Page 49 of Highland Seduction

“The bishop is waiting,” he said without thinking.

Ainsley sat up straighter in her bed. “Then by all means, go to him.”

He did not wish to go to him. Nor to get an annulment. “He will want to speak with ye as well.”

Ainsley picked up the missive. “’Tis addressed to ye and ye alone. Of course. I am naught but a woman; my opinion matters little.”

It does to me.

“Ye’re no’ coming?” he asked, pulling on his boots. Whatever he discussed with the bishop, either way, he could not ignore the summons he himself had asked for.

“To speak with Bishop Timlin about our annulment? Nay, I dinnae believe I am. I’ve much else to do instead.” She patted the bed. “Go back to sleep perhaps. Wander the streets looking for two people who do no’ seem to be in Berwick. What else of import can I do to occupy my time?”

She was angry.

And if Tor knew aught at all, he knew they’d not come to terms this way. Perhaps it was for the best. But he had to know one thing first.

“Do ye want this marriage annulled, Ainsley?” Before she could answer, he added, “Know that if we do no’, ye will return with me to Castle MacRob. My brother will be yer laird.”

He’d said the same to his sister. And though the words were harsh, they were also true. For a Shaw, answering to the MacRob laird would be no small task. If it were he, Tor was not sure he could do it.

“Ye say it to warn me off?” Ainsley’s lips pursed, her eyes narrowed. “Do ye wish this marriage annulled, Tor?”

Tor’s pride kept him from answering. Instead, he lifted his sword from where it lay on the table beside him, secured it, and waited for her to answer his question, which she did not. Then, without another word, he turned and left the room.

Do ye wish this marriage annulled, Tor? What could he have said to her?

Nay, I do not. I wish instead to tie ye to a clan ye hate. I wish for ye to watch as I attempt to fill the role that was Adair’s. I wish to go home and be duly chastised by my sister, who will call me a hypocrite for attempting to dissuade her from agreeing so easily to marry Broden Shaw.

He’d walked so fast, not noticing his surroundings, that he was almost surprised to see Berwick’s chapel before him. Looking up at the structure, marveling as he always did at the slightly horrifying wealth it displayed, Tor took a deep breath.

Chapter 29

“Lady Ainsley?”

She looked up from the oat bread to a familiar face.

“Nay, do no’ stand, my lady,” McGreghere said.

“Will ye join me?” When he glanced around the hall of the inn, she added, “Tor has gone to see the bishop.”

Taking off his wet cloak, he sat across from her.

During the day, the hall at River’s End was a pleasant enough place. The meals were as good as any with an innkeeper who was paid good coin to “look after” her, as Ainsley had learned when she sat down, subdued. A fact she’d not known about before.

Though it was typical Tor.

Her husband was now pleading with the bishop to annul their marriage. He’d been gone for some time, though Ainsley knew as well as anyone the Church followed their own schedule.

“The same as my lady,” McGreghere told the serving maid, who’d seen him sit. She nodded and moved along.

“I am surprised to see ye here, across town,” she said. “Do ye come for a specific purpose?”

“Aye,” the lawyer said. “To speak with Tor. And ye.”

“Indeed?”

“Indeed.” He smiled. “I’ve another lead.”