Page 85 of Wedded to the Devilish Highlander
Archer kissed her once more before he wrapped his other arm around her. “I need to tell ye somethin’.”
“Aye?”
“I want to be as honest with ye as I can,” he said. “Ye ken most of what’s happenin’ with Reid and the goings-on in the castle, but recently, we received a letter from O’Gunn.”
Eileen turned around to face him. “What did he want?” she asked.
“He kens about our betrothal, and he doesnae like it. He thinks I’ve stolen ye from under his nose. He wants what he claims is rightfully his.”
“Oh,” Eileen breathed, lowering her head.
“I’m nae lettin’ him take ye,” Archer asserted.
Eileen brightened. She looked up at him, a slight smile on her face.
“When we end our betrothal, it willnae be because of him,” Archer added. “And ye deserve to be with someone better. The longer we are betrothed, the quicker he realizes that has to find someone else.”
“Aye, ‘cause the betrothal will end,” Eileen said.
“Ye’ll want to take yer braither back home when he’s well enough, will ye nae?”
“Aye, aye.” Eileen nodded. “I need to make sure he gets back home safely, and I appreciate that ye’re lookin’ out for me, but ye dinnae need to start a fight over me. Ye should start a fight over somethin’ more important.”
“I’ve started fights for much less,” Archer admitted.
“Aye, but I thought that…”
“What?” Archer prompted.
“Nay, it’s nothin’,” Eileen sighed.
She was hiding something, that much was clear. There was more she wanted to say, but she wouldn’t say it. She’d coaxed his troubles from him, and he wanted to do the same for her.
He wrapped his arms around her waist once more.
“I ken that a lot has happened since ye got here, but that’s how it is sometimes. I promise I’ll protect ye,” he said.
“Aye, I ken ye will.” She’d turned cold out of the blue.
He held her tighter and looked deep into her eyes, trying to work out what the matter was. He wished she would just come out and say it.
“Listen, if—” he started.
“I need to check on Reid,” Eileen cut in. “Thank ye for teachin’ me, and I’ll keep the dirk on me at all times.”
“Ye still need to train more,” Archer protested. “I can help ye.”
“Aye, I’ll train when I can,” she allowed.
He still couldn’t fathom the look in her eyes.
Eileen turned and strode away, and he watched her go. She just needed some time and space, and she would open up to him. Or so he told himself.
He didn’t understand what troubled her, nor did he understand the ache in his heart as he watched her leave.
25
Eileen sat by Reid’s bedside again, where she’d spent a lot of time over the past two days. She watched him as he lay unconscious, only waking up long enough to take two sips of water before falling back into unconsciousness.
