‘Are you certain?’ he asked. ‘I won’t touch you more than that.’
She believed him, but that didn’t mean she was ready to let him undress her. ‘I’ll be fine. Please...just don’t.’
His eyes grew guarded. ‘Regina, what happened to you? Who hurt you?’
She shook her head and stepped back, unable to deny his question. ‘I don’t wish to ever speak of it again.’ She sat upon the straw mattress, lying on her side with her knees drawn up. But Dalton didn’t return to his own bed. Instead, he knelt beside her, and she nearly flinched at the sight of his tension. He looked as if he wanted to tear the man apart.
‘One day, you will tell me the truth,’ he warned. ‘And I will kill him for what he did to you.’
You can’t, she thought to herself. She swallowed hard, the anguish rising within.
Because he’s already dead.
Chapter Seven
It took a few more days of travelling before they reached his grandfather’s estate in Scotland. Dalton helped Regina disembark from the coach, and he led her up the gravel pathway. ‘Welcome to Cairnross.’ He lifted her hand to his mouth, and she managed a smile, glancing up at the stone towers.
‘It looks like a fairy-tale castle.’
‘It has been around for hundreds of years, but its history isn’t at all like a fairy tale,’ he warned. ‘There were a few unsavoury men among my mother’s ancestors.’
‘What did they do?’ She kept her hand in his arm as he led her up the stone steps.
Dalton glanced at the courtyard on the far side of the castle. ‘The Earl of Cairnross imprisoned some of the MacKinlochs for years.’ He shrugged. ‘But eventually, Cairnross passed into more benevolent hands.’
‘Such as yours?’
‘And yours,’ he said softly. It was a risk to say it, but he wondered how she would respond to the idea. She had insisted on being nothing more than a house guest, but he wanted far more than that. Their friendship was on fragile footing just now, and he admitted to himself that he didn’t know what would happen. She had given him the kiss he’d wanted. But now that he’d had a taste of her, he craved her with a fierce hunger. He wanted her naked skin upon his, and he wanted to watch her come undone with pleasure. But he knew better than to press her further. If he made demands of any kind, she would freeze him out.
It reminded him of the years he’d spent trying to please his father—being so careful to say the right thing or to behave in the way John had wanted him to. A part of him rebelled against trying to become the man she wanted, for he wasn’t the sort of man who’d had any luck following rules.
But the rules didn’t apply to Regina. She hadn’t denied that someone had hurt her in the past. Fear ruled her emotions, and he could only win her heart with patience.
If he could win her heart.
They reached the main doors, and were greeted by Elliott MacLachor, the elderly butler. ‘’Tis good to see ye again, Lord Camford. You’re very welcome.’ He raised an expectant look at Regina.
‘This is Regina St George, my wife and the new Lady Camford,’ Dalton introduced. He didn’t miss her wary response, but it was far easier to continue the ruse than to pretend she was a guest who had travelled alone.
MacLachor beamed with happiness and reached to shake her hand. ‘I bid ye welcome, my lady. We are glad to hear of your good tidings.’ The butler led them inside where a footman took her cloak and bonnet. Dalton brought her into the parlour and gave orders for tea and refreshments.
After they were alone, Regina confronted him in a low voice. ‘Why did you tell him I was your wife?’
‘Because it gives you more freedom,’ he answered. ‘And because it’s the truth. Licence or no’, we spoke vows. I can’t brush that aside or pretend it didn’t happen.’ He lowered his voice. ‘But you will have your own room.’
Her tension eased, but she asked, ‘Will it cause problems later?’
Not if he could help it. He was hoping she would grow accustomed to the idea. Instead, he gave a shrug. ‘If it does, we will handle it then.’
She seemed to accept it. Then she remarked, ‘I feel strange without having any of my belongings. I cannot even change my gown.’
‘I can let you borrow some of my mother’s clothes,’ he suggested. ‘If you don’t mind wearing them, that is.’
‘Will it bother you to see them?’ she ventured.
He paused and shook his head. ‘She would have liked you, and I believe she would want you to have them. I’ll send a maid to help you with them.’
‘Later,’ she said. ‘For now, I’m starving.’
Regina studied the room with interest. It was decorated in shades of emerald and cream, and she walked towards the window where there was a view of the estate grounds. To Dalton, she said, ‘Cairnross is lovely. I look forward to seeing the gardens.’
He hoped that meant she was growing accustomed to the idea of being his wife. ‘Then I will show them to you this afternoon.’ He went to stand beside her, studying the landscape. For a time, he simply enjoyed being so near.
Outside, a female wren chirped, attracting the attention of a male. She let him get close, only to dart away in her own flirtatious mating dance. Intrigued, the male pursued her even more.
And suddenly, Dalton wondered if he’d been going about this all wrong. He had tried to remain patient and steady, slowly coaxing her towards affection, but Regina was still reluctant to get close. What if he attempted the opposite? What if he pulled back, still letting her know of his interest...but allowing
