Page 84 of A Highland Bride Disciplined

“Mmhmm… I kent just as much. Well, it’ll serve ye well to ken thathesmells far worse than me. At least Ibatheregularly.”

The wee little lass squealed with glee and babbled almost violently, which caused Scarlett to laugh along with her.

Just then, the corner of the note flickered in the corner of her vision, and her eyes traveled over it again, recalling it’s contents.

Scarlett—

I promised to find out more about Elise. I’ve gone to do that. I will be back in two days’ time.

K

Elise curled up into the warmth of Scarlett’s neck, babbling softly until sleep finally gripped the bairn.

She rocked her slowly, and her tiny fingers curled around a strand of Scarlett’s hair.

Two days’ time was two days ago…her pulse raced.

She knew that no matter what news he found, she would not let go of Elise.

Ever.

The door opened. Her body tensed instantly, clutching Elise tighter.

Kian filled the frame, the storm of travel still in his cloak and the smell of wind and peat clinging to him. His eyes found hers at once, unreadable but steady, and she knew before he spoke that he carried tidings. The kind that hollowed the air.

“Tam,” he said quietly.

The one-eyed warrior slipped in behind him, boots soft against the rushes. Kian gestured with a sharp tilt of his chin. “Take the bairn.”

Scarlett stiffened. “Nay.” Her arms locked. “She stays wit’ me.”

Kian’s gaze was hard, but not cruel. “A moment. That’s all.”

She hesitated, every instinct flaring, but something in his tone made her relent. Carefully, reluctantly, she placed Elise in Tam’s arms. The babe squirmed, startled at first, and then fixed a tiny hand into Tam’s beard.

“Och,” Tam murmured, voice dropping into that honeyed growl he reserved for bairns and frightened lasses. “There’s a grip worthy of a warrior. Elise the Fierce, they’ll call ye one day.”

Scarlett’s lips twitched despite herself. The sight of Tam — scarred, grizzled, beard half-yanked by a seven-month-old — was enough to pull a chuckle from her throat. But when her eyes lifted back to Kian, the seriousness carved into his expression struck the breath from her lungs.

The amusement died. Anxiety returned tenfold.

“Go on,” Kian said to Tam, his voice like iron.

Tam gave her a look, sympathy glinting in his good eye, then pressed a kiss to Elise’s tiny fist before peeling it free of his beard. “Come, little fierce one. Yer ma and da need words.”

Scarlett wanted to shout after him that Elise wasn’t his to carry, that Elise wasn’t anyone’s but hers, but the words froze in her throat. Because Kian was already moving, his large hand closing gently but firmly around her wrist.

“Come wit’ me.”

She allowed herself to be led, though her pulse rattled in her ears. Down the corridor, away from the nursery, away from the faint cooing Tam made as he carried Elise. Each step tightened the knot inside her chest.

Kian didn’t speak until he’d shut the door of his chamber behind them. The room smelled of smoke and leather, a man’s room, sparse but solid. She’d only been in here once before, and not for long. Now the air seemed charged, heavy with the unspoken.

He released her wrist, only to pace once across the length of the hearth before turning to face her.