Free The Groom Wore Plaid: Highland Weddings by Gayle Callen Page B

prestige—he was.”
    “Science,” she said matter-of-factly. “I rememberthings about ye, Owen, when ye’ve stubbornly resisted doing the same for me.”
    His jaw clenched but he ignored the provocation. “The work was important to me. I thought I’d find ways to improve what our estates already have, and in a way I’ve begun. In the last few years, an engine was developed using steam and a piston to raise water from the depths of a coal mine. I own several mines. I’m bringing the engine here, although of course the mine foreman is skeptical.”
    “Of course ye’ll demonstrate it and convince him,” she said, taking a bite of roasted lamb.
    “And can you predict that?”
    She heard the emphasis on “predict” and knew he was taunting her. “I don’t need to. Ye can make a person believe anything. Ye made me believe ye were an open-minded scholar, did ye not?”
    He chuckled, obviously making light of the words she’d meant in truth.
    She rolled her eyes. “Don’t assume ye can lure us all under your spell. Introducing me to your people one at a time? ’Twas an idea that won’t work.”
    “I had more than one purpose.”
    “And so I assumed.”
    He gave her a sharp look. “You don’t think I could simply want to make you feel at ease?”
    “I already ken ye want that. ’Twill make everything easier for ye. Ye’re trying to reintroduce yourself, especially to the men.”
    “True. And I have a way to begin to cement their loyalty.”
    “No one will be pledging fealty to the Campbells on your watch, eh?” But she had to admit that she was curious.
    “I’m not worried about that. We all know that the Campbells are greedy and loyal to the Crown rather than Scotland. But my people know I’ve spent a lot of time in England, and they might think I was too friendly at a dinner party with a redcoat or two. But this isn’t England. The Fifteen wasn’t that long ago. My people must learn that while I’m in London seeing to their interests, it doesn’t mean they don’t have my absolute loyalty. And the only way to do that is to be among them, training with them, competing with them. As the noblest and best young men of the clan, they will try to excel at everything, to prove themselves, just as I once did.”
    “Ye make yourself sound ancient,” she said dryly.
    “To a twenty-year-old, I am.”
    His plan had merit—and for herself, too. It would keep him busy while she tried to figure out the dream and prove herself a poor bride, but he didn’t need to know that. If he would contribute nothing to saving himself, then at least he needed to stay out of her way.
    He suddenly leaned too close. “And such competition will inspire my Highland bride to wish that our wedding night was not so far away.”
    They looked at each other for a long moment, and Maggie knew she’d never see real admiration in his gaze. He wouldn’t admire her, not that real person she was deep inside, the one who was cursed with dreams of the future. Nay, that Maggie he disdained. But that didn’t affect his lust for her. And sadly, she still felt the same lust for him; a sin, any priest would tell her. Apparently, she wasn’t very discriminating where men were concerned.
    His gaze on her body was as physical as a caress, even here, in front of all his people, in front of his family. And the worst thing was that he seemed to sense her reciprocal desire. The quirk of his mouth said he was aware of her desperation to keep it at bay.
    Let him be amused, she thought furiously, forcing herself to stop looking at his lips. She knew what she had to do. Tonight she’d return to her dreams and see if she could bring forth the one she needed to see the most.
    Voices at a nearby table grew loud, and a woman shushed someone.
    “I don’t care what she thinks.”
    This voice belonged to an older man, bald head gleaming in the torchlight, whose broad shoulders still spoke of hard work.
    “I don’t care what Himself thinks either,”