Page 48 of Highlander’s Beautiful Liar

Her head shot up, and she was pale. Too pale, but she forced a smile. “Alec. I am so glad that you are back. I have decided to take you up on that visit with my family. I was thinking that we could leave tonight, but I suppose it is too late now. So morning then?”

“Cora.” He stared at her. What was going on inside that head of hers?

“If you are too busy, then I can make the journey on my own. Perhaps with an escort? A day or two with them should suffice.”

She looked at him, but he wasn’t even sure that she was seeing him. “Cora. My brother and my sister are here. Ye didnae greet them.”

“Oh.” She blinked and shook her head. “Yes. Your family. I am so sorry. I must have forgotten. I will rectify that mistake immediately. Let me apologize.”

As she tried to hurry by him, he grabbed her arm. “What happened, Cora? Why do ye need to see yer family?”

Tears filled her eyes. “I miss them, that’s all. I just want to know that they are safe.”

“All right. We will go see them, but we cannae go tomorrow. I promise though, as soon as I am able, we will travel to see them. When it is safe, they can come here. I wilnae keep yer family from ye, lass.”

She opened her mouth and then closed it and nodded. “I understand. Thank you.”

Drawing her close, he kissed the top of her head. He had thought it strange that she did not want to see her family, but apparently it had been building until something snapped inside of her today.

Maybe when she saw her family, she would finally feel whole again.

20

Hosting Connor Sinclair and Grace was her first big event since becoming Alec’s wife, and she was already making a mess of it. After receiving Innes’s letter, all logic had fled.

He’d made it clear that he didn’t need her to give him anything. He planned on taking it. First, taking his revenge out on the Thistles, and then taking Alec’s life, and finally taking her.

In that order.

The Thistles. She had to make sure that Lana was alright. She would never forgive herself if Innes got his hands on her.

Alec. How could she even have thought to ask him to take her to England? He had so much to worry about already, and his family was here. Of course he couldn’t escort her.

But she would have to go, even if she had to go alone.

Mary. She would need to speak to Mary. “Alec, I am going to check the kitchens to make sure that everything is fine.”

As she tried to sneak away, Alec wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. “Doona be nervous. My sister loves ye already simply because she believes ye are an ally against her horrible brothers, and Connor will respect ye because of yer support of me. The kitchens are fine, and I will have ye walking into the dining hall with me.”

Cora frowned as he drew her along. “I noticed you said that your brother would respect me instead of like me,” but then the doors were open, and there was no time for him to answer.

It was easy to pick out the laird of the Sinclairs. Even if he wasn’t surrounded by Alec’s closest friends, Cora would have been able to see the resemblance. Alec and Connor? Same dark hair, dark eyes, strong jaw and full lips, but it was more than age that separated them. There was a hardness in Connor’s eyes. Strength and power, yes, but pain as well.

“I do not see your sister,” she whispered.

“My sister wilnae be joining the clan dinners. Ye will understand why when ye meet her in the morn.”

Not wanting to seem weak in front of her husband’s brother, she followed him to the head of the table where she dropped into a curtsy. “Laird Sinclair, it is a pleasure to meet you. I apologize for not being here during your arrival.”

“Lady Cora. Sister.” Connor raised her hand and kissed it. “‘Tis a pleasure to meet ye, and ye doona need to apologize. Being my brother’s wife must be trying yer patience.”

There was a chuckle of laughter before Alec shook his head and pulled out the chair for Cora. Her tension about Connor eased just a little, but her other problem still weighed heavily on her mind, and even though she tried to keep up with the conversation of dinner, her thoughts drifted. Her fears imprisoned her.

The hours dragged on, and she finally whispered to Alec, “If it’s all right, I’m feeling a little tired. I think I’ll check on your sister and then go to bed. Will that be all right?”

To her surprise, he turned his head and brushed his lips against hers. “I am sorry if my family has made ye miss yers. Try not to let my sister convince ye to let her out of the keep. She has an adventurous spirit, but she always finds trouble.”

Sounds like they would have much in common.