Page 48 of A Hellion for the Highland Hawk
Nancy huffed out a breath, her stomach turning somersaults. “But youdidn’tkill your wife.”
“I ken that, and they all shouldken it, but nae all of them do. They think me a brute who doesnae deserve me position, even though the council appointed me.” He shrugged. “I had a reputation in the war. Ruthless. Killin’ me cousin didnae help that much.”
A snort escaped her. “No, I suppose it wouldn’t do much for your public image.” She paused. “They don’t know you saved the councilmen’s children by killing him?”
“Some do, some daenae, some daenae believe it,” he said with a sigh. “What ye have to understand, lass, is that there are people in me clan whowantthe war. They lost a lot, and they want to finish what me cousin started, purely for vengeance. So, when I say the sky is blue, they’ll say it’s red. When I say snow is white, they’ll say it’s black. Do ye ken what I mean?”
She gave a small nod. “I do.”
“Nay, lass, ye daenae say that until the wedding that willnae happen,” he replied with a smirk, and she rolled her eyes at him.
It wasn’t fair that someone who looked the way he did could have a sense of humor. It wasn’t fair that he had the brute strengthandthe brains, and had listened to her stories of the future without judgment or calling her a witch again. It wasn’t fair that he was a generous lover while also being incredibly well-endowed, and it definitely wasn’t fair that he could make her feel all flustered while seeming entirely unfazed.
No one is supposed to be so damn perfect.
Frankly, it was as annoying as it was enticing.
“If they think you killed your wife, where do they think Freya came from?” she asked, biding her time so she could think more clearly.
He stole an apple from the fruit bowl that had been set out for her and tossed it from hand to hand for a moment. “A decoy. A random orphan bairn that nay one would miss, so I could clear me name of any wrongdoing.”
Not for a second did Nancy believe that to be true. She’d seen Freya’s eyes; they were identical to her father’s, and that color wasn’t so common to come by, that mossy golden green. Even at three months old, there were so many features that had clearly come from him, but Nancy guessed she would have to explain DNA and chromosomes if she was going to convince anyone that way, and she wasn’t at all qualified.
Adeline, on the other hand, could probably forge a better argument that the doubters in his clan might listen to. Or not, if all they wanted was to resume the war.
“So, what do ye say?” Hunter asked, before biting into the crisp fruit.
She couldn’t help but stare at the apple, subconsciously licking her lips.
It might not be the worst idea ever,she mused as she watched him.
If they were betrothed, she wouldn’t have to be so careful about where she went or who she spoke to. It might give her the freedom and the time to explore more of the castle, to explore this era as a whole, immersing herself in it as any good reporter ought to. When else would she have a chance like this?
Thiswould be a hell of an article, even if no one ever read it. Maybe she wouldn’t write it at all, but at least she could make some incredible, extensive notes for Emily. There was no research in the world that could beat living in the 1700s, in the castle of the Hawk, learning everything there was to know about him.
I already have a few pointers for her.
A flush crept into her cheeks as she watched him swallow the bite. Eventhatgot her hot under the collar, her pulse quickening.
Then again, the longer she stayed, the harder it would be to leave. Rather, the closer she got to him, the harder it would be to leave.
She already knew she had two weeks until Adeline came back, which didn’t seem like such a long time. But a fortnight with Hunter, being near him, acting like she cared, playing the fond fiancée, risking getting into another compromising situation with him every time he looked at her with that intense gaze of his… It was a dangerous proposition.
By the time I leave, it’ll be two weeks until he dies.
Her stomach lurched at the thought.
What if, in two weeks, all that time spent with Hunter made her want to do something truly stupid? Like trying to change history to make sure Freya still had a father?
Adeline had already warned her that she couldn’t change the past.
“If you write about the rest, the avenues will close. People aren’t supposed to time travel, and if it gets messed around with too much, I truly believe it’ll spit us out or drag you back or the world will fold in on itself…”
Theories, sure, but terrifying possibilities. How much would the world’s past and future buckle if Nancy saved Hunter from his already destined fate? Would she… break the universe?
There was a tremendous article in there somewhere, but it wasn’t one she wanted to know the conclusion to, for either ending.
“Nancy?” Hunter prompted, her name falling like a spell from his lips.
