Border Lord's Bride Read Free Page B

her cheeks. The tension between them became palpable. You could have fought for me. She met his gaze directly. "It's in the past." She was spared from explaining further when a ruckus erupted from the ladies' parlor. Squeals of delight and laughter mixed with the scamper of feet. Lucius's fingers vanished from her wrist. A moment later she found herself enveloped in the arms of his five sisters.
    "You're here!" Heather cried, breaking out of her usual shyness. "Let me take your cloak." The young woman had the garment off her shoulders before Elizabeth could even agree.
    "You're just in time for supper." Camellia smiled. "Please, sit by me, Miss Huntingdon. Tell me everything you know of…well, anyone! We've had so few visitors in the past months."
    Rose squeezed Elizabeth's arm affectionately. "Having both you and our brother here will make everything better for all of us." At Elizabeth's doubtful look, she added, "I know it to be the truth. You'll see."
    Elizabeth could only nod in reply. Why were they all being so nice to her? She'd been so worried that they would feel threatened or even resentful of her coming to take over the manor when the older girls were coming of age to do so themselves. She drew a sharp breath as she studied Rose's face. There was no animosity there, only relief.
    The youngest girl, Lily, put her hand in Elizabeth's and offered her an innocent smile. "Our new sister has arrived, just as we requested," she said, her tone filled with awe.
    Instead of the harsh response Elizabeth had expected, Lucius smiled.
    He ruffled Lily's curly hair. "And here I thought you all as guileless as lambs. Instead you're plotting to snare me."
    In the presence of his sisters, Lucius had transformed back into the man she remembered from her youth. He was alive again. All coolness had vanished. Or so she thought, until in the next heartbeat he turned to her. "We are not done with this conversation. Join us for supper, but after that you and I shall talk in private. Agreed?"
    She nodded. It wasn't important that he love her, only that she be allowed to remain. "I'll not go home."
    "We'll see about that," he said, then surprised her by offering his arm. After a slight hesitation, she placed her fingers on his forearm. She was suddenly conscious of the solid warmth of his body, the narrowed intensity of his eyes as he studied her. His anger vanished, replaced by a momentary smile.
    Her breath stilled. She remembered that smile, the one that had warmed her clear to her toes and had made her reckless. Elizabeth flexed, then relaxed, her fingers on his arm, praying the sizzling sensation he'd sparked in her would dissipate. It didn't. But the knowledge of her continued attraction to the man steadied her resolve as she allowed him to lead her to the hall. She had no choice but to marry him. She'd already been sold to the Earl of Carrick to pay for her father's mistakes. She had no choice but to give this man her body as was his right by marriage, but her mind, her will, and most definitely her heart were her own.
     
    All through the meal Lucius had been conscious of a change in Elizabeth. Something within her had shifted, taken on strength over the years they'd been separated. It bothered him, though he wasn't sure why.
    Her delicate features had become more pronounced over the last five years. As a young girl she'd been attractive, with her wide brown eyes dominating her face. Now, she was a true Scottish beauty. The evening's candlelight revealed a heart-shaped face with a delicate jaw. Her lips were full and darkly sensual. Her tawny hair was a riot that looked as though it refused to be tamed. For a heartbeat he was glad to be free of his Templar oath of chastity.
    Lucius frowned at the thought. Elizabeth might be beautiful, but she was not for him. He set his goblet on the table and rose to his feet. "Miss Huntingdon, Elizabeth, we must talk."
    Elizabeth nodded as she stood, then bade his sisters good night. She drifted