9. DUGALD
Chapter nine
DUGALD
She was asleep. He caressed her warm skin, his thoughts miles away. Rosina’s confession had given him a lot to think about. He had been so angry after the laird had broken them apart; he’d thought it was Rosina herself who caused that to happen. Now he knew it wasn’t her.
Just now, when she confessed, he had heard the pain in her voice. The regret. Her vow had meant a great deal to her and her mother had made her break it. Dugald wished he had had the maturity of mind to realise she was being manipulated.
When he had left Castle Tighe he did not think he would see her again. He wasn’t Ewen; he had made no eternal vow to her. But now, holding her, making love to her. Dugald knew this wasn’t a short affair, or a brief rekindling of a past passion. He wanted to keep her.
He had a bright future in the duke’s household, he knew that, but in repayment for his grace’s favour he had to be obedient. He had to marry a woman the duke thought suitable. Dugald wanted to keep Rosina, but he wasn’t sure how he was going to do that in a way Rosina would allow.
So he lay in the darkness with the woman he loved in his arms and turned his sharp mind to a solution.