Moon Awakening

'You believe this because… ?'

'It's true. I wish it weren't, but I've come to accept it. The Highlanders hate the English.'

'You said that you told the Sinclair laird you would rather marry a goat. Do you not think that has as much to do with his clan's hostility to you as your being English?'

'Cait said that, but no one smiled at me upon my arrival either.' She took a deep breath and let it out.

'We do not smile at strangers. Is that an English custom?'

She thought about it for several seconds while she blinked the last tears from her eyes. 'Perhaps not, but I was supposed to marry their laird.'

'By the king's edict.'

'Well, yes.'

'That would sting the pride of the clan. Their laird is their chief, they are loyal to him over their king.'

'But you are supposed to be loyal to your king above all.'

'In England this is true and mayhap in the Lowlands, but not here, lass.'

'But that is wrong. It is a sin to put a clan chief above the king of your country.'

'By whose edict?'

'The Church… I am sure the Church has taken such a stand.'

'Are you?'

'Doesn't that matter to you?'

'No.'

She stared at him as if she could not imagine such a thing. 'Are you not worried about being sanctioned by the Church?'

'Nay.'

It was almost worth saying it just to watch her reaction. She looked thoroughly scandalized. 'But that is terrible.'

'Do you think so?'

'So, Cait was right… Drustan will not be marrying her with the blessing of the Church.'

'I did not say that.'

'But no priest would come to your holding if you have such disrespectful views.'

'Our priest does not find our views distressing.'

'He doesn't?'

'No.'

'Your priest? Does he live amidst your clan then?'

'Yes.'

'Do you hate me, too?' she asked in a small voice.

'Why would you ask such a thing?'

'You acted like you hated me.'

'When?'

'When you lifted me from the boat.'

'You inconvenienced me. I was angry.'

'I am sorry.'

'You were obviously feeling overly emotional.'

'Yes.' She took another deep breath and waited. He waited for what she planned to say next. Finally, she let the breath out in a disgruntled sigh. 'Well… do you hate me?'

'No.'

'I don't hate you either.'

Chapter 6

He didn't understand why, but he liked hearing those words. Nevertheless, he said, 'It does not matter.'

'No, I don't suppose it does. Just as it does not matter to you that I think you are wrong to have kidnapped Cait and me.'

'You are better off with my clan than the Sinclairs.'

She bit her bottom lip, her eyes questioning him. 'I don't see how.'

'No one here will hate you, Emily.'

'Ulf already does.'

'Ulf is offended by your plain-speaking and your insults.'

'He's surly.'

Lachlan laughed. ' 'Tis good of you to notice.'

'I wasn't complimenting him.'

'He would take it as such.'

'You Highlanders are a strange lot.'

'You have no idea.'

She looked at him with such an air of innocence, he could barely refrain from touching her. 'Your husband has not bedded you yet, has he?'

She gasped, her pale skin going rose red. 'You should not ask such a question!'

'But I am right.'

Her blush deepened and she looked away.

'Tell me the truth, English.'

'It should not matter to you.'

'Tell me.'

She hugged herself, as if grabbing for courage. 'No, he hasn't.' She glared at him. 'Are you happy now?'

He had guessed she was untouched, but to hear her say so affected his libido with cruel intensity. 'He has never even kissed you, has he?' he asked, embarrassing her further and tormenting himself, but he had to know.

'Lachlan, please… don't ask such personal questions.'

'I want to know.'

'I don't want to tell you.'

'I could kiss you and find out.'

'It would be wrong to kiss another man's wife.'

He didn't answer, waiting to see if she would give in and tell him the truth. She watched him as if waiting for him to withdraw the question. It was not going to happen.

He moved toward her.

She took three hasty steps backward. 'No. He's never kissed me. Are you satisfied? He hates me. I told you, but the truth is… I don't want his touch.'

That final whispered admission almost sent him to his knees because she did not mind his touch. His body still throbbed in reaction to her burrowing into him for comfort, even though she had seen him as the enemy.

Her violet eyes searched his during several seconds of silence he was content not to break. 'If your people hate me, will you let me go?'

'They will not hate you.' He would make sure of it. He knew the Sinclairs had more reason than most to despise the English, but to take their anger out on a tenderhearted woman like Emily was wrong.

'Will the women be kind to Cait as the Sinclair women are to Susannah, or will they shun her for being their enemy?'

'Drustan would challenge any man whose wife or daughter shunned his mate.'

She nodded, apparently satisfied by that. 'That is good to know. He's a strong warrior. Few would challenge