Page 29 of Her Forbidden Highlander Husband

“Take a breath,” Mari said while rubbing circles on her back. The maid came over with some water. “I know how memories can color things and make them more than they are. Gwennie was not gone very long. Let’s not assume the worst just yet.”

Evelyn nodded and took a sip of water, never taking her gaze from Kenna and Gwennie.

“She’ll be fine,” Liam said near her shoulder. “The men did not have time to do anything. Besides, they wouldn’t have harmed her. That wasn’t the reason they took her.”

“Men who snatch up little girls do so for the vilest of reasons,” Evelyn said.

“She wasn’t taken at random. They wanted her specifically.”

A chill ran over Evelyn as she turned to face Liam. “Stewarts?”

He nodded.

“My father sent them to kidnap my daughter with the intent of forcing me to return home,” she said. “I hadn’t realized he would go this far. I thought he’d make his threats and rant at me for my disloyalty to spare his pride, but this…” She shook her head, not understanding how her father, who had once been her greatest ally, had become her biggest fear.

A moment later, Kenna set her daughter down and Gwennie ran over to Lizzy and started playing as if nothing had happened. Evelyn sagged in relief. Surely, she wouldn’t be so quick to get back to playing if she’d been damaged in any way.

She turned to thank Liam for saving Gwennie, but she paused when she noticed his grim expression.

She noticed other things as well. He was wet. His blond hair still dripped water on the floor, though the storm had passed and there wasn’t a cloud in the clear blue sky. He looked at Evelyn and pressed his lips together as if struggling to keep from breaking down.

“I killed them all, Ev. Every one of your father’s men. I couldn’t stop myself. All I knew was they were trying to take Gwennie and I reacted without thinking. Your father is sure to be even angrier. I don’t think he will resort to empty threats now. I’m sorry.”

She held out her arms to embrace him. “Thank ye, Liam. I would have done the same thing if I’d been there. Let it be a message to my father that I will not give up my daughter without a fight.”

“My fierce warrior princess,” he said with a fleeting smile. When his lips turned into a firm line again, she worried she wouldn’t bear more bad news. “I will ask something of you, but know that you don’t truly have a choice, for I’m already set on it.”

Her shoulders stiffened at his authoritative tone. “Ask.”

“You and Gwennie will move back to the castle. I have already sent one of my men to gather your things. I’m your husband and I have yet to make any demands as such. I will have my family close so I can protect them, Ev.”

She nodded immediately, easily agreeing to his terms. She would’ve made the request herself if he hadn’t. It was clear she couldn’t protect her daughter alone. She needed a fortress around her.

She needed Liam.

…

Liam was happy to have Evelyn and Gwendolyn back in the castle and his room. As he settled Gwennie in the small bed in the corner, he turned to tell Ev that he’d sleep in the hall with his men, but she surprised him by rising up on her tiptoes to place a kiss on his cheek.

“I can never repay you for what you did for us today. I would’ve lost her had you not responded so quickly.” She glanced away and then smiled. Or tried to. Her expression was a brittle, shaky thing meant to make him think she was well, when clearly she wasn’t.

She reached for the laces of her gown and began to loosen them. At the sight of the creamy flesh, he was momentarily distracted, but then he noticed the way her hands shook, and when he looked to her face, he saw her eyes were pinched closed. Definitely not the look of a woman who willingly wanted to give herself to a man.

He placed his hands over hers. “Ev, stop. This is not right.”

Her eyes opened and along with the relief he saw on her face, he also noticed her confusion.

“I’m your wife. I thought you would want my body.”

He let out a humorless laugh. “I’ll not lie to ye, Ev. I do want your body. And at times I’m all but consumed by the thought of it. But when I imagine us joining, it is with both of us smiling and happy to share ourselves with the other. Not like this. Not in repayment for something I did as my duty to Gwennie as her father. You owe me nothing.”

He took her hands away from her bosom and held them by her sides for a moment before letting her go.

“I’ll sleep in the hall.” He turned to go, but she stopped him.

“Please stay here with us,” she asked.

He realized she must still be frightened from the events of the day. It made sense she would want to keep him close so he could watch over them.