Yes, that was the heart of it, but Lash needed some answers of his own first. “Who was that man?”
“What?”
“The man. Who you were kissing. Who was he?”
“What do you care?”
“I care, dammit! Now tell me who he was. Is he someone to you?” Lash growled.
“Och! You are impossible. That was Alasdair Murray, who is searching for his brother.”
“And he needed to do that in the cover of darkness?”
“Aye, you must have heard the tales. A Murray was the reason my brother Ewan died. My brothers would have his hide if they discovered him here.” She lifted her hand when he would have growled. “And before you accuse me of letting him kiss me again, I did not. He caught me by surprise. And it was only to thank me. I pointed him in the direction of his brother.”
“Men don’t kiss women to thank them for information.”
“Perhaps not any menyouare acquainted with. No,theyabduct women and attempt to kill their half-siblings.”
“Rom do not like their women alone with other men, and they certainly don’t like other men kissing their women.”
“Their women? I am notyourwoman.”
Lash took a deep breath, let go of his jealousy, and considered her. “I’m sorry for worrying you.”
Her eyes flashed. “I thought you left me, after all we shared. Did my brother know?”
“Which one?”
“You know which one!”
“To be fair, I did leave, but I only made it as far as the stables, andno, nary one of your brothers knew, only Ross.”
“Neill Rossknew?”
“Yes, why?”
She waved his question aside. “Never mind that now.” She paused. “You lied to me.”
Regret hit him like a blow to the chest. He reached out to trail his thumb over her lower lip. “I know, and I will never lie to you again.”
She tipped her chin up. “Why should I believe you? If you only made it as far as these stables, why did you not turn around and march back up?”
Lash dragged a hand through his hair. “I thought I needed answers. Needed to leave to find my family, to find who I truly was and where I belong in the world.”
“Then why did you stay?”
He gave her a sheepish smile. “I realized I already had the answers, and they were you,” he whispered. “The answer has always been you. I belong with you.”
“You cannot say such things to me and not mean them, Lash Ruthven.”
“I mean every word.” He searched her face. “Your brothers don’t want us to be together,monisha, and I’m no titled lord. I’m a Rom. Half of one, at least. Your life with me will never be easy. It will be deuced hard, especially given the ridicule that will extend to you once we are married.”
“I enjoy a challenge.”
“I have nothing to offer you but myself. No connections, no wealth, and at the moment, not even a family. But here I am anyway because I’m too selfish to leave and let you find a better man.”
Her face softened at the edges. “I don’t care about any of that. And my brothers will learn to live with my decision. It never mattered to me whether you were a snake charmer, fortune teller or the seller of rare magical amulets to ward off evil spirits, so long as I could be near you.”
