dinnae ken Audor like I dae. I’m nae saying he willnae be angry, but when I express how I feel about ye, when I tell him I cannae live without ye, he will understand.”

But Evelyn felt conflicted. The union to Audor was so much more than just a marriage. The repercussions rippled out far beyond her and her happiness.

Shaking her head, she said, “I’m nae sure this is a good idea.” She halted from saying more, for she did not want to hurt his feelings.

“Dae ye nae want tae be with me, Evelyn?” he asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

“O’ course, I dae. Ye ken I dae. It’s just…” She hesitated.

“Ye are worried about the alliance,” Benedict replied knowingly.

“How can I nae be worried about the alliance. ‘Tis the real reason I am here. This whole union is the basis tae forge an alliance for the protection o’ out clan.”

Benedict sighed. “I ken. And I cannae tell ye how things will work out. I only ken what me heart desires, Evelyn.”

She ought to have been excited. Under any other circumstances, hearing those words fall from Benedict’s lips would have thrilled her to the core. She would have jumped with glee at the prospect of spending her life with the man who had stolen her heart. But how could she, when so much rested on her union with Audor.

“I should go,” she said, glancing at the rising sun through the window.

This time it was Benedict that looked a little saddened.

“I ken,” she said with a smile. “It’s nae like I want tae. But unless ye want our business spread across the lands when the maids arrive and find me here,” she joked playfully, “I need tae go.”

With a soft and tender kiss that made her departure even harder, Evelyn eventually crept from the bedchamber and hurried down the corridor. The distance between the rooms was not far, and yet, Benedict’s words ran over and over in her head as she went.

I’m going tae speak tae me braither about us.

I cannae tell ye how things will work out. I only ken what me heart desires…

But what if it didn’t work out? What if Audor refused? What if Audor agreed, but the alliance was nullified? What if her selfishness was the undoing of her clan, and without the protection of Clan Gunn, her own people were destroyed by Clan Keith?

Breathe, Evelyn.

Reaching her bedchamber, she silently turned the handle and crept into the room, closing the door as quietly as she could. As she turned to sneak across the room, a gasp escaped from her lips, for Yvaine was sitting up in her bed with her eyebrows raised and a soft smile on her lips.

“And whose bed did ye sleep in?” she said. “Like I have tae guess.”

Caught off guard, Evelyn hurriedly tried to think of an excuse, but it was no use. She had been caught red handed. Besides, Yvaine knew her too well. Her sister would see through any lie she tried to tell her. And by her words, she had already come to her own conclusions.