Page 35 of A Match Made in Heather

She lifted a trembling hand to his cheek. He took it in his and brought it to his lips to kiss her fingers.

“It doesn’t matter now,” he assured her quietly. “And it didn’t matter then, because by the time I had enough money to return to the highlands, I assumed you’d already married Ian Campbell. So when I had the chance to join the army, I took it. I never gave Scotland another thought.” He sucked in a steadying breath. “But I never forgot you, Arabel. Not one day.”

The flood of emotions flitting over her beautiful face was heartbreaking. Guilt, regret, grief . . . most of all, there was stunned betrayal. She’d trusted her family, and since inheriting Highburn, she’d dreamt of reclaiming its past glory. How would she ever come to terms with this, the family she treasured harming the man she’d loved?

“I had no idea why you’d left.” A single tear slipped down her cheek, glistening in the firelight. “If I had known . . .”

“I know.” He gently wiped it away with his thumb. “But everything has changed for us now,” he repeated. “If we’re brave enough to seize it.”

Her eyes darted to the mussed bed, and she mumbled shyly with a touch of embarrassment, “I thought we already did.”

Not even close.He wanted so much more with her. He wanted a future, a home, a family . . . He wanted her love. “You can start by telling your family whatyouwant for your life, what you’re planning for Highburn.”

When she hesitated to answer, Garrick knew that she hadn’t yet reached the point where she was willing to completely defy her mother. But he took comfort in the fact that she didn’t leap to argue the point, because Arabel always came to a person’s defense, even when it wasn’t deserved. At least she’d taken a step toward her own freedom, albeit a small one.

But a much larger step needed to be taken.

“And by breaking off your engagement.” His resentment of Murray made him press the point. “Because of your family’s urging, you’ve become engaged to a man you don’t love, who doesn’t love you. One for whom you hold no passion.”

Indignation darkened her face. “What makes you think that?”

“Because I know who you do feel passion for.” He leaned over her, bringing his face close to hers and grinning smugly. “Me.”

Her mouth fell open, their earlier argument and that night ten years ago both forgotten, just as he wanted. “Oh, you arrogantEnglish—”

His arm went around her waist and yanked her against him. His mouth captured hers, silencing her.

He kissed her fervently as his hands tore loose the tied belt and opened the robe. When a low moan of arousal poured from her instead of the cutting insult she’d been about to level, a rush of victory poured through him. He lowered her to the rug, not bothering to return to the bed to make love to her. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and welcomed him into the cradle of her thighs.

“My sweet Arabel,” he murmured in a hoarse voice, roughened with emotion. His body sank into hers and claimed her as his, now and forever.

Day Twenty-Six

Two days before Arabel’s wedding

Arabel paused nervously at the top of the basement stairs, then rolled her eyes.

Oh, she felt silly prowling around in the dark! After all, she had every right to venture into the kitchen if she wished. But how would she explain herself?Excuse me, Cook, but I’m looking for strawberries to feed to Lord Townsend before he has his wicked way with me . . .She couldn’t ask her maid or Mrs. Stewart for them, either, since both women knew she didn’t like berries. But Garrick did. Strawberries were his favorite, and when he came to her room tonight, as he had every night since they first made love nearly a fortnight ago, she wanted to spoil him by having them there for him.

Of course, a wanton part of her also couldn’t wait to decadently feed them to him, taking a kiss between each one she placed on his tongue.

Her hand flew to her lips to stifle the happy laugh bubbling inside her as she made her way down into the basement. So this was love . . . thinking of the little details that would please the other, no matter how small.

And shewasin love. Hopelessly, helplessly,happilyso.

Even now, she felt as if she were floating. She’d always thought that poets exaggerated when they described love as being an all-consuming joy and those enthralled by it as dancing on air. But after having Garrick returned to her, she was doing exactly that—dancing on air. And yesterday afternoon, when they’d made love in the heather just as they had ten years ago, she was certain she was in heaven.

Their reunion wasn’t only physical. They’d also talked for hours, although not about the future. It was as if that were already settled. They would marry, and Castle Highburn would become theirs . . . a home in the highlands to match the estate he owned in England. They would have children—oh, lots and lots of children! And they would shuffle their family between the two properties, making certain their children knew their highland roots. Nothing would take them away from each other again.

What they’d shared instead was their pasts. In quiet conversations, they revealed what they’d done during the years apart, their triumphs and disappointments, how much they missed each other . . . that they had never stopped loving each other, despite everything.

She smiled to herself as she hurried into the dark kitchen, lit by a slant of moonlight through the small windows lining the top of the wall. The only dark cloud still hanging over their heads was her wedding, which she hadn’t yet called off and dreaded doing so. She didn’t look forward to the embarrassment of standing up before a church full of guests to tell them the news, nor did she relish informing her mother, especially when Garrick was the reason she was breaking off the engagement—the same man who had gained control of Highburn from them.

But she’d also delayed because she wanted to tell Ewan in person. He deserved that much. So she’d sent a message to Edinburgh, asking him to return to Highburn early. But Ewan insisted that he couldn’t get away, that there was too much work to be done before their wedding and the sennight that he’d carved out for their wedding trip. She could do nothing but wait until he returned to Kincardine, bringing Mama with him.

She didn’t love Ewan. She never had. But he wasn’t a bad man, and he didn’t deserve to be hurt. Although, if truth be told, Arabel didn’t think Ewan would shed a single tear over losing her. LosingHighburn,on the other hand . . .

She sighed as she found the berry bowl in the cool pantry. Well, at least he’d cry over something.