What had just happened? But then he knew. She’d pummeled him with something and then several other realties pelted his thick skull. She hadn’t wanted that kiss. His own jealousy had filled in the wrong details.
He dropped his hands to his sides. He had to let the past go. Daisy was not Ailish. Their marriage needed trust to succeed and he needed it be successful because he was in love with her.
Every touch, every interaction had told him it was true, he’d just had a difficult time believing it until right this moment.
He started running down the hall again, even as Daisy lifted the candelabra to deliver another blow. “Daisy,” he called out. “Allow me.”
Her head snapped up, her eyes wide, her breath ragged. “Blake?”
He didn’t answer right away because Price had finally dropped his hands from his head. Without a word, he punched the man square in the nose.
Daisy huffed. “I had the situation under control.”
Price dropped like a stone and Blake, without hesitating, wrapped a forearm just below her rear and lifted her into his arms, carrying her away. “I ken ye did. Ye could kill a man the way ye wield a candelabra.” Then he looked into her blue eyes. “It was a candelabra wasn’t it?”
“I think so,” she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “But whatever it was, I can handle the likes of Lord Price.”
He chuckled, giving her a squeeze. They passed Colin without a word and Colin didn’t ask where they were going or what they were doing. “I never doubted that ye did, but I did realize that I love ye lass.”
She caught her breath squeezing his neck tighter. “I love you too and what’s more…” She dropped her nose to his. “I’m not afraid anymore.”
He stopped then, smiling. “I’m not either.”
Tom ran down the hall to check on Price while Colin pivoted toward them. “Ye may take her to her room but ye are to stay on the other side of the door. I don’t want ye to enter.”
Blake gave a nod as he moved toward the stairs again. “Don’t listen to him,” Daisy whispered. “I need to see you again tonight.”
He kissed her lips even as he stared up the stairs. “I do too but I don’t want to upset yer brother-in-law now.” They reached the top of the stairs and he started for her room. “He’ll expect me to return for that smoke. Unless he’s busy tossing Price out into the night.”
One corner of her mouth turned down as she stared at him for a minute. They’d arrived outside her door.
“I’ve got a plan,” she said. “Meet me at my door again in one hour.”
Chapter Ten
Daisy paced the floor of her room, noting that it had been five minutes over the hour she’d specified. She stopped walking, twisting her hands. He was probably stuck in conversation with Colin, but she needed him here in her room.
First, because this evening had been trying and she drew strength from him. But mostly because she was no longer afraid and she needed to show him how much she loved him for her confidence.
There was finally a soft knock at the door, so quiet she could have missed the sound. Daisy stared for just a second, she cocked her head before she raced for the door and pulled it open.
He leaned against the jam, one eyebrow cocked. “What’s yer plan?”
By way of answer, she stepped into the doorway, her body a breath from his as she tilted her chin up. Then slowly rising on her tiptoes, she pressed her mouth to his. “If you can’t come in here, I’ll go to your room.”
His hand snaked around her waist, pulling her against his body and closing the distance between them. “I like that plan.”
She let her hands wander down his chest, marveling at the hard ridges of his body. “Lead the way.”
In answer he picked her up, as he was want to do and headed for the back stairs. “I’m glad ye waited fer me to escort ye down.”
“Is Price still in the house?” She wrapped her arms about his neck.
“No. As soon as he was revived, Colin tossed him out. The whole while he was blubbering about how he needed yer hand and the contract or his debtors would toss him in prison. The man has no shame.”
Daisy frowned. It was as she’d expected. Lord Price needed money and he’d thought she could provide it. “Thank goodness you were here to keep me from making a giant mistake.”
He stopped. “Ye would have figured it out. Just like ye were doing a fantastic job of defending yerself.”
She appreciated those words. It was important that she acknowledge her own strength. “All the same, I’m glad you’re here to help. I’m ready to be myself again.”
He started moving down the hall, opening a door and then quickly closing it, so that they were in the dark interior of a room. He set her down and quickly lit a candle, casting a soft light. “I’m ready to be myself too.” Then he returned to her, and holding her face, gave her a long, slow kiss. “The man who trusts his heart to a woman.”
She held his forearms as the kiss lengthened. Finally she pulled away. “Everyone gets their heart broken by the wrong person. Don’t you think?”
He shrugged. “I suppose yer right. It seems natural.”
Her fingers danced along the hair of his arms, his rough skin underneath. “It’s just that Ailish underscored what your father had been saying to you all along.”
He grimaced. “Now that is the truth.”
“But he was wrong. You are strong and honorable and hardworking. You’ll make an excellent laird.”
He looked down at her smiling. “And ye are strong too. I ken ye’ll make a wonderful wife.”
Her chest swelled. There was no more fear and that was such a nice place to be. “I love you, Blake Abott.”
He
