Free The Highlander by Elaine Coffman

opened them into a hazy fog of blurred images. She blinked again and looked around, as if trying to decide where she was.
    "I don't remember coming up here."
    "You didn't. You fainted and I carried you up here."
    She looked quickly down and he "knew she was checking to see if her clothing had been rearranged.
    He smiled, unable to hide his amusement. "I never take advantage of an unconscious woman."
    "And I never faint."
    "Is that something else you remember, or is it another one of your intuitive feelings?"
    "I have no idea. I only know I am not some faineant aristocrat with nothing more to do than go around fainting all the time."
    "So, you are an aristocrat?" he asked.
    Panic gripped her. Stupide! she thought. You let your guard down. Do not allow yourself to become too comfortable with him. You must remember what you are about. One small error in judgment could land you in Rockingham's bed. With an inaudible gulp, she composed herself. "It was a figure of speech, not an indication of my status, nor evidence that my memory has returned."
    "Smooth recovery, flawless presentation. No tripping over the tongue for you, is there?"
    She made a move to get up.
    "Not so fast." He placed a restraining hand upon her shoulder. "You aren't as strong as you think. Stay here awhile and rest."
    "I'm not tired."
    "You may not be tired, but your body has suffered a terrible ordeal. It will take some time to restore your strength and endurance to the level it was before you almost froze to death."
    "I know I am a terrible burden and a responsibility thrust upon you that you did not want. Caring for me is keeping you from the things you came here to do. Perhaps you should take me to the nearest village. I am—"
    "Enough of that. We will go when and where I say, and whenever I feel you are a bothersome burden, I will tell you. Make no mention of it again."
    Looking at him thoughtfully, she said, ' 'I suppose you think I am being very rude and unappreciative , but I am not trying to be. It is simply that... Oh, I don't know what I'm trying to say," she choked out.
    She should have been more appreciative of the smile that formed across his lips. It was not his customary smile, for it did not carry the hint of mockery. Instead, it was what she would call a knowing smile, as if he not only sensed her uneasiness at being on the bed with him so near, but also understood the cause of it.
    "You are nervous about being here alone with me.
    It was a statement he was making, not a question he was asking, yet she felt compelled to answer it. "Yes. It would be very unwise for me to stay here any longer."
    "Probably."
    "If anyone should learn of this, it would be very damaging for both of us, I would imagine."
    "Aye, what you say is true. But tell me, lass, why are you nervous about being here with me?"
    "You are a man. I have no way of knowing your intentions."
    "No, I suppose you don't." "You could, this very moment, be planning any number of things." "Such as?"
    "You could send me on my way."
    "I would never even think about it."
    "You might turn me over to the English."
    "Something that I would never consider."
    "You could even be planning to seduce me."
    "Now, that has crossed my mind," he said.
    "Thank you for adding to my discomfort."
    "You prefer dishonesty? If I said I was not interested in taking you to bed, would you believe me?"
    "Until you gave me a reason not to."
    "You should not be so trusting."
    "And I am sorry you have forgotten how to trust. If I had to choose one over the other, I would always choose to trust."
    "Then you would be a fool."
    "Perhaps, but I cannot help feeling it is worse to distrust than to be deceived."
    "And comparing lies to the truth? Have you any inclinations on that subject?"
    "I think it is my turn to ask a question. You said you were recently betrothed. Won't she be worried when you do not return?"
    "Not particularly."
    "It must be a strange betrothal."
    "It is not an official betrothal, but more of an