Highlander The Cursed Lord (Highland Intrigue Trilogy 3)

He kept his mouth shut tightly, fearful of what might slip out, and did something he had never done before in battle, he retreated, walking out the door.

CHAPTER 6

Bliss’s shoulders drooped and her stomach roiled with worry while she silently berated herself for letting him know she was a virgin. He had probably thought her an experienced woman since she was traveling on her own. Any decent woman would never travel alone. That had to be why he had made the offer in the first place.

How many times had she warned Annis to watch her tongue and think before she spoke? Why had she not heeded her own advice? She shook her head, disappointed in herself. What was done was done and she could not change it. Hopefully, though, she could rectify it.

How to rectify it was the question.

She thought to follow him outside and speak to him but decided against it. He needed time to think on it, as she did. Besides, what could she say? She certainly could not beg him to let her stay and she was not sure how to convince him to let her stay. She had accepted his offer. What more was there for her to do? He either agreed or would send her on her way. If she tried to convince him, he might become suspicious and that could make things worse.

There was no more that she could do but wait.

Rannick walked into the woods, not trusting himself to remain close to the cottage, close to Bliss. It was his own fault for shutting himself away as he had done, seeing no one. He had even refused to speak to the men who delivered the supplies his mother had sent to him. Though, they certainly hadn’t minded. They would hastily drop the sacks of grain, barrels of ale, and whatever else his mum would send and be on their way. They wanted nothing to do with him and that was fine with him.

He needed no one, wanted no one… until Bliss. Her presence, her kindness, and her trust had made him realize how empty life had become for him. He had hoped for death in his travels and had returned home only to find a living death.

Suddenly, the lonely years stretched ahead of him, and he wanted to roar against the emptiness he would face. It was a living hell and Bliss could provide a reprieve from it if just for the winter.

Endless reasons of why he should send Bliss on her way filled his head while there was only one reason for her to stay—he wanted her there with him. He selfishly did not want to let go of her kindness and trust. His first wife had seen to her wifely duties with an unsettled nervousness. His second wife had been indifferent about her wifely duties, lying beneath him, not moving, her eyes shut until he finished. His third wife, he had refused to touch, and still she died.

Bliss was willing to try and please him even though she had no experience with coupling. That she was willing to do so made him think they would find pleasure in bed together and that was something that enticed him. It was also something he feared, for he worried that when winter faded away, he might not want to let her go.

He shook his head. How was it that he already thought that he might want to keep her beyond winter? How could that even be possible?

She was alone like him, two lost souls who needed someone. Nothing more.

The curse would have no interest in her for their agreement did nothing but fill a void in their empty lives. He would not love her. He was not capable of love, and she would not demand it of him since he would provide what she needed, shelter and safety.

It was a sensible agreement for them both. Why then did he question it?

Did he worry that his father might have had him wed against his will once again and sent Bliss here to trick him? Or had he sent Bliss to place her in a compromising position and, therefore, force a marriage? But she had left easily enough when he had sent her on her way. Though, he had not given her much of a choice.

But would his father wed him to a peasant? Who else could be so easily forced to wed the cursed lord?

One who would have no choice.

The answer was clear. If his father had forced Bliss to wed Rannick, she would be dead by now. The curse would have killed her.

He had a chance for a good winter with a kind and trusting woman. He would enjoy it, then he would see that she was taken care of after that.

With his mind made up, he headed back to the cottage.