Page 9 of A Highland Bride Forgotten
Now River couldn’t hold back the snort that bubbled out of her. “Och aye, I’m sure of that.”
Laird O’Douglas frowned in confusion, naturally, but River didn’t offer an explanation.
“Is it that ye fear I daenae love ye anymore?”
The question brought River’s thoughts to a sudden halt, her mind blanking completely as she stared at the man. But Laird O’Douglas didn’t wait for a response before he spoke again.
“I...I admit I daenae remember ye at all,” he said, and River couldn’t help but think she should have slipped out of the castle before Laird O’Douglas was reminded of her existence—an impossible task, but one she regretted not trying to achieve regardless. “And as I cannae remember ye, I cannae remember how much I love ye. But I will take care of ye and I willreciprocate yer love until...until I remember how much I love ye again.”
I must be in purgatory.
It was the only explanation. Perhaps River had truly finally snapped. Perhaps this was her punishment for some aggression she didn’t remember.
What do I even say to him?
Before she could gather her thoughts, she noticed Laird O’Douglas staring around the room once more, as if he was searching for something.
Evidence? He will find none.
“Where is the bairn?”
Nay...this isnae purgatory. I have simply gone mad.
“The what?”
“The bairn,” said Laird O’Douglas, as if that clarified anything. “We’ve been married for a year already, aye?”
“Aye.”
“Then where’s the bairn? We should have a bairn by now.”
What do I even say to him!
The truth, River decided. She had to tell him the truth, but spun in such a way that kept her blameless. The less Laird O’Douglas suspected her, the better her position—even though she had done nothing wrong.
“Me Laird...there’s nae bairn,” she said.
“There’s nae bairn?” Laird O’Douglas repeated, puzzled. Then, he asked, “What did ye call me?”
“I—”
That’s right...why would I call him by his title?
“Archer,” she said, tasting his name on her tongue for the first time. It felt strange, foreign to call him by his name. “I thought...I thought perhaps...”
“That ye should be more formal with me now that I daenae remember ye?” the man provided rather helpfully.
“Precisely,” said River with a firm nod.
“Well, I am still yer husband,” said Archer with a gentle smirk.
“Ye certainly are,” said River through gritted teeth.
“So, the bairn,” Archer insisted. “Why do I nae have an heir yet?”
“We havenae...consummated the marriage.”
Archer swayed back, as if the surprise of the revelation was a physical blow.
