Page 28 of Highlander’s Sweet Poison

“Nay.”

She waited, but there was no other explanation. Sighing, Jillian pushed back the blankets and stood. If the hard look that he was giving her was meant to cause her to shrink back in the bed, he was in for a rude surprise. “I amnae planning on going to the council with ye, but I also have no plans of going back to bed. I have slept enough. At the loch, we rose early, and even if that were not the case, I am far too nervous to go back to sleep.”

Graeme contemplated her for a moment and nodded. “Vera well, but with rumors flying about yer new role here, I would prefer if ye would stay in the keep until dinner. I had planned to present ye formally to the clan then as my mistress. I will put a guard on ye until then.”

Imprisoned in the keep. Jillian’s gut twisted. She knew it was only temporary and that Graeme had a good reason, but it still left a bitter taste in her mouth. Fulton used to order her to stay in the house, especially during festivities where he didn’t want her dancing with others. And then Fletcher, who feared for her safety, ordered her to stay in the keep.

It is just for one day, she tried to remind herself.

“Actually, I have a better idea,” Graeme said suddenly with a wicked smile.

An hour later, she found herself stuffed away in a small cottage where one set of eyes peered at her curiously, and another glared at her furiously.

Smirking, Graeme clapped Tearloch on the back. “Thank ye again for keeping an eye on her today. I appreciate it.”

“I dinnae know why ye are thanking me. I hate this. I thought I was getting time off.”

“Ye are, after today, but even though ye hate her, I know ye will protect her, and Jillian could use a friend.”

A petite and lovely brunette stepped forward and bowed her head in respect. “Good morning. I am Alexina.”

Gentle. Quiet. Nice. Jillian looked at Graeme for confirmation. “This is Tearloch’s wife? Did he kidnap her?”

Alexina chuckled. “Nay, but if I tell ye that I didnae make things easy for him in the beginning, will ye believe our marriage?”

“Oh, aye.” Jillian nodded furiously. “Because he’s a stubborn fool, and ye seem nice.”

“Only when she wants to be,” Tearloch grumbled. “Laird, a word if ye please.”

The two men headed out, and Alexina gestured for Jillian to sit at the table. “We were just about to eat, so please join us. I have been curious about ye ever since Tearloch left to fetch ye. He says ye are a witch.”

There was no fear or anger in her words—just mild curiosity.

“Many people say that,” Jillian sighed. “I am no witch.”

“Nay, but ye are quite beautiful, and there is strength within ye. Sometimes that makes men do and say stupid things, but Tearloch is not stupid.”

That was a matter of opinion, but Jillian didn’t say that out loud. “My previous husband was his friend. He blames me for his death because he doesnae want to believe that Fulton would do something so foolish as to get himself killed during a simple hunting trip.”

“He believes that even if ye didnae have magic, ye have knowledge of herbs. He believes ye poisoned him to weaken him.”

Quietly, Jillian sipped at her tea. Alexina certainly didn’t hold back her curiosity. “I did not poison my husband.”

“Vera well. I dinnae know ye well enough to make a decision one way or another, but I am happy to spend the day with ye. Tearloch and I have not been married for long, and I am new to the MacSeaver lands. They, like most highlanders, are not so open to outsiders.”

“I know all too well of the MacSeavers’ hospitality. Fulton was supposed to wed another, and they were none too happy when he showed up with me,” she sighed. “And then the rumors that have been following me my whole life reached me. They only grew worse when I did not get with child. A witch sent to end the MacSeaver line, they claimed.”

“My sister could never get with child with her first husband either, but then conceived right away with her second. Men never want to admit when they are at fault. Jillian, I am sorry that ye had to go through that. I believe ye and I will be good friends.”

Just then, Tearloch and Graeme entered the cottage, and Tearloch sighed. “Wonderful. Just what I wanted to hear.”

After Graeme left, Alexina, who had a small garden growing in the back of her cottage, wanted to absorb as much of Jillian’s information as possible, so they spent most of the day in the sun, much to Jillian’s delight. Tearloch spent the day from afar but did his duty and kept a close eye on them. If any of the villagers wandered up, Tearloch distracted them so that none knew Jillian was there. The day was going far better than Jillian could have hoped.

When Tearloch was out of earshot, Jillian couldn’t help but ask about their marriage. As newlyweds, she expected that there would be more affection between the two, but they seemed relieved to be apart from each other.

“His father and mine were fast friends,” Alexina said softly. “We have been betrothed since birth, but the day he came to wed me was the first day I’d set eyes on him. And I refused him, which didnae go over well.”

Jillian snorted. “I can imagine. What happened?”