Page 95 of How To Tempt A Bodyguard

"Tell him his wife wants a word," Florence said.

Tam paused at the threshold. Amusement flickered across his scarred features.

"I'll tell him."

Florence and Brennan rode out minutes later.

The morning was cold, mist clinging to the hollows between hills, the road still dark with dew. Florence pushed her horse hard, Brennan's massive form and his equally massive horse keeping pace beside her.

The road wound through the Scottish hills, rising and falling with the terrain. Florence leaned into her horse's neck, urging more speed.

They rode on.

Chapter twenty-five

Tam’s Marriage Advice

Matthew

The road stretched ahead, empty and grey in the early morning light.

Matthew rode hard, pushing his horse faster than was wise on the uneven terrain. Every stride put more distance between him and the Hollow. Between him and Florence.

He'd done the right thing. He had to believe that.

The letter had taken him most of the night to write. He'd scratched out words, started over, crumpled paper after paper until the floor around him was littered with failed attempts. In the end, he'd written the only truth he knew.

His chest ached. A physical pain, lodged somewhere behind his ribs, that he'd never experienced before.

He reminded himself the pain was worth it. She deserved an educated man who could say the words she needed. A man who could discuss literature and dance with her in the moonlight. Who could hold her and whisper endearments and make her feel cherished with poetry.

All he had was action. All he knew was sacrifice.

He'd hoped it would be enough. It hadn't been.

The sun was fully risen when he heard the hoofbeats behind him.

Fast. Gaining. Too fast to be Carrick's men.

Matthew glanced over his shoulder, hand going to his knife just to be safe.

Tam.

The scarred fighter was riding hard, his lean form bent low over his horse's neck, closing the distance with alarming speed.

Matthew pulled his horse to a stop, his mind bracing for unpleasant news. Tam wouldn't have been sent unless there was an emergency or he was being summoned.

Tam slowed as he approached, bringing his horse alongside Matthew's. His face was impassive, but his eyes were sharp.

Matthew waited for him to speak.

"Your wife wants a word."

Matthew rolled his throbbing shoulder. "I left her a letter."

"She read it."

"Then she understands why I've got to do this."