Making his way down the hall, he was determined to tell her all of it, how much he’d do for her. But when he reached the door, he realized there would be no getting in. His brother sat against the wood frame with a pillow behind his head. He obviously didn’t intend on going anywhere.
“Yer not getting in.” Will’s voice dropped low, sounding far more like their brother Stone than he’d ever heard Will before.
He gave his brother’s leg a soft kick. “I just want to talk to her. Besides, we’re marrying in the morning. What’s the harm of seeing her now?”
Will stood up then, his arms crossing. “Ye’ve gone mad if ye think I’m letting ye in. Tonight, I’m her brother not yers.”
“I haven’t gone mad, ye’ve gone completely daft.” Blair stepped into his brother’s face.
“If she were my sister, ye’d not be askin’ to be in her room the night before the wedding. Ye’ve been takin’ advantage of her and ye ken it.”
That made Blair’s blood boil. His fist clenched at his sides. “Stop meddling like an old woman. I’ve been protecting her. Feeding her and her brother, keeping her safe from a tyrant.”
Will rolled his eyes, which only fueled Blair’s anger. Then Will gave Blair a small push backward. “Ye mean ye moved her into yer cottage, ye’ve takin’ liberties with her, and ye—“
Blair didn’t allow him to finish. He planted his fist in his brother’s face instead. Blood spurted out of Will’s nose but he gave a grin as he lunged at Blair, sending him flying backward into the wall before they both crashed to the floor.
Wrestling back and forth, Blair tried to turn Will over so that he could pummel Will’s face again.
“Blair?” He heard Elle’s voice behind him. “Will? What are ye doing?”
Will turned to look back and Blair used the opportunity to fling Will over his head with his legs. Than he jumped up and rushed toward Elle. Reaching her side, he picked her up as he moved her into the room and then slammed the door behind him, clicking closed the lock.
“Blair.” Elle pushed at his chest even as he held her in his arms. “What the bloody—”
Planting his lips on hers he silenced her with a kiss. One of his hands snaked up into her hair, while her hands ceased pushing and snaked about his neck, pulling him closer.
Slanting open her mouth, he kissed her until they were both breathless, even as Will pounded on the door. “I wanted to tell ye, lass,” he said as he raised his head. “That I’ll be a good husband to ye.”
Her eyes grew round and her puffy lips fell open. “I’ve no doubt that ye will.”
He leaned down, and kissed her again, his insides relaxing a little at the coil of tension loosened. “Ye won’t regret marryin’ me, I swear it.”
Her eyes welled with tears and he watched as she blinked them several times. “Oh Blair,” her breath caught. “I couldn’t ask for a better man than ye.”
Reluctantly, he set her down. “I’m glad to hear ye say that.” Then he took a step back. “Now, I’m gonna let ye rest while I go face Will’s fists. I’m gonna catch hell fer this.”
Elle watched him leave as she nibbled her lip in worry. Not about Will. She didn’t think he’d really hurt his brother.
She’d never doubted for a second that Blair would make a fine husband. He’d make the best. How could he doubt that?
It was her who wasn’t good enough for him.
By insisting she talk with him, she’d condemned him to a life with her. A woman who had no family, who brought nothing but trouble.
The right thing would be to leave. But then what would happen to Ailean?
Letting out a cry of frustration, she paced the room. What if she married Blair? Would he grow to resent her? She’d have to make sure she was a perfect wife.
She sat on the bed, threading her fingers. She needed to sleep so that she could be a beautiful bride in the morning.
At least she had a few dresses from Eliza. She’d never had a sister before, but a sister-in-law would be nice. She honestly wished Eliza was here now. She’d like to have another woman to talk to.
Her brother wouldn’t even attend her wedding. That made tears well in her eyes. Of all the silly things to cry about.
But it only added to her worry that this wedding was doomed for failure.
Covering her mouth with her hand, she lay down on her pillow and willed herself not to cry.