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C ampbell watched as her eyes widened before she pressed her lips together, trying to act unaffected by his question. He felt a smile tease his mouth at her discomfort and quickly suppressed it.

She had been bold earlier for saying that she would marry him, but now she looked as frightened as a deer.

“I… I…”

“Will ye marry me if it will keep ye close to the bairns?” he asked again. “Ye do ken that marriage is until death us do part, dinnae ye?”

He had tried to think of any other option than the one he was suggesting, but he had seen how good she was with the bairns. Even if he found a governess, he doubted she would be well-suited to the boys, and he would still need her help with them.

This lass was a treasure trove of information on the boys and their preferences. It would take a herculean effort to secure such information from the distance between their clans.

“I will marry ye,” she answered thickly. “I will marry ye for the bairns. It will be nay great loss to me family. I have nay suitors and nay betrothed who will be hurt by it.”

Campbell was surprised by that last bit of information because it had taken him less than a day with her to decide he would marry her.

She was a beautiful woman, both inside and out.

Even now, without the trappings of her day dress, she was radiant with her hair unbound and eyes that sparked with a depth of knowledge she struggled to express.

She also had a heart to serve others, which was beyond anything he had ever seen from the daughter of a laird. She was willing to put aside her comfort to marry him, despite the rumors circling about him.

He had noticed her studying him as though comparing what she had heard with the man in the flesh.

His moniker had not bothered him over the years as it did at that moment.

He didn’t want the lass to think him the beast he had been made out to be.

He didn’t even know why he cared what she thought of him.

He kept those thoughts to himself and sat straighter in his chair.

Marrying her, while it would alleviate the burden of caring for the boys, would still be a cause of endless troubles for him.

Resisting her had been hard enough, even knowing she would soon be returned home.

Seeing her constantly, especially caring for the boys the way she did, would be even harder for him.

She was the epitome of charm and grace and warmth, which drew him to her more than he liked. But he would learn to resist her. He would just keep reminding himself he hadn’t married her for his own sake, but for the sake of his brother’s children.

He also needed to remind her of that fact. Every woman dreamed of finding love with her husband, but he needed her to know that it would never happen between them.

“Ye must ken what ye’re agreein’ to,” he told her, rising from his seat to come stand beside her. “There was an intruder after the bairns tonight. If ye marry me, ye may also find yerself in danger…”

She rose from her seat till she was looking him right in the eyes. Her green eyes were alight with steely resolve, stealing the rest of his words from him.

“I told ye I will do anythin’ for the bairns, and I’ll keep me word,” she told him. “I dinnae fear what may come. I will protect them.”

Her firm words tested his already thinning self-control. He stepped closer to her till he could catch a hint of her floral scent, and the urge to lean in and taste her skin suddenly seized him.

“Ye dinnae ken what ye speak, lass ,” he warned.

“I do ken, Me Laird,” she insisted. “I keep me word. I will do anythin’.”

“Anythin’?”

He knew he was much too close for what was proper, but she wasn’t pulling away either. It was almost as though she was playing the same game, and the thought sent red-hot lust through him.

Damn.

He was not supposed to be the one losing control here.

Her mouth opened slightly, drawing his gaze to it. He inhaled sharply when her tongue darted out to wet her lips. He bit back a groan, as everything in him itched to pull her closer and taste her perfect lips, to quell his hunger.

He leaned in, entranced, unable to help himself. Her gasp was what made him realize he was a mere hairsbreadth from her lips.

He pulled back slightly to pin her with a look.

“Ye should be more careful with yer words, lass,” he grunted, taking a step back. “Ye may nae always meet a man in control of himself.”

He could feel his cock straining against his kilt, and he knew he would be going for a swim in the loch when she finally left his study, but there were important things they needed to discuss first.

She swallowed and cleared her throat, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Her face was red, and she had trouble meeting his eyes. Her innocence was so beautiful to behold.

“We shall be married soon, then,” he declared. “I will inform yer parents when they arrive.”

“Ye want to marry me?”

He nodded casually. “I will need a wife anyway, and ye are good with the bairns,” he answered. “If ye werenae, I wouldnae consider it. ‘Tis a good plan, is it nae? This way, ye can keep yer promise to yer friend.”

She nodded, and the bright smile that spread across her face stunned him. “I dinnae ken what to say.”

“Dinnae think that it will be a normal match,” he added. “I am only marrying ye for the bairns and nothing more. They are me heirs, and I expect ye to treat them as such.”

“I ken. ‘Tis me reason for marrying ye as well,” she told him, elated that she would get her wish of caring for the boys.

“Dinnae expect love from me.”

She frowned but nodded.

He hadn’t needed to add that part. She wasn’t so misguided as to assume that love would ever grow between the two of them, but she had hoped for cordiality, since she would at least help him with his heirs.

“Ye should prepare to convince yer parents.”

It wasn’t until morning the next day that Mabel realized the extent of what had happened the night before between her and the Laird. She had a hard time falling asleep, her mind replaying the moment he had been so close that she could almost taste the whiskey on his tongue.

Had he really wanted to kiss her?

She tossed and turned in bed, unwilling to start her day. How would she face her soon-to-be husband, whom she had almost kissed before their wedding?

As far as proposals went, his was not at all one for the books. He hadn’t even given her a ring, but she still flushed when she thought about it.

She was marrying Laird Muir, the Beastly Laird her mother had talked about.

It frightened her to imagine what her parents would think when he finally told them.

Her father had been afraid at the mere mention of his name; she couldn’t imagine his shock when he would see the letter bearing Laird Muir’s seal and, what was worse, an invitation to collect their daughter, who had strayed to his clan.

She knew they would scold her endlessly for her foolishness in sneaking out of the castle, but hopefully, the news of her upcoming nuptials would be sufficient to appease them. If they agreed to the match, that was.

She couldn’t imagine whether her mother would be glad for it or would have a fit, fearing for her life.

When she remembered the reason the Laird had proposed in the first place, she rose quickly, pulling on her dress after doing her morning ablutions. She pulled her hair into a knot and walked out of her room, hoping she would still find the Laird in the main hall.

“Me Lady?” a maid called to her. “Where are ye going?”

“I am looking for the hall. Is the Laird still there?”

“Aye, Me Lady.”

“Please take me to him.”

Mabel walked behind the maid, ignoring her curious stares.

When she stepped into the hall, conversation died down as the men noticed the stranger in their midst. Soon, she would be their lady.

The thought had her lowering her head.

She looked towards the high table and tried to remember how to walk when she found the Laird’s intense blue eyes trained on her. If he was surprised to see her, he didn’t show it. But he extended a hand towards her, inviting her to sit beside him.

Whispers rose as she sat in the indicated chair, but her only concern was the man beside her.

“Did ye find yer accommodations suitable?” he asked.

“Aye, Me Laird,” she answered. “I thank ye for yer hospitality.”

He nodded and resumed eating.

She took the time to admire his strong jaw and the fine picture he cut in the sunlight filtering through the large windows.

“Have ye decided how ye will convince yer parents of our marriage?” he asked.

She didn’t have an answer that wouldn’t be a lie.

In truth, she hoped her parents would agree without probing simply because he asked.

Because if they were to protest, she would have to tell them about her involvement in Layla’s marriage.

Even her presence here would spark questions she didn’t know how to answer.

“I was hoping we might discuss the bairns.”

“What about them?” the Laird asked, not looking at her.

“I wanted to know if ye’d found any clues as to who was in the boys’ room.”

The Laird stopped chewing and then resumed as if he didn’t hear what she had said.

“Me Laird?”

He ignored her still, but she noticed how his body tensed. Wisdom required her to be silent, and for once, she chose to listen to it.

She tucked into the food that was placed in front of her, but still watched him as he ate, her eyes narrowing on his lips as he sipped from his goblet.

Her mind flashed back to the almost kiss in his study, and she couldn’t help but wonder what a full kiss would have been like. Would he have been gentle, or would he have been forceful?

She let her eyes roam over his face, flushing when she found his eyes on her. His mouth twisted into a frown, but before he could say anything, she stood up quickly.

She decided to visit the boys, since there would no longer be restrictions on her visits as she would be married to him.

The thought made her giddy with joy. Her freedom to be with the boys, not the marriage.

She found them picking at their meal with dour expressions, but their faces lit up as soon as they saw her.

“Mabel!” Ollie cried.

“How are ye?” she asked, giving them each a kiss on the head.

They shook their heads. But rather than sympathize and make them even sadder, she decided to bring them further out of their shell.

“Shall we go on an adventure today?” she suggested.

They perked up at that. Layla had mentioned in her letters that the boys had a curious side; as such, an adventure would be the necessary thing to lift their spirits.

“An adventure?” Connor echoed.

He was still the most withdrawn of the two, but with time, he would learn to trust her.

“Aye,” she answered. “Would ye like to go out and play games?”

The boys exchanged a hesitant look and then nodded, which caused her to break out into a smile. This would be the first time they had left their room in a week, and she was glad for the progress they were making.

She chattered as they went, hand in hand, and she was glad to see some light return to their eyes. They were about to step into the courtyard when they were stopped by an austere-looking woman.

“Pardon me, miss, but I cannae let ye take the boys out of the castle,” she said with a frown.

“I—”

“I am Missus Norah Hughes, the housekeeper, and I see to the boys’ welfare,” she interrupted. “If ye want to take the boys outside their chambers, ye’re to ask either the Laird or meself. But since I didnae permit it, ye cannae.”

“But it will be best for them to play out in the sun,” Mabel tried to explain. “They are young and need?—”

“How many bairns have ye raised?” the housekeeper asked.

“None, but?—”

“Then ye dinnae ken what is best,” she snapped, taking the boys by the hand. “Come, lads, let us get ye back to yer rooms to rest.”

Mabel wished she could go to the stubborn woman and take the boys back from her, but she just watched the boys be led away.

The disappointment that was sure to fill them filled her as well, bringing tears to her eyes. She tried to blink them away, but a lone tear escaped, which she dashed with the back of her hand.

How could she hope to be the lady of this clan when she could barely speak when confronted?