Page 30 of The Cruel Highlander’s Healer (Highlanders’ Feisty Brides #1)

“Let her through the gates,” Elias told one of his men who had been waiting outside the council chambers.

“Already did, Me Laird.” The man beamed.

Elias narrowed his eyes at him. “Without me approval?”

When the man cringed, Elias figured he’d made his point.

“Where is she?”

“She was shown to yer audience chamber, Me Laird.”

Elias’s eyebrows rose. “Is there a guard with her?”

The man blanched. “Uh, nay. She’s a lady. We didnae think?—”

“Exactly. Ye didnae think,” Elias interrupted. “She could be a spy or come to do me harm. Ye wouldnae let an unknown man into me audience room without a guard, would ye?”

The man’s face drained of color. “Nay. I’m sorry, Me Laird. ‘Twill never happen again.”

“See that it doesnae,” Elias snapped, then continued down the hall toward his audience chamber.

He didn’t really expect the woman to present a danger, but it was important that his men always took precautions and were always aware of their surroundings. Just because something was pretty—assuming the lady was—didn’t mean it wasn’t dangerous.

The door to the audience room was slightly ajar when Elias reached it. He started to push it open, then stopped and peeked through the opening. He could glimpse the woman enough to see that she had the most beautiful red hair and that she was tall and slender. The firelight from the hearth caught her tresses and highlighted them to a fiery glow.

“This has to work,” she muttered as she stood in front of the hearth.

Elias couldn’t see the front of her, but he could tell by the movement of her arms that she was fidgeting. And mumbling to herself, he thought with a little amusement.

“This is me only hope.”

His eyes narrowed. She sounded almost desperate, and he had the feeling that she was pinning all her hope on him. The thought soured his mood, and he pushed the door open with more force than necessary.

The heavy door swung out and slammed against the wall, briefly startling the lady.

She turned quickly, gasping in surprise. Elias braced himself, ready for her to get one look at his scar and drop her gaze. But she didn’t. Instead, she looked him right in the eye without flinching.

Relaxing somewhat, he was able to take his first good look at her and felt like he’d been punched in the gut. She was incredible. Along with her glorious red hair, she had almond-shaped, bright green eyes. An enchanting smattering of freckles danced on her nose and spread out across her cheeks.

Elias resisted the sudden urge to take her into his arms and kiss every one of those adorable freckles. His body responded immediately to her. Every muscle tensed up with the urge to take her up in his arms. His member swelled and ached.

“Hell,” he muttered under his breath and shifted slightly to ease some of the discomfort. “Ye wanted to speak with me, lass, so speak,” he growled.

He was a bit harsher than he’d intended, but he couldn’t help it. His body was reacting so strongly to her presence—something he’d never experienced before. It startled him and made him leery.

He’d thought she’d be put off by his surly tone, but she didn’t even blink.

“Me apologies, Me Laird.”

The smile she gave him was bright and sent another bolt of desire through his body.

“I am Holly Taylor,” she said, then dipped low into a curtsey better fit for a king than him.

Taylor .

Elias knew that name. Of course, there were a lot of Taylors in Scotland and England, but there was something familiar about it. He just couldn’t put his finger on it.

“I have a proposition that would benefit us both,” she continued.

Elias’s eyebrows rose as he stepped further into the chamber and swung a hand out, indicating she should take a seat. Her words had further stoked his lust.

Holly took one of the four seats by the hearth, and Elias dropped into the one across from her.

“What is this proposition that had ye comin’ here alone, without a guard or escort?”

Holly’s eyes widened, and for a second, Elias was transfixed, watching the firelight twinkle in her eyes. She didn’t seem bothered by his question and merely shrugged demurely.

“I am nae used to havin’ escorts, and I usually take me servants with me when I travel. However, this business is too… er… shall I say, personal, to involve me servants.”

A bolt of desire shot through his groin, and it was all Elias could do not to groan. He’d already decided to agree to anything she asked. He wanted this woman more than he’d ever wanted a woman in his life.

Would she be willin’ to go to me chamber once we finish this silly talk and get started on our agreement?

“I have heard that ye are lookin’ for a wife,” Holly said, rudely jerking him out of his pleasant fantasy.

“What?” he all but yelled.

Holly nodded. “‘Tis nay secret. I heard it in a tavern.” She waved a small hand dismissively. “The point is, ye need a wife, and I need a husband.”

Elias winced. It was as if someone just dumped a bucketful of cold loch water over his head.

She wants me to wed her?

“Or rather,” Holly continued, a frown marring her delicate features, “I’m lookin’ to escape me engagement.”

Elias had thought he couldn’t be surprised anymore, but he’d been wrong.

He leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees as he studied her. “So, ye want me to marry ye so that ye can escape a man ye’re betrothed to?”

She nodded and gave him a smile so bright that it was nearly blinding. “Aye! Ye ken what I want.”

“Why dinnae ye just break off the engagement yerself? Or is it an arranged union and yer parents willnae let ye?” Elias scowled. “I willnae whisk ye away just because ye dinnae approve of yer parents’ wishes for ye?—”

“Nay, Me Laird, ‘tis nothin’ like that,” Holly interrupted.

“Then what is it?” he demanded.

He watched, fascinated, as her cheeks, and even the tip of her nose, turned pink.

“I dinnae approve of him, ‘tis true, but he only wants to wed me for me coin. Ye, Me Laird, are wealthier than me, which means ye wouldnae be after me coin.”

Elias considered her words for a minute before leaning back in his seat and crossing one leg over the other knee.

“‘Tis true, I have nay need of yer money,” he allowed slowly. “But why would I wed ye? What do ye have to offer?”

Elias almost smirked as he watched the emotions play across her face. First, there was surprise. He guessed she hadn’t expected him to ask her that question. Concern came next, as if she was considering her options. Then, finally, resolution and determination.

He was surprised to realize how anxious he was to hear her answer. Miss Holly Tayor was unusual but in a good way. She seemed intelligent, if a bit daring and impulsive. But Elias found he liked that about her, too. She was bold and brave, evidenced by how she showed up at McAllister Castle on her own. And she went after what she wanted—which, luckily, in this case, was him .

There’s me scar. Does it nae bother her?

“I dinnae care about yer scar.”

Elias felt his mouth drop open for a split second before he snapped it shut. He hadn’t realized he’d spoken those words out loud. Most women, and some men, went out of their way to avoid looking at and talking about his scar. But not this lady.

“It doesnae repulse ye?” he couldn’t help asking.

She arched her eyebrows. “Did ye get it by beatin’ a child?”

Elias frowned and shook his head. “Nay. ‘Twas given to me by me braither.”

“Did ye deserve it?” Holly countered.

Elias nodded slowly. “Aye, I should have been prepared.”

“Then I dinnae find it repulsive,” she said, with a curt nod for emphasis.

A bark of laughter escaped him before he could stop himself. “‘Tis good to ken.”

She leaned forward, her hands folded primly in her lap. Elias stared at her, wondering what she’d do next, but then spotted movement behind her chair. Frowning, he leaned to the side, trying to see what caught his attention. A wicker bag of some kind sat there, which he assumed must belong to Holly.

He started to lean back when the bag twitched. His hand automatically went to his side, and he pulled out his dirk.

Something was inside that bag!

It twitched again, then a furry gray face peeked out.

Elias growled in irritation, leaning back in his chair. He kept his hand on his dirk, though, just in case the animal decided to attack.

“I take it that little beastie belongs to ye?” he asked, pointing his dirk in the direction of the wicker bag.

Holly smiled as she reached around her chair, took the cat out of the bag, and lowered it onto her lap.

“Och, aye. This is Ollie,” she said with a proud smile. “He is me confidant and friend. We go almost everywhere together.”

Elias wasn’t happy about that. He wasn’t very fond of cats. They were good for catching mice in the stables or even in the castle, but he didn’t fathom keeping them as pets.

But as he looked at Holly’s happy expression, he decided it wouldn’t be too much of a compromise to let her keep her pet. In fact, he was surprised he was being so gracious.

What is the matter with me? She is bonnie, but I dinnae even ken her.

“We will wed in a month,” he announced.

Holly’s eyes widened. The hand that had been petting the cat stilled. “A month?”

Elias nodded. “Too soon for ye?”

She shook her head. “Nay, nae soon enough. Me weddin’ to me betrothed is in a sennight.”

Outwardly, Elias didn’t show any emotion. But inwardly, he was incredulous. The woman showed up and basically proposed to him, when she was to be wed in just seven days.

He narrowed his eyes at her. There was more to her need to marry him than her not liking her intended. He knew there was something she was keeping from him. A horrible thought occurred to him, and he leaned forward in his chair.

“Are ye with child?” he demanded.

He would not raise another man’s bastard, no matter how much he wanted Holly in his bed.

Her eyes grew so round that they looked ready to pop out of her head. A deep red blush spread across her face, making her freckles look darker. And bigger.

“Certainly nae!”

She denied it so vehemently that Elias believed her. He didn’t feel bad, nor did he apologize for the question. It was a valid one, considering the circumstances.

He nodded and rose to his feet. Holly’s head tilted back as her gaze tracked his movements.

“I will send word to yer betrothed and inform him that yer weddin’ has been canceled.”

He watched the wave of relief wash over her. She even relaxed enough to resume petting her cat. Its low purr of pleasure filled the chamber.

Elias walked over to where she sat. “As I mentioned, we will wed in one month.”

Holly nodded. “I will be ready, Me Laird.”

Elias paused for a moment, met her green eyes, then leaned down and whispered, “I expect ye to fulfill all of yer duties as Lady McAllister.”

Holly nodded, a perplexed frown pulling at the corners of her lips. “Of course.”

Elias leaned in even closer until his lips almost touched her ear. “I mean all of yer duties, includin’ those in the bedchamber.”