For Love of a Laird by Mia Pride

Author:Mia Pride
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Highland
Published: 2019-12-16T16:00:00+00:00

NEWS OF HER secret marriage spread quickly throughout the castle, and Elizabeth assumed it was due to her new husband, who had no issue talking about his new bride. Working in the kitchens with her hair pulled back into a kerchief, steam from the new loaves of bread crept up her face, making her feel flushed. Yet the hard work was keeping her more than occupied. Her mind had not stopped spinning since her meeting with Robert several hours ago. He did not seem to care that she had married his brother, which was just as well and only solidified her belief that he would never have felt for her the way she had felt for him. Marrying Reginald had been the right decision, she supposed. He was kind and humorous, not ashamed of her, and felt like a companion, which was all she required.

“Say it isnae so.”

Mary’s words drifted to her ears over the sounds of pots banging and Cook’s shouted commands. Turning around, Elizabeth locked eyes with her friend and blew a dangling hair away from her face. “I did what I must, Mary.”

“I thought ye and Robert would be perfect together. I have kenned him all my life. He is a good man and will be a fine husband and father.”

“Perhaps, to the right woman. I simply wasnae it. He has no interest in marriage, nor being with me.”

Mary looked at her suspiciously and put her hands on her hips, the roundness of her belly starting to show through the linen of her dress, especially when she had an apron tied around her waist. “Ye said ye didnae want love or romance in a marriage, so why would any of that matter?”

Turning around, Elizabeth moved the cooling loaves of bread onto a large wooden tray and placed them across the kitchen with the other loaves. “I dinnae.”

“Then what is the problem?”

“There is no problem. I needed to marry an Irvine, and Reginald was more willing to marry than Robert. So, I chose him. Robert doesnae seem bothered in the least. On the contrary, he seems rather relieved. So ye see, all is well.” Her stomach clenched for the hundredth time that day. Despite being surrounded by the savory scents of bread and stew, Elizabeth had been unable to eat a bite, her stomach choosing to protest in agony instead. What was done, was done, she reminded herself silently, also for the hundredth time.

“Ye dinnae expect me to believe such hogwash. I ken ye care for him, Lizzie. It makes no sense.”

“Mayhap it is precisely for that reason I chose Reginald. Neither of us want more from this. There is no expectation, no deeper connection.”

“No risk of being hurt.”

Elizabeth looked at Mary and began to walk to the garden. She did not need to be questioned about her decision and nothing could undo it, even if she wished to, not that she did. The fresh air of the afternoon cooled her sweat-slicked skin as a gentle breeze brushed her neck.

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