Seduction in the Highlands: By choosing him she loses her inheritance, by leaving him she brakes her heart...

by Kendrick, Kenna

  As she approached the shore, her stomach sank as she noticed that she would have to speak to both of them that very moment, for they were embroiled in an argument on the shoreline.

  * * *

  Liam stepped back, still registering the information. “She has broken the engagement?” His voice was loud and hurried, as a rush of happiness filled him with the possibility of this turn of events. But he cleared his throat and crossed his arms again to hide his former excitement. Despite Elizabeth breaking the engagement to John, it did not mean that she loved him or wanted him. He had to remember that, but he was satisfied that John would not be marrying her.

  “Aye, so she has. And I blame ye.” John pointed at him again, stepping a little closer. Fergus stood by with a stupid grin on his face, and Liam scowled in his friend’s direction.

  “Why should ye blame me? How on earth do ye think I could have done anything? She is gone to England, and I am here?”

  John grumbled, “I dinnae know, but why would she suddenly break an engagement with me?”

  “What does she say?”

  “She says that there is nae a proper attachment. But I thought there was! She had given me the signs that there was! Why would she have accepted if there was nae attachment?” John’s voice was getting louder, and he began to merely yell into the air as if raging against the world itself.

  Suddenly, John pushed him forward, and Liam pulled back. John sneered, “Ye have bewitched her with yer charming ways. Ye were nae satisfied with practically every woman on yer Isle, and across the mainland ye had tae go and take her heart as well?”

  Liam wanted to smile or laugh. If John thought that Elizabeth’s heart was in Liam’s possession, then that boded well. “It is nae for sport, lad,” Liam said, allowing his voice to grow louder as well. I love the lass. I want tae marry her meself.”

  Shocked, John stepped back, his eyes opened wide. “What? Ye want tae marry her?”

  “You do?” The soft, kind voice of Elizabeth rang through Liam’s mind like a cheerful bell. The both of them turned and watched her approach them on the shoreline, her boat running over the shore at the far end of the Fort. She glanced at John, but then, she stared at Liam, and suddenly Liam felt like the breath was stuck in his chest, and he couldn’t get any words out.

  John was surprised into silence as well. Fergus, chuckling, took matters into his own hands. “Aye, my Lady. It appears that Liam does want tae do so, although he appears tae be struggling with words at the moment.”

  Liam shot his friend another dark look and cleared his throat. “Aye, so it is. I had meant tae ask ye that night, but ye agreed tae marry John. I had had nae idea he had asked ye until Charlotte and Julia told me.”

  John was still clenching his fists, one of them containing the crumpled letter, but Liam could tell that he was deflated. Elizabeth said, “John, will you allow me to speak with you privately?” He nodded, and the two of them left walking along the shore, with a confused Fergus and Liam behind them.

  Liam elbowed Fergus. “Och, lad, ye do yer best tae make me look like an idiot.”

  “Nae, I think ye handle that yerself well enough,” he laughed. “Well, I suppose I ought tae be going. Wouldnae want tae stick around tae see the two of ye going at it like a pair of randy rabbits. Surely, she means tae come for ye.”

  The thought had occurred to him, but he felt it so fragile a hope that he dared not let himself plunge into complete and utter happiness just yet. He felt like he was on a precipice, about to jump off, hoping that he could fly. He watched Fergus’ back as the man trudged away, and he waited alone on the shore.

  * * *

  “John,” Elizabeth said softly, touching his arm. “I am so sorry. I came to see you in person to speak to you of my refusal to marry you.”

  John watched her calmly with his lovely blue eyes. He really is quite handsome, and he will make a woman very happy one day.

  “Why would ye accept, lass, if ye didnae feel what I felt?”

  Elizabeth looked down at her moving feet. “I was a fool. I should not have done so. I thought that I could have learned to care for you as you did for me. I thought it the smartest decision, and that with you, I would not experience real heartbreak.” She thought it best to not elaborate on the situation with her father’s false will and promise to not insult John too much.

  “I see.” He sighed, and he kept his eyes from her, for the first time since they had met. His voice was harsh as he replied, almost bitter, “Well, there is naught that I can do, is there? I have to let ye go.”

  She nodded. “You will understand, John. You would not wish for a wife who did not feel the same. It would make for a very unhappy marriage.” He nodded again. She added, “I am sorry, John, that I hurt you. It was truly not my intention.” Elizabeth wanted so badly to blame her father for forcing her into a false promise, but she knew that she could have decided to keep John out of it. She could have avoided his pain.

  John eyed her sharply and closed his eyes for a second. Then he replied, “I wish ye well, lass. But now ye much excuse me.”

  “No, of course not. And I wish you well.” She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek, and forcing a smile, he left her for his boat, not even looking back at Duart or Liam standing there on the shore.

  Liam. It is time.

  She took a deep breath, and pushing her shoulders back, walked straight up to him. Liam was watching her with a scrutinizing eye, his arms over his broad bare chest. She tried to ignore the tiny drops of water that were slowly making their way down his shoulders as they dripped from his curls.

  “Your beard has grown,” she said.

  “Och, so it has.” There was silence. “I suppose that is a long way ye have come, from England, tae tell me yer observations on me beard growth.”

  Elizabeth fumbled, suddenly feeling nervous. “Well, you do not make it easy, looking at me like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like you might wish tae eat me alive.”

  “I might wish tae. Ye certainly put us through Hell here, disappearing as ye did, accepting John afore ye went.”

  Elizabeth gasped. “As if you had not put me through any Hell! You did not pull away from Brea’s kiss, even if it was she that kissed you!”

  “And you did not pull away from John’s.”

  She frowned. “Well, it was not as if I had asked to meet you there and then kissed John in front of you! Besides, there was nothing decided between us then.”

  “Ye ken well that I did not write the letter! It was Brea, creating a plan tae ruin us!” Liam’s arms fells to his sides as his face grew earnest in his explanation. Both of them were breathing hard as they tried to defend their arguments. “What are ye doing here, lass? Come simply tae tell John that he is ousted from yer affections? Am I next on the list, then?”

  Elizabeth was incensed. Here was the man who held her heart in his grasp, who she wanted to tell how desperately she loved him. She had come all that way and given up her future so that she could be with him. And he was trying to fight her! He still thought that she cared not for him!

  “You are insufferable!” she yelled, lifting her arms to the sky. “Are you really as thick-headed as all that? I could have sent only the letter to tell John there would be no engagement. Why do you think I have come all the way from England after my father’s death and sailed to Mull?”

  “Why?” he asked, his eyes daring her to say it.

  Elizabeth huffed. She wanted to punish him, turn around right then, and sail back to England to forget about him, but she could not. Putting her hands on her hips, she said, “Because I love you, and I would have said yes to marry you if you bloody—”

  In a flash, Liam’s lips were on hers, and his hands were curled tightly around her waist. She wrapped her arms about his neck, and he lifted her into the air as they tasted one another, kissing as if they had been separated for much longer than a few weeks. He let her down, and when she found her feet again, she was dizzy
with love and desire.

  He moved his hands to her face and smiled down at her. “I love ye too, lass. I was only teasing.”

  Elizabeth gasped again and tried to punch his bare chest, but he only laughed and kissed her again. After a few silent moments, he said, “So ye will marry me, Elizabeth?”

  She sighed in complete contentment, but she smirked, a wicked gleam in her eye. “I suppose I have to. I have come all this way after all, and you are the only other Highlander about.”

  “Minx.” Laughing, Liam picked her up and carried her up to Duart to share the good news.

  “I think I just heard ye swear, Lady Darling. How uncouth.”

  Elizabeth laughed loudly. “It is the effect of the Scots, I am afraid.” With her face up to Liam’s and beyond him the bright blue of the sky, she had never known that happiness could be so complete.

  Epilogue

  Elizabeth still could not believe it. She was bathed and dressed and sitting next to Liam at dinner while they regaled the rest of the MacLeans about all that had happened that afternoon. It was a time of merriment and laughter, and Elizabeth found herself watching Liam every moment she got to make sure that he did not disappear.

  “It is time that I was honest with you all.” She sighed and looked at everyone who populated the table: Charlotte, Julia, Fergus, Angus, General Andrews, and her Aunt Mildred. She had sent for them as soon as Liam, and she had solidified their betrothal.

  “What do you mean, dear friend?” Charlotte asked.

  “Before I came back, I was reminded by my father of a promise that I had made long ago.” She looked at Liam, and he smiled back at her. “He had always told me that when my dear mother died, she had requested that I marry a man of wealth and status, and a title if possible if I was to receive the money and possessions that she wished to bestow upon me.”

  The crowd at the table listened intently, leaning into her words. “I agreed, but I was young and foolish and desperately wanted to fulfill my deceased mother’s wishes. Before I left this time for Scotland, my father wrote to tell me of his illness and that he would soon pass away. But the time was running out for me to fulfill my promise, for if he died without me having secured a proper husband, then my mother’s wishes would go unfulfilled. I had to renew my promise.”

  “Oh, Elizabeth, I am so sorry.” Charlotte’s eyes were glistening with emotion.

  “And so, when I came here, I had no intention of falling in love or doing anything of the kind, knowing what I had to do, but it happened anyway. I wanted to be free of traditions and free of my promise, but in the end, when I thought that Liam was lost to me and my father was on his deathbed, I simply reverted back to the only thing I knew how to do: follow orders. I hurried to accept John’s proposal as a titled laird, and then rushed off to tell me father.”

  She looked at Aunt Mildred, who smiled at her to continue. “Then, I found out, after his death, that there was no promise.” She paused, and Liam could tell she was attempting to stop her tears. “He had lied to me simply to make me fulfill his one last wish before he died.”

  “Well, it is very good then that you did not hasten to marry John before you met with your father,” Julia said softly.

  “Yes, I suppose so.” Elizabeth wiped a stray tear that had fallen. While she was consumed with overwhelming happiness about her betrothal, the anger at her father, and the grief of his death were still hanging over her head. “But I feel terrible. I have hurt John and went against my own heart.” She glanced at Liam.

  “So, what happened, then? Did ye receive yer mother’s belongings?” Angus asked, curious. Charlotte narrowed her eyes at him, but he looked on, unaffected.

  “I did receive them, yes. Since there was no promise in the will, I have inherited the whole lot of it, as it was always meant to be.” Elizabeth watched as the other members of her party had their mouths drop open. She burst into surprised laughter.

  “You should see your faces!” Liam’s was the most surprised of them all, and Angus chuckled heartily at the sight.

  “Well, now, at least ye were free tae marry a titleless bastard like our friend Liam!”Angus leaned back, overwhelmed by his own mirth.

  “Och, are ye sure now, lass? Perhaps ye might consider me instead, then.” Fergus leaned into her side to ask.

  Elizabeth laughed, even though Aunt Mildred, Charlotte, and Julia looked horrified.

  Elizabeth looked at Liam. “I am very certain. More certain than I have been about anything. If you do not mind very much to marry a Sassenach.”

  Liam kissed her hand. “Of course I do not. I am the one who asked ye did I nae? And I didnae even know about the fortune!”

  The party laughed, and Liam stood up, holding his cup of wine high. “I say we marry as soon as possible. Will we do so, me love?”

  “The sooner, the better.”

  Fergus added. “Aye, afore she changes her mind.”

  The party descended into laughter once more, and Elizabeth felt the warm touch of Liam’s hand in hers.

  * * *

  Firelight flickered on the shadows on the wall as Liam stood with his cravat undone and waistcoat open, sipping wine. Elizabeth appeared from behind the wooden divider, dressed in a pale lacy dress. “Good evening, Mr. MacLean,” she said softly, fluttering her eyelashes in his direction.

  Liam laughed at her skilled feminine wiles. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. “Good evening, tae ye, Mrs. MacLean. I see ye have been provided with a trousseau.”

  Elizabeth bit her lip, clutching the fabric in her hands. “Do you like it?”

  “Aye, so I do.” He growled and pulled a giggling Elizabeth to him, kissing her roughly on the mouth before moving his lips down the side of her neck. The room was cozy, warm from the fire, and from the desiring slowly building between them. He had never wanted a woman so much before, with his entire body and soul. He could not believe he had been so lucky.

  He pulled away from her neck and whispered, “Did ye enjoy the wedding, lass?”

  She beamed. “Aye, so I did,” she said in her best Scottish accent. Liam chuckled, moving his hands over the lace around her waist, desperate to get underneath the dress. “But I was much more looking forward to this time here, where we would not have to fear any consequences or have anyone interrupt us.” She began to trail a finger lightly along the side of his neck, ending in the base of his hair.

  Liam groaned, putting his head back. “Aye, Fergus has been forbidden entry, and we can thank God that Brea can do naething tae hurt us anymore.”

  Elizabeth pulled his mouth to hers, kissing him softly and slowly. “Now, I did rather like the moment we shared in the library a little while ago, but we were so encumbered by clothing. I was hoping to see a bit more of you tonight.” Slowly, she slid her hands up his arms, and Liam smiled widely as he undressed faster than he ever had before.

  Elizabeth laughed, and Liam moved to her side, pulling at the fabric on her shoulders. “I do believe it is only fair to return the favor, my Lady.” Rolling her eyes, Elizabeth allowed him to help her out of her lacy underthings, and he pulled her to the bed. He sat down before her. Elizabeth held his hands out in front of her but looked down at him quizzically. Smiling, he pulled her hips forward, enjoying the feel of her buttocks in his hands.

  “I think, me love, that ye have one of the loveliest backsides in the northern world.”

  Laughing, she said, “And here I never knew. Imagine, one could go their entire lives without knowing about the beauty of their own backsides.”

  He clucked, “’Tis a great shame.” His cock was rigid as it stood up between them, and he could see Elizabeth’s eyes traveling to it.

  “My father told me that I was a good girl. That I was always a good girl.” She was chuckling at the statement.

  “Why do ye laugh?”

  “Because knowing what is in my heart and what I would like to do right at this moment does not make me feel like a very good girl after all.” Liam leaned up to her and pu
lled against her neck to bring her lips down to him, capturing her mouth in a passionate kiss.

  He breathed against her lips, “Good. Because I do not want ye tae be goodness and holiness this evening, wife. I wish only for depravity.”

  He pulled on her legs, urging her forward, and lifting her hips, he helped her to position her center over him and then down, sliding slickly over his length. He leaned back with the pleasure of it, and Elizabeth gasped.

  “Dear God, I never knew it could feel like this.” She began to move her hips, and Liam could see stars behind his eyes as he led her up and down, grasping onto her bottom to help keep her rhythm steady.