Devil of the Highlands (Devil of the Highlands #1)(34)
Author: Lynsay Sands

When he didn’t look convinced, she pointed out, "Look at Fergus. He kept saying that he loved Biddy. That he could not hurt her this way or that, and yet all he did was hurt her."

Evelinde paused a moment, then asked, "What would you have done in Fergus’s place had you come upon Jenny and Darach and known what he was doing?"

Cullen’s mouth thinned out. "I’d have challenged him to a battle and killed the bastard."

"Aye." She nodded. "And what would you have done after Jenny killed herself and Darach played the sympathetic husband?"

"I’d have called him out in front of everyone and let them know what I knew. And then I’d have challenged him and killed the bastard."

Evelinde bit her lip to keep from smiling. There was a definite pattern here. It seemed Cullen found his uncle’s behavior despicable and would have "killed the bastard." She wasn’t surprised, but merely pointed out, "Instead, Fergus arranged for Biddy to find out and waited for her to confront the man. And when she shot Darach, but it didn’t kill him, Fergus finished the job, but not for Biddy as he claimed. She was trying desperately to save him. He did it for himself, in the hopes that he would then have a chance with her. He merely justified it by claiming it was for love of her… and he did so with little concern for the guilt she would suffer."

"He also did not kill your father or little Maggie for Biddy. Would your father not have listened if Fergus had admitted that he’d killed Darach when he was mending? You do not doubt it, do you?" Evelinde waited until he shook his head. And then she shrugged, and said, "And neither would your father. But Fergus did not, because it would have meant putting himself at risk, and so he justified killing them by saying ’twas for Biddy… leaving her to suffer that guilt now as well," she added dryly, and shook her head. "That is not love, Cullen. Fergus spoke of love, but his actions didn’t support his words."

"You, on the other hand," Evelinde said quietly, raising a hand to press it to his cheek. "While you rarely give me words, your actions have ever spoken loudly of who you are and what you believe in. Your honor shines through, and I love you for it." She smiled wryly, and added, "Well, once I found out about the actions I did."

Cullen hugged her closely, then bent to kiss her. It started out a sweet kiss, loving and gentle, but soon began to change, passion slipping in and taking over. They were both breathless when he broke the kiss.

"I love ye, Evelinde," he repeated solemnly, his fingers moving to begin undoing her lacings. "When I rode out to d’Aumesbery to collect and marry ye, my best hope was that ye’d be someone I could deal with at least middling well, but I found better than that. I liked ye on our first meeting. That liking just increased with every moment we spent together. Ye were like no woman I had ever before met."

"I liked you, too," Evelinde murmured, as he paused to push her gown off her shoulders. "Though I have been fortunate enough to know men as fine as you ere this."

When he stiffened, she grinned, and added, "You are very like my father was, and I hope my brother still is. I have been fortunate in having good men in my life and am proud to be your wife."

Cullen relaxed, but then something flickered in his eyes, and Evelinde tilted her head curiously.

"What is it?"

"I just recalled something I fergot to tell ye," he admitted.

She raised her eyebrows curiously.

"We’ve had a letter from yer brother," he announced. "Alexander’s coming to visit."

Evelinde smiled widely at this news, her heart lifting with job. Noting that Cullen was appearing less than happy though, she asked, "Do you not wish him to do so? You did say I could invite him," she reminded worriedly.

"Aye, and I am not displeased that he’s coming, I just should have told ye days ago when I received the news," he said, then promised, "I shall not forget things like that in future. I’ll tell ye, and I’ll tell ye anything ye wish to ken about meself. I’ll tell ye about me childhood, and me father, and me mother, and anything else ye want to hear about."

He let her chemise slithered to the floor. "I’ll tell ye about me first hunt, me first wife, me—"

"Husband," Evelinde interrupted, as his hands slid over her body.

"Aye?" Cullen asked, his hands pausing briefly.

"Tell me later," she whispered, then leaned against his chest and slid her hand around his neck to urge him down to kiss her.

"Aye, wife," he breathed before his mouth covered hers.

THE END