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“A mistake?” Her voice shook. “How can ye say that what we shared was a mistake? It was nae wrong.”

“Nay. It was nae wrong; it made me heart sing with joy and me body burn with wanting ye. But it mustnae happen again.”

Dahlia listened in silence, a cold stone forming in her belly at his words. She released her arms from his neck and reluctantly regained her feet. He was right. There could be no possibility of their being together as long as Emilia’s life and theirs was in danger.

He stood and reached a hand to reassure her. He stroked her hair back from her face and looked deep into her eyes. The light in his green-gold gaze shone brightly in the firelight’s glow and her heart melted.

How could this be? The one man who fired her senses, whose presence set her heart racing, her head swimming with dizziness and her limbs to turn to liquid, could never be hers. Instead, she was meant to be the bride of a man she detested.

He turned and walked slowly across to the door. “I shouldnae be here now but I wanted ye tae try and understand why we must be apart.”

She huffed. “I understand that Laird Mackinnon is a brute who keeps us all prisoners with his cruelty and his evil power.”

He paused, his hand on the latch.

“There is something more,” he stated flatly, not meeting her eyes.

She tilted her head in a question, his icy tone preparing her for something she didn’t wish to hear.

“After the festivities were over and the guests had retreated tae their beds, I left me chamber and made me way along the passageway near me room. It was there I encountered Bairre.”

Her hand flew to her throat. “Did he see ye coming here?”

“Nay. I was near enough tae me own chamber and he couldnae tell where I was heading. I told him some fanciful story about wishing tae raid the kitchen fer a morsel, as I was still hungry.”

“And he believed ye?”

“Aye.” He laughed grimly. “He trailed me down the stairs tae the scullery. I was forced tae eat a duck leg tae convince him.”

“And then?”

“After that, I walked back tae me chamber and he went tae his. But before we parted ways, he handed me this.”

He reached inside his shirt and brought out a tiny leather purse. Opening it, he withdrew a lock of grey hair tied with a black ribbon.”

She looked up and met his eyes. “A lock of yer maither’s hair?”

He nodded, scrabbling his long fingers through the hair falling over his forehead. “It was his reminder that he could harm herat any time and there’s naught I can dae tae stop him. A warning that he was watching me.”

The breath hitched in her throat. “D’ye think he saw ye coming here?”

“Nay. If I’d thought he was following I’d never have come. I waited until I was certain I was alone before I ventured along the passage tae yer rooms.”

Her stomach churned and her hands trembled. “He’s watching us?”

He nodded, giving her a rueful smile. “I think ‘tis best if we stay apart. I am sorry that I have put ye in danger.”

The door creaked open and he took a step, scanning the corridor for a brief moment. And then he was gone

She closed the door behind him as the tears began to flow.

The miserable days turned into two miserable weeks. With every passing day Dahlia became more aware her time was running out. The four weeks the king had decreed should be given to her and Bairre to become acquainted with each other were fast disappearing.

Her days were spent in the women’s solar, embroidering endless tapestries, sketching in charcoal and, occasionally, strolling up to the battlements, turning her gaze across the green fields and the distant hills. She strained her eyes in search of the longed-for messenger from her brother Haldor, or the king, bringing word that the decree ordering her marriage to the Laird Mackinnon had been declared null and void and she was to return at once to Castle MacLeod.

Alas, she looked in vain, there was no word from her brother or King Robert. And to her great sadness she had not laid eyes on Arran since the night he’d come to her chamber to confess their kiss had been a grave error, not to be repeated.

As the days wore on, her attitude toward Bairre became even colder and more distant. He irritated her with his ingratiating behavior that was so openly insincere. She sensed his impatience when his feigned courtly behavior failed to capture her interest.