Page 54 of The Highlander’s Kilted Affair

The sound of Audor’s light chuckling pulled him out of his thought process.

“I imagine ye are here because ye want tae talk tae me about something,” Audor said knowingly. “But when is it that ye are planning tae speak?” He chuckled. “Or are we tae sit here all day in silence?”

Taking a swig of his whisky and a deep breath, Benedict eventually said, “There is something I need tae confess tae ye, Audor.”

“Does it have anything tae dae with the fact that ye’re in love with me betrothed?” Audor smirked.

Benedict’s face fell, and with his jaw open, he gawked at his brother in astonishment. “How?” he blurted. “How did ye ken? Has someone told ye?”

Audor shook his head, an easy smile sitting on his lips. “Ye told me,” he said. “I only had tae listen tae ye yesterday speaking about yer adventures with Evelyn. Yer love fer her is obvious.”

Benedict was speechless, and quickly replaying his conversation with Audor yesterday, he struggled to find any part of it that had betrayed his feelings. He had been more than careful to omit the fun they had had with each other, telling his brother only of Evelyn’s bravery and determination.

“I cannae remember saying anything that would have told ye,” Benedict gasped.

“Och, braither. We are twins. Have ye forgotten that fact? I think a part o’ me sensed it. The other clue was yer eyes. They sparkled when ye spoke o’ her. All the while ye were careful tae keep yer affection from yer voice, but yer feelings shone out of ye in other ways.”

So, all his effort had been for naught. It mattered not that he had refrained from telling him more. Audor knew him too well. He shouldn’t really be surprised. They were twins after all, and this certainly was not the first time one of them had known what the other was feeling or thinking without having to speak. Besides, love is a powerful emotion, and how he felt for Evelyn was indeed, powerful.

“I’m sorry, Audor,” Benedict sighed, dropping his head.

“I dinnae want ye tae be sorry. It’s nae like I’m in love with the woman. I hardly ken her.”

Benedict flashed him a surprised look.

“Well, it is true,” Audor said. “It is ye who have spent the time with her, nae I. Besides, this arrangement was always more o’ a contract than a relationship.” Audor settled back in his chair and smiled. “So, tell me everything. From the beginning.”

Benedict could still not get over his brother’s lack of reaction, and gawking at his laid-back expression, he said, “Ye’re nae mad at me?”

Audor shrugged and shook his head. “Why the devil would I be mad at ye?”

“I betrayed yer trust,” Benedict said.

“Actually, ye did exactly as I asked ye tae dae. I left, and ye were put in a position where ye had tae pretend tae be me. How can I judge ye for falling in love with a woman that I asked ye tae entertain?

“It’s nae the same, and ye ken it,” Benedict snorted, still feeling completely bewildered.

“Listen, Benedict. We’re the only family we have left. We have each other, and that is it. We’ve been there fer each other fer these last seven years. Naething or naeone will ever change that.”

A long pause hung in the air as Benedict considered the depth of Audor’s statement. They’re lives had been flung into chaos when their parents had been murdered. Still young, they were grappling with their own sense of who they were. Suddenly, they were forced to grow up in a very short period of time. Since then, they had been there for each other through any trial or tribulation that had been thrown their way. Nothing had ever come between them, and nothing ever would.

“So?” Audor smiled, looking slightly amused.

While Benedict could not have imagined that circumstance would be so easy, nor could he deny his relief. At the same time, the shame and guilt he had been plagued with over the last couple of weeks, also seemed to dissipate, and clearing his throat, he began.

“Well, the first thing ye must ken is, I had already met Lady Sinclair ‘afore she arrived at the castle.”

Audor looked confused. “How?”

“Ye remember the lass I met in the library at Laird Mackay’s wedding?”

Audor’s eyes flew wide open in astonishment. “Nay!”

Benedict couldn’t help but laugh at his brother’s expression. “Aye. The very same,” he chuckled.

“Me God,” Audor chuckled with him. “What are the chances?”

“Aye,” Benedict said wryly, remembering the acrobatics he and Evelyn had performed in the last two weeks. “What are they, indeed? And, by the way, dinnae mention this tae anyone, fer her faither doesnae ken she was there.”