Page 62 of A Highland Duke to Claim Her Heart

And then, after what seemed like an eternity, his hand responded, cradling hers gently, and squeezing it with the lightest touch.

She looked up.

His eyes were fixed on hers.

She opened her mouth to speak—to say what, she did not know. That she was sorry for what had happened to him? That she would never look at Christopher and see the man she wanted? That he, Ewan, was the man she yearned for?

And then she heard her name being called.

“Cassandra, where have you gotten to? Ewan, are you coming to luncheon?”

It was Christopher’s voice, cutting through the moment, shattering the fragile peace that had momentarily connected them.

Ewan released her hand at once, sitting back just in time. The door to the study was thrown open, and Christopher entered. His eyes swept between the two of them, then narrowed slightly.

“Luncheon has been served on the terrace,” he said, the smallest of whines in his voice. “You should both come at once.”

It was with shaking legs that Cassandra stood up, and all throughout the luncheon, she could not focus. Though her lack of conversation went unnoticed.

Lillian was also quiet, and Alaric was not eating much, his eyes fixed on Christopher.

Ewan did not seem able to concentrate, either. She thought that he was also distracted by memories of their encounter in the study. But then he became dizzy and had to excuse himself, complaining of a headache.

Cassandra could not help but worry that, perhaps, their conversation had not meant quite as much to her husband as it did to her.

***

Later that evening, Cassandra went to check on Annabelle, as much to see her as to distract herself from the constant thoughts of Ewan.

She found the girl in her bed, clutching her blanket to her, large tears rolling down her cheeks.

“My darling!” she cried at once, rushing across the room to Annabelle and throwing her arms around her. “Whatever is the matter?”

“It is P-Papa,” the girl sobbed, burying her face in Cassandra’s shoulder. “He looked so ill at luncheon today, and then he did not even come to dinner!”

Cassandra’s throat tightened as she patted Annabelle’s back. She had also been worried when Ewan had not appeared for dinner.

Could it really just be overindulgence? He only had one glass of wine with luncheon.

Christopher had insisted. But one glass of wine was not enough to give a man a headache and to send him to his bed for dinner.

“I have a bad feeling,” Annabelle whimpered. “You and Papa say nothing will change, but it already is.”

“Life is full of change,” Cassandra murmured. “But there is no reason to fear. Nothing will change for the worse.”

Chapter 23

Ewan had missed dinner last night. And when he woke again the next day, the headache that had made it impossible for him to leave his room was still hounding him.

For the rest of the day, the pain persisted. He could not think straight, could not focus on anything. He had to cancel meetings with his steward, and sent Alaric to meet with his tenants in his stead.

“Are you sure?” his friend asked, not bothering to keep the alarm from his voice, as they sat together in the darkened study. Sunlight was particularly difficult for Ewan at the moment. Every time he passed a window, he felt as if someone were driving a nail right between his eyes.

“I am sure,” Ewan said, gritting his teeth as another wave of pain pressed against his forehead. “I cannot even be near an open window, let alone actually be outside.”

Alaric, who was watching him closely, sat forward. “I am worried, Your Grace,” he murmured. “This is not like you. I have only ever known you to be healthy and vital.”

“It is the stress of Christopher returning,” Ewan said, closing his eyes and pressing his thumbs hard into his temple. “And theworry of knowing that I might have driven my wife fully into his arms.”