Black Richard's Heart (The MacCulloughs #1) - Suzan Tisdale Page 0,96
hold my hand or kiss me?”
Aeschene bit her lip to keep from laughing. Marisse gasped at his accusation. “Of course nae!”
“Then why did ye mention it?”
“Because holdin’ hands and kissin’ is all ye men think about.”
Rory threw his head back and laughed. “If ye believe that is all men think about, lass, ye haven’t been around real men.”
To save her friend from more embarrassment and to stop anyone from hearing the argument, Aeschene stepped forward. “Then we have yer word, Rory? Ye will do this for me?”
“Aye, m’lady, I will do this for ye.”
Pleased and more than just a bit relieved, Aeschene thanked him and Lachlan. “Remember, get the best price. And not a word to Richard.”
“We will not lie if he asks, m’lady,” Lachlan told her.
“I would never ask ye to lie to yer laird, Lachlan,” she replied. “But I do ask ye keep this secret betwixt us for as long as possible.”
With the men’s promises, Aeschene’s spirits were lifted immeasurably. After thanking them again, she and Marisse headed out of the bedchamber. “I swear to ye, Aeschene, if he lays one finger on me, I will not think twice about breakin’ his arm.”
Thankfully, there was no need for Marisse to break Rory’s arm. He had behaved nothing short of the perfect gentleman during their first walk that night after the evening meal. Only once did he touch her, and that was a gentle hand on her elbow to guide her around a rather large puddle.
They kept to the path that led out of the courtyard and to the loch. Nary a cloud could be seen in any direction, allowing the stars to shine and twinkle like diamonds against the midnight blue sky.
“Ye and Aeschene seem to be settlin’ in quite nicely,” he said as they walked along the rocky shore.
“We are.” Marisse wasn’t in the mood for talking. She was still angry with him for extorting the walk out of her for his cooperation. She was also a bit confused. How on earth can a man as handsome as he be such an eejit?
“Are ye likin’ it here?” he asked after a lengthy silence.
“Aye.”
Rory shot her a sideways glance and had to chuckle. Her lips were pursed, her arms wrapped tightly around her waist, and there was more than just a hint of murderous rage in her eyes.
“’Tis a beautiful night,” he said with a nod toward the starry sky.
His observation was met with silence. Not so much as a curt nod in agreement.
Thinking perhaps a compliment might ease away her anger, he said, “I want to thank ye, Marisse, for agreein’ to walk with me.”
Stunned, she came to an abrupt halt and glowered at him. “Are ye mad?” she asked incredulously.
“Mad?”
“Aye. Mad? Tetched? Insane?” Incredulous seemed to be her tone of choice.
He chuckled again. “I have been accused of bein’ those things once or twice,” he replied with a bright smile.
“In case ye have forgotten, I am not here of my own free will,” she bit out. Mayhap, had he just asked instead of blackmail her into the walk, she wouldn’t be so fighting angry.
“Ye could have said nae,” he said, his smile unfazed by her biting tone.
Her mouth fell open. “I did say nay! But ye blackmailed me and threatened to tell Richard about Aeschene’s plan.” she exclaimed with a shake of her head. “I am only here to gain yer silence, Rory. Nothin’ will ever come of it.”
“Do ye find me so unappealing?” he asked, “Or does yer heart belong to another?”
He saw his answer staring back with eyes filled with pain.
“Who my heart belongs to is none of yer concern,” she told him pointedly. In truth, her heart didn’t belong to anyone at the moment. Aye, she still loved and missed her husband, but he’d been gone for more than two years. Her future was hers now, to do as she pleased. There was not a day that went by that she didn’t give thanks to God for bringing her and Aeschene here. Even if she had been blackmailed into walking with a handsome, silver tongued devil.
“I beg yer forgiveness, lass. Had I known, I would not have pressured ye into walking with me.”
Marisse took note of the sincerity in his voice. She also noted a bit of regret in his deep blue eyes. Truly, she didn’t wish to discuss the matter further for she was still trying to find her footing in this her new home.