Page 55 of Sinful Scottish Laird

“Daisy—”

“Come,” she insisted, tugging on his hand. “A bit of privacy, please, Cailean.”

He sighed, then said something to his men. He reluctantly followed her onto the path that led through the woods. She pulled him along until she could not see the drive, could not see the lodge, then dropped his hand and turned to face him.

His jaw was clenched, his expression stern. But his eyes, his eyes—she could see how painful this was for him.

Confusion began to swirl in her, kicking up dirt and feelings that felt tight and on the verge of erupting. Her heart was beating too hard for her to find her breath, and she pressed her hands to her belly, as if trying to keep her breath in her. “What business?” she asked.

His eyes moved over her, as if he was reminding himself of her. “I’ve a message from my mother.”

“Your mother!”

“Aye. She’d like to extend an invitation to you and your kin to attend thefeillat Balhaire—the festival—at the end of the week. She will, of course, make accommodations for your household.”

“That’s your business?” she asked sharply and folded her arms. “How kind of yourmotherto invite me,” she said coolly.

Cailean frowned impatiently. “Do you think I ought to have extended the invitation? Do you think your friend would allow it?”

“You might have extended the invitation to him,” she said.

Cailean snorted. “You donna know him as I do. Has he told you about me?”

“Yes,” she said, lifting her chin. “He told me you are a dangerous smuggler and that I shouldn’t associate with you.”

Cailean smiled. “Dangerous to him, perhaps. No’ you,leannan.”

“He asked how I might have possibly made your acquaintance. I told him. I told him everything.”

Cailean’s gaze narrowed. “Everything?”

Daisy flushed. “No, noteverything.” She tried to look past Cailean, to see if anyone had followed them on the path.

“Do you fear him? Donna fret now—the lads will kill him before they’ll allow him up this path.”

Daisy gasped. “How can you say such things! I don’t know what has gone on between the two of you, but he is a kind man, Cailean. He cares very much for me.”

Cailean looked away from her as if he didn’t want to hear it, his jaw working. “Then he’s made his offer,” he said flatly.

“No...not yet.” She put her hand on his arm. He flinched as if her touch singed him. “We are reacquainting ourselves. You know my situation,” she said.

“Aye, I know it. And I know he’ll have your fortune yet, Daisy,” he said, removing his arm from her hand and turning his back to her, almost as if she were repulsive to him.

“No, he won’t!” she said, frustrated now. “Why do you think he’s come all this way?”

“To cut off your defenses, aye?”

“Pardon?”

Cailean shook his head. He put his hands on his waist and turned his head to look at her, frowning as if he thought her addled. “You donna understand, lass—”

“I understand!” she said angrily. “Don’t condescend to me, Cailean. Robert wouldn’t have come so far if he didn’t hold me in high regard!”

“Are you certain of it? Of his affections?”

There was an almost imperceptible hitch in her thoughts, a tiny shard of doubt. “Of course I am,” she said, furious that he would question Robert’s devotion. “I’m not cake-headed.”

“Then you donna want my advice. Aye, then, do as you will.” He began to stride down the path.