A Hellion at the Highland Court (The Highland Ladies #9) - Celeste Barclay Page 0,37

on her nose. He pointed toward her armoire, and Laurel gave a doubtful nod. She watched as the giant forced himself into what looked like a pea. Her gowns peaked out the door that didn’t shut all the way. She hurried to the door and opened it to find Monty alone in the passageway. “I’m sorry, I had to make myself presentable.”

Monty narrowed his eyes at her before they swept her chamber, coming to rest on the armoire. “Get out, Campbell. My sister’s chin looks like you tried to swallow her alive. Next time, shave first.”

Laurel’s hands flew to her face before her shoulders slumped when she realized she confirmed Monty’s suspicions. The wardrobe door swung open, and Brodie climbed out, narrowly missing his head on the frame.

“Hiding? I cannot believe you’re such a coward,” Monty said in disgust.

“Get out,” Laurel said.

“We must talk,” Monty argued.

“No. Not if you’re going to insult Brodie.” Laurel narrowed her eyes as she leaned forward and lowered her voice. “We all have secrets we wish to keep and will go to quite long lengths to protect.”

Monty’s gaze hardened as he looked from his sister to Brodie, who came to stand behind Laurel with his arms crossed. “It wasn’t enough that you compromised my sister in a passageway where half the ladies-in-waiting saw you. Everyone is abuzz aboot it. Now, I find you in Laurel’s chamber. Bluidy hell, Brodie. I wished for you to take her off my hands, not destroy our family’s reputation. You may like a challenge, but it wasn’t to bed her. It was to make her love you enough to marry.”

Laurel froze. She feared if she moved, even twitched a muscle, she would vomit down the front of her brother. Everything she and Brodie shared that morning felt like a sham with Monty’s careless words.

He didna mean what he said. He already committed to marrying me. He just wanted me to go along without a fuss. But why? He doesnae need to strengthen an alliance with us. And ma dowry isnae worth even looking at. Likes a challenge? Was this just aboot his pride?

Brodie spun Laurel around and pulled her against himself, but she didn’t move. She didn’t pull away, but neither did she return the embrace. Despite the numbness that spread to each pore, Laurel needed the solidity of Brodie’s body and arms to keep her on her feet and, ridiculous as she found it, his presence offered her comfort.

“You are an arse, Montgomery,” Brodie seethed. “You may have said it where no one but us can hear, but you’ve humiliated your sister.”

Brodie made as if to pull away, but Laurel’s hands shot up and tugged on his leine, urging him not to let go. He pressed Laurel’s head to his chest, shooting Monty a thunderous glare. “Wheest, thistle,” Brodie whispered. “I will tell you everything I remember of that night. But it had naught to do with today. Today happened because it was meant to. We’re two peas in a pod, and everything I said today was the truth. All of it, Laurie.”

Laurel still couldn’t move. She closed her eyes as tears seeped from beneath her lids. Brodie held her as he ran his hand over her back. Never had she appreciated her height until that moment when Brodie cooed in her ear endearments and promises that Monty couldn’t hear. He promised to take her away from court, to take her riding every day that he could once they were at Kilchurn, to take her to the sea or to the mountains, or to do whatever she wanted once they married. Eventually, Laurel nodded and released him. She turned to look at Monty, her eyes still burning from her tears. Brodie’s arm around her middle kept her from lunging at Monty and tearing at his face, but it also made her feel protected unlike she ever had before.

“I told you to get out already, Montgomery. Go away,” Laurel commanded.

“So you can finish your romp?” Monty stomped to the bed and ripped back the covers.

“There’s naught to find, Monty, because naught happened,” Laurel stated. “We talked. Aye, there were kisses, but I am in the same condition as I was when I entered my chamber.”

“And what, pray, is that? You allowed him to maul you where anyone could see. Word is he was humping you right there.”

“Montgomery,” Brodie’s voice was enough to make Monty snap his mouth shut. “Cease, or there will be no heir to Clan Ross. Whether you