The Highlander’s Accidental Wife (Queen’s Edict #3)

Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

For the past week, Helena had woken up, worked on her translation, went to lunch, spent a few hours in Lady Merie’s cozy suite, and then spent the afternoons, and sometimes the evenings if she lost track of time, locked away in her room, surrounded by piles of books.

She had barely seen Damien, who seemed to never stop working. Even when they shared meals, someone came to speak with him or hand him a missive. More than once, she’d seen him sigh, glance at her, and then leave.

Helena wished she had more time to dedicate to her work, but she also knew it was important to spend time with her sister, Lady Merie, the other ladies, and her future family. Plus, she appreciated how the ladies took to Sophia, indulging her by bringing Jolly everywhere, and how Gwendolyn, Damien’s cousin closest in age and Orrick’s wife, took charge of shepherding Sophia and Jolly around so that she might work.

“I heard ye have yer own work to do, besides the hour ye spend with Lady Merie each day learnin’ more about Morighe,” Gwendolyn had told her. “And I like spendin’ time with yer sister. She’s taken well to spendin’ time with all her future cousins, I must say.”

“I cannot thank you enough,” Helena had said fervently. “Sophia has always wanted this—a big family and lots of playmates.”

“Aye, I can see that.” Gwendolyn had smiled at Sophia, and then her gaze fell. “I hope to have a daughter as sweet as her. Far be it for me to complain about how hard Orrick works, but I cannae wait for the day they abandon this foolish quest and he is here, so we might start a family.”

Helena had wanted to ask more but had not had the chance. As was the wont, after lunch, they broke up to attend to various duties. Sophia and Jolly loped off with Gwendolyn and several of Damien’s other cousins. Lady Merie shooed her off, but not before asking if she’d like to see the library again.

“Ah, not today, thank you,” Helena said politely and excused herself.

On her walk back to her rooms, she cursed herself for being a fool. Why was she avoiding the library? Simply out of a misplaced hope that Damien would be the one to bring her there? He barely had time to exchange a glance with her.

Never mind that they had not exchanged anything beyond polite civilities and trite conversation since their argument about her moving into the Lady’s suite.

So far, Helena had not come back to find her things moved, as she expected every time. She did not want to think about why it filled her with a mix of frustration and relief.

She’d also managed to shove that argument out of her head. But when she sat down at her desk, her gaze kept drifting to the window and the golden fall of light over the snow. No matter how many times she tried to bring her attention back to the sentence she’d been working on, barely three words of it completed, she could not focus.

Instead, she stood up and began to pace, staring around this dear, little room. How soon would Damien force her to leave? Why did have to be so stubborn?

And was this to be their relationship? Intense shared moments, then this distance that niggled at her? It was all too entirely distracting. He’d been the one to say they would have to spend time together, and now he was gone again. Her fists clenched as she imagined what he might say in response to that, the way the blue of his eye would sharpen. Perhaps he might back her up against a wall again, take her chin?—

Helena let out a frustrated roar and kicked over a stool. She had not even seen him today. Was that what was bothering her? Or was it that she could not stand this unresolved tension for another moment, this sense of not knowing what to expect from him?

Her stomach dipped, and she folded her hands over it. She couldn’t understand herself. Why was she even thinking of him?

Why can’t I put you out of my mind?

Again, she thought of Damien’s face, now smirking, and how he might lean in and whisper, I think ye ken verra well why.

A knock came then. Helena let out a startled squeak, then whirled as a tall, broad man strode in. Her heart began to thunder in her chest, and a tremor ran through her as Damien closed the door.

“Unbelievable,” she said before she could stop herself.

Damien’s expression darkened. “What is?”

“You—you… coming here. Now.” Her chest rose and fell.

She knew, logically, that it was a mere coincidence, but it felt as though she’d summoned him by the force of her thoughts. As though he knew that his mere presence at this moment would undo her.

“Oh, forgive me. ‘Tis the first moment I’ve had to meself in days, and I came to see ye,” Damien said, his lip curling, then he drew up short and looked her over. “Ach. I see. Ye were in a dither.” A smirk flitted over his face. “Was it because of me? Would ye like me to make it better?”

“I am not in a dither,” Helena said between clenched teeth. “I do not dither. I only meant I am trying to work, and I cannot focus, so of course you came to distract me.” She folded her arms. “You may leave, My Laird. I still do not want to leave here, and I do not want to speak to you.”

“Och,” Damien said and strode closer, his gaze becoming as sharp as a blade. “Nae just a dither. Ye are flustered, me bride. And verra angry with me, though it’s been days since our tiff. I didnae realize I could rile ye so.” He put a hand to his heart. “Me mistake.”

“Y-You cannot…” Helena cursed herself when his face lit up with unholy triumph. “What do you want?”

“Hel, d’ye have to ask?” he murmured, and she jerked back. “Ach, sorry, love. Ye make it so bloody easy.”

“I am aware,” Helena said. “And yes, fine, I am sore at you. Because I come back every time, expecting my things to be simply taken or moved, and I do not want that to happen. Not yet.”

And even though Helena knew that wouldn’t be enough to convince him, her temper still rose when he shook his head.

With an infuriating smile, he asked, “Why put it off?”

Helena stared at him. “Why rush? We’d only do it for your sake, Damien. Do you realize that? Your mother?—”

“We are nae discussin’ that,” he said in a flat voice.

“Fine.” Helena’s jaw clenched. “Then either give me an order , My Laird, or leave.”

Her words echoed through the room, and silence fell, one that stretched on and made her stomach flutter at the ominous shadow that seemed to fall over Damien like a dark cloak.

“Is this really about ye movin’?” Damien asked and took a step toward her. She lifted her chin, even as her knees began to quake and inexplicable heat pooled in her belly. “Or the wedding date? There is a verra good reason nae to put it off… unless you have the mind to persuade me otherwise.”

“You are impossible,” Helena said and stormed away. “This is not about that. It’s not about opinions or wills or anything like that.” She rounded on him and had to refrain from baring her teeth. “Let me make this very clear right now. If you wanted an obedient bride, you made the wrong choice.”

Damien had followed her silently, and as was his wont, he trapped her between the bed and the wall. Leaning on his arm, he looked her over and raised an eyebrow.

“Wh-What?”

“I dinnae think ye would be fine if I were to marry another English lady, Hel.” His smile became cold. “Nae truly.”

“I—what does that have to do with anything?”

“Ye spoke of an obedient bride,” he said with a shrug. “I could get another, I suppose.”

Helena felt a vicious burst of anger in her chest, a hot rage that she had not felt since her stepmother threw out all her mother’s gowns. Or when her stepbrother had bought books, only to keep denying her access to them. The rage simmered behind her eyes, along with the image of Damien with some simpering, empty-headed blonde beaming up at him. She could’ve bitten Damien for doing this to her.

“Enough.” Helena started to push away, then squeaked as Damien gripped her arms and pinned her to the wall.

“Nay. See, I think it wouldnae sit well with ye. In fact, I think it is killin’ ye, just like—if I am bein’ honest with meself—the thought of ye with another man kills me.” He stared down at her, and she could not look away. “I would kill them for even lookin’ at ye, never mind what I’d do if they so much as touched ye.”

Helena’s chest rose and fell, while her legs pressed together. His grip tightened, and he pressed closer. Now she had to bite her lip against the whimper building in her throat, the plea to keep touching her, to keep saying such mad, dangerous things.

Staring up at Damien, now solemn and focused, holding her there, all she could do was keep still. Even as she silently wondered, What are you doing to me?

“You—your grasp is too firm, My Laird,” she said in a quiet voice.

“Damn,” he cursed and let her go, stepping away. “I apologize.” His chest rose and fell. “This wasnae how this was supposed to go.”

Helena hugged herself. “Ordering me to your chamber?”

Damien’s eye flashed with heat, and he muttered, “Cheeky thing.” Then, he cleared his throat and stood up straighter. “Nay. I want to clear the air between us—make peace.”

Helena’s arms dropped to her sides, and she cocked her head at him. “Pardon?”

“Aye, I like it better when we arenae at each other’s throats. I ken that part of the blame lies with me, but the other part also lies with ye.” He put a hand on his heart. “Again, I apologize. And to prove meself, every day until our wedding, I will court ye nice and proper, Lady Helena.”

Of all the things that Helena thought Damien would say, courtship had not even been in the realm of possibilities. For a moment, she stared at him, and then a laugh escaped her. His eye widened and softened, causing her laughter to die down and a hot flutter to go through her chest.

“You mean to court me, My Laird? For barely a fortnight?” She could not help but smile. “Will that be enough time?”

“More than enough to convince ye that we are a good match,” Damien said, with a glint in his eye. “Startin’ tomorrow. Meet me by the gate after breakfast, with yer books.”

“What? My books?”

“Aye. Dinnae be late, Hel—Milady.”

With that, Damien gave her a courteous bow that made her stomach flutter, then strode out of the room.

Helena sagged onto her bed and stared after him.

What on earth was that?