Page 56 of Provoked

“Good,” Balfour said, throwing himself into a chair and swallowing half the contents of his own glass. “What do you think MacLennan will do now?”

David considered. “His brother was transported a few weeks ago. They probably won’t see each other ever again. Euan is desolate. And angry.” He paused. “He may try to find your cousin again. I don’t know.”

Balfour brooded over that, staring into the fire.

David watched him. What a profile the man had. Like some ancient Roman general with his dark hair cut Brutus style and his strong, blunt features. A hint of aggression in that discontented jaw.

“May I make a request?” David said.

Balfour turned his head, eyes hooded. “It depends what it is,” he growled.

Shamefully, excitement stirred in David at the promise in the other man’s deep voice before he thrust that thought aside. He had a real favour to ask. Something he suspected Balfour would not be eager to agree.

“Don’t pursue Euan.”

A small shift in Balfour’s expression and the hint of promise turned to caution. “You said yourself you think he’ll go after Hugh again.”

“And Hugh knows about him now. He can take care of himself. It’s between them.”

“I might despise him, but he’s my cousin.”

“And Euan is my friend. A friend I betrayed to save your cousin.”

“And what if he succeeds next time, when I might have stopped him?”

“What if you stop him when he was never going to do anything?”

“Why should Hugh take that chance?”

David shook his head angrily. “Hugh? A man who lied to and betrayed innocent men, you mean? Hecausedthis.”

Balfour stayed silent, watching David carefully. “Do you fancy yourself in love with MacLennan?” he said at last.

“What? No!” He wasn’t sure whether Balfour believed him or not. The man’s gaze never wavered from his.

“The reason I am here, in Scotland,” Balfour said eventually, “is because my aunt begged me to find Hugh. I promised I would try to extricate him from whatever my father had got him into. I have to keep that promise.”

“And you have kept it. If you want to protect him further, there are other things you can do for him than go after Euan. Send him abroad. Give him a new name.”

“That kind of help will take him away from Bella Galbraith.”

“Maybe.”

Balfour sighed. “If I send Hugh away now, he will think I want Bella for myself.”

“And do you?” The words were out before David could stop them. He hated the smile they elicited from that beautifully carved mouth.

“Shewouldmake an ideal wife.”

Goaded, David said waspishly, “Putting aside the fact she dislikes you, you mean?”

Balfour laughed, eyes crinkling at the corners. “How catty of you! I didn’t think you’d stoop so low.”

God, but he was handsome when he laughed. David felt a queer ache in his stomach that was only partly desire.

“I’m not being catty,” David said. “It’s merely an observation.”

Balfour grinned. “You’re right of course. Bella thinks it’s her right to be worshipped, and she hates that I tease her mercilessly. Also, she has no sense of humour whatsoever.”