Page 29 of Highlander’s Sweet Poison

“He ranted and raved. My mother cried. My father has been long dead, so as far as I was concerned, there was no one to force me to marry. I held him off for a week.”

“He wooed ye?” Tearloch didn’t seem the courting type.

“Hardly. He was so furious that he barely spoke to me. Finally, my mother guilted me into it. She was ill which is why, I suppose, she wrote to Tearloch and asked him to come for me. She begged to see my wedding. She passed three days after.” Tears filled Alexina’s eyes, and Jillian immediately reached over and grabbed her hands.

“Losing a mother is always hard,” she said quietly.

“Aye. Without her, I feel so alone.”

“Do ye regret marrying Tearloch?”

“I made my mother happy, and I cannae regret that, but if I hadnae, I wouldnae be alone now.”

Tearloch came over the bend, his mouth set in a hard line, and Jillian knew he’d heard the last bit of their conversation. “Well, I am here now, and I am certain that Tearloch will learn how to be a good husband. He may just need some guidance.”

His lips curved into a snarl, but he waited for a beat to see what Alexina would say. Unfortunately for him, his wife was back to paying attention to the plants.

“Graeme has sent word,” he said finally. Alexina jerked her head up, but enough time had passed that she hadn’t realized they’d been overheard. “There is to be a gathering outside the keep to announce ye as mistress and then a feast in the great hall. I am to escort ye back to the keep to get ready.”

Her reprieve was over. Jillian glanced over at the low hanging sun. “Did he say how the council reacted?”

“Nay, but there is no execution order hanging over yer head, so I suppose that is the best ye could ask for. A mistake, if ye ask me.”

“Tearloch,” Alexina hissed as she stood, “she is yer mistress.”

“Aye, and she bid me speak freely, so I shall.”

“Then allow me to speak freely. She is a guest in my home and my friend, so ye will show her some respect. Jillian, if ye will give me a minute, I will dress and go back to the keep with ye to give ye some company and help ye get ready. I know that ye must be nervous.”

“Terrified,” Jillian admitted.

“Then I wish to be there with ye.” Alexina brushed off the dirt of her skirts and glared at her husband. “Be civil while I am gone.”

Tearloch waited until she’d escaped inside the cottage before he glared at her. “I wilnae have ye turning my wife against me.”

“Seems to me that ye did a good job of doing that all on yer own.”

“Bloody hell, woman.”

“Nay, ye should listen to me, Tearloch, because I know what it is like to be in a loveless marriage.” His eyes widened in surprise, and she planted her hands on her hips. “Oh, aye, I loved Fulton when I wed him until I learned that he put on a good front to win my hand, and it was not love that he felt in return but an obsession that burned away at whatever decent was left inside of him. Alexina is a good woman, and I dinnae know if the two of ye have what it takes to love each other, but I know that respect can go a long way. She is a stranger here, and she feels alone.”

Tearloch ran his hand through his hair. “I am doing my best, but I dinnae know what to do with a wife.”

“There are other guards who are wed. Did ye introduce any of their wives to her?”

“Nay.”

“Of course not. Have ye helped her find a place in the clan? Something she could do to feel useful?”

“She likes her gardening,” he said weakly.

“She is a wife, Tearloch. A woman. As pretty as she is, she is not a doll to be kept inside. Spend some time to help her get settled.”

Tearloch’s features tightened. “And why am I taking advice from ye? Ye already admitted that ye drove yer previous husband mad.”

The verbal slap hurt her even though she’d heard it time and time again. Recoiling just a little, she held her head high. “Take yer anger out on me if ye like, Tearloch, but mark my words, ye are in for a miserable life if ye dinnae find a way to make this work with her. She seems to be a wonderful person. I wonder how long it will take for ye to realize that ye may not deserve her.”

Alexina walked out to join them, this time dressed in midnight-blue with a cloak folded in her hands. “I will do my hair later. Ready?”