To Catch a Highlander: A Highland Erotic Romance by Krystal LaCroix Page A

sooner. “Eat your soup, Brianna. You need it, and I know how you love it. I shall pay for it, but then we must be on our way.”
    Margaret also brought us warm bread and a meat pie, and I was too hungry to object to any of it. I glared at Ewan with a knowing look in my eyes as to all we had shared last night, but even I was too much of a lady to speak of such things in public, even if the room was otherwise empty. He did at least have the decency to also look regretful as he ate. In spite of myself, I could not help but admire the ingenuity that had led him to me, and he looked just as lovely as ever in his rumpled riding coat. When we were finished and Ewan had paid for the meal, Margaret presented me with a small parcel. “Some cakes for the road,” she said. “Whatever you may be guilty of, my dear, I admire a woman with such spunk. Lord Galbraith, I do hope you appreciate the treasure you have here.”
    “It would be mightily difficult not to, after what we’ve been through the past two days,” he agreed.
    “Th…thank you,” I told her.
    “You’re very welcome, dear. I hope you make peace wi th your fate soon; Lord Galbraith will make a wonderful husband whether you can see that now or not.”
    “Excuse me?” I snapped to attention, looking at Ewan, who cringed.
    “That’s enough of all that, my dear,” he said, putting an arm around me. “Thank you again, “Margaret, but we must be on our way!” Before I was entirely sure I had heard her correctly, he had hustled me out into the front yard.
    “What exactly did she mean –?” I stammered.
    “I’m afraid I had to tell her it was me you were marrying, rather than Gordan,” he said. “That gentleman does not have the best reputation in Inverness, and I couldn’t be sure she would have helped me had she known the truth.”
    “Good Lord, Ewan!” I was outraged now, and felt my eyes burning with tears. “Not only do you know that man is no good, you even know others know it too! Ewan, how can you do this to me, especially after last night!”
    “It is because of last night that I now must,” he growled. “If word of that ever got out, then…”
    “Then what?” I demanded. “Then everyone would know we are two people who love one another and will be blissfully happy together for life! Just what is wrong with that?”
    “Your father would never allow it!” Ewan hissed. “And as I told you last night, I am not at liberty to explain why. Now come al ong!” He gave me a gentle but firm push in the direction of our horses. Seeing no other option for the time being, I untethered Honey and swung up on her back.
    “Surely you would agree that it is too late in the day for us to continue far beyond the city,” I said as soon as we were back in the precious anonymity of the busy street.
    Ewan made no immediate response. I turned aside just in time to see his implacable scowl turn upwards just a bit. He knew just what I was thinking. But I didn’t care. Evidently he didn’t either. “Indeed,” he agreed. “Very well, then. I know an inn on the far edge of the city.” And we wended our way through the filthy streets in silence for the next hour or more.
    The inn he knew was just as rustic as the previous one, situated on a picturesque hill just where the trees and grass began to reassert themselves over the dust of the city. As he stepped down and tethered his horse, he looked thoughtfully up at me. “I know full well you have my shackles in your pack,” he said. “As a gesture of what I rather suspect is misguided trust, I shan’t put them on you at this time. Surely you understand by now that I shall find you if you try to run again.”
    “Of course I do,” I admitted.
    A matter of minutes later, Honey was tethered alongside Ewan’s horse and we found ourselves in a room much like the night before. “Home again,” I noted sardonically, setting my pack down beside the bed.
    “I admire your sense of humour, Brianna,” he said.