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“Me Lady.” Callum smiled. “Sorry for scaring ye.”

“It’s all right,” she said, trying to calm her racing heart. “Is there something ye need to speak with me about?”

“Me Lady, I was only going to bring something for the Laird, but…” He paused. “Ye both looked very convincin’ tonight. I never imagined the two of ye would play yer parts so well!”

“What do ye mean?”

“Ye looked like the perfect couple, with the bairns in yer arms. Such a shame this happiness will never be real.”

Freya frowned, unsure how to respond.

She had no ill will towards Callum. He had always been kind to her. But right now, she didn’t understand what he was trying to say.

“Surely ye ken the Laird never wanted to fall in love.”

Freya took a step back. “Callum, what are ye saying?”

“Ye should ask him, me Lady.” He turned to leave.

“Callum, I’m asking ye,” she pressed.

How could he say such a thing and then turn around without saying so much as another word? It was cruel, to say the least.

“And I am telling ye it isnae me place.”

“Ye made it yer place the moment ye opened yer mouth,” she snapped, taking a step towards him. “Ye cannae say something like that and then walk away.”

“I can, me Lady. I’m doing it now.”

“Callum—”

He sighed and turned back to her. “Ye’ve only ken him for a week or so. I’ve ken him for twelve years.”

“And what does that have to do with anything?”

“As I said, ask yer husband.”

This time, he turned around and walked away without so much as a backward glance.

Freya stood alone in the corridor long after he had left. His words echoed in her mind.

“The Laird never wanted to fall in love.”

It shouldn’t matter. Why should it? Freya had never asked Evander for love. She had asked for three weeks and nothing more. He had been honest from the start. If she decided to stay, he’d get an heir, and they would lead separate lives.

But for some reason, it felt like the floor had been ripped out from underneath her.

It was because of last night. Because of the way Evander had held her afterward and waited until she was asleep, and how he had slipped into her chamber while she was resting that morning and brought her breakfast.

She glanced down at the ring on her finger. Evander had seemed shocked to see her wearing it, but happy nonetheless. She was sure she had seen happiness in his eyes.

And yet Callum told her that his Laird never wanted to fall in love. He was right in that he had known Evander for twelve years. He was his best friend and man-at-arms.

Who was she to argue with that? She’d barely known Evander for a week. Even if it felt like the two of them had been married for longer, they hadn’t. Barely a week and a half.

She would do as Callum said and ask Evander herself. Part of her dreaded the answer, but she was done guessing. She deserved the truth.

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