He was thinking about her too. He did love her, but how could he tell her? She knew all men wanted her and words of love came easy. Why would she believe him? Besides, what did he have to offer a woman who could become mistress of any clan she chose? Nothing. He might become laird over the Camerons someday, but Thomas was a healthy man and that was a long ways off. He wondered if a woman like Charlet would settle for a small cottage and a husband who could offer her nothing more. Probably not. She would have to love him as much as he loved her to settle for so much less. He realized he was stroking the side of her waist with his thumb and stopped.
Bridget liked his small caress, felt him stop and wondered what it meant. Was he telling her how he felt or was he just comforting her again? She sighed. Then she began to get riled, sat up, turned to look at him and whispered, "You confuse me."
"What did I do?"
"You just do." She settled back against him and began to strum her fingers on his arm. If she could figure out what was wrong, and if they were alone, she would give him a piece of her mind. Why should she have to guess how he felt? It was maddening. "You are the most stubborn, feather-flapping, arrogant..."
Blair smiled. He would miss that about her the most. He made her sit up, undid the flask of wine and helped her drink. "You have been very ill. Sleep, Bridget."
He was right; she did not yet feel her best. The wine warmed her inside, his body warmed her outside, and it wasn't long before her eyes closed, and she slumped against him.
*
Two days earlier, they received word the Englishman was dead. Laird Forbes killed him and was now at the MacGreagor Keep with the proof, waiting for his reward -- he will have Charlet!
Kevin took the papers Laird Forbes found on the Englishman up to his wife. He did not know how to read, but Anna did. He patiently waited for her to read it through once and again a second time.
"'Tis a letter from the King's Nephew. The letter states that the king has approved the marriage between the Englishman and his niece, Charlet." Anna shook her head. "The Englishman probably had no idea what he was doing. When Charlet became queen, the Englishman thought he would someday wear the English crown, or at least his son would."
"Then we have found the right Englishman."