To make matters worse, she didn’t even seem to be aware of the allure or its effect on him. Any other woman he knew would be issuing him an invitation by showing so much flesh or trying to entice him into a compromising situation that could have dire repercussions.
But Juliana had been oblivious and, obstinately, he had become more intrigued.
He grimaced as he led the horses to the now cleaned-out corner. He should have told her to buy some breeches for riding. His sister and even Emily wore them when they rode. The cloak Juliana had would have covered the feminine curves outlined by those breeches. They would purchase a pair in the morning, he decided. She would probably balk at the suggestion—since he was the one making it—but he’d simply say they were more practical and warmer heading north. Even someone as cantankerous as she was would see the logic in that.
He unsaddled the horses, slipped off their bridles, and loosely tethered them to hooks in the wall originally used for harnesses, making sure they could reach down for the hay. Then he borrowed a brush from the stable master and set to grooming them. He suspected he was procrastinating about returning to the inn—and Juliana would probably be in a fine temper for having to wait so long—but he needed to come to grips with his increasingly lustful thoughts.
Rory reminded himself—as he had done many times that day—that he had been sent to rescue Juliana from the Camerons. He was responsible for bringing her safely back to Strae Castle, and that meant he also needed to safeguard her virtue. Claiming to be handfasted was simply that. A claim. Not something that was actually going to be put in place. He had a duty to his brothers to bring pride and honor back to the MacGregors. That would require his full attention. His increasing thoughts of her lying lush and naked beneath him were not part of that plan. And he was sure lust was not what Juliana was thinking about, either.
But as full as the stable was, the inn was probably equally crowded. And if they had to share a room…
Well. He hoped the water in the horse trough was cold enough to douse the heat he felt rising.
…
“There is only one bed.” Juliana frowned as Rory gave her an amused look, which she did not appreciate. He had just closed the door to the room the wife of the innkeeper had shown them to after they had eaten. “This will not do.”
“’Tis generally only one bed to a room at an inn.”
“I know that.” Was he deliberately being obtuse? “Why did you not ask fortworooms?”
“If ye remember, we are supposed to be traveling as a handfasted couple,” Rory replied. “Just in case Cameron makes his way to Spean.”
“But that is just for outward appearances. Not”—she motioned vaguely in the direction of the bed—“this. Besides, did you not say handfasted meant betrothed? A betrothal does not give the man the right to…to…to spend a nightalonewith his intended.”
One brow lifted. “We have already spent a night alone.”
“That was different. We were both too tired to do more than drop to the ground and sleep.” Strange that she hadn’t even considered the possibility that Rory might have…might have… She pushed away the horrible recollection of the rape she’d endured. That man was dead, even if her memories weren’t. She gave herself an inward shake. “And last night…we had no choice.”
“We doona have a choice tonight, either.”
“What do you mean?”
“Have ye nae noticed the inn is full? This is the only room left.”
“But…” Juliana eyed the bed. It hardly looked large enough for two people.Notthat the two of them would be sleeping in it. She couldn’t. It did pose a problem, though. The only other furniture in the room was a small table with two straight-backed chairs. The floor would be uncomfortable with only a threadbare rug in front of the small hearth. She could hardly ask Rory to sleep there. The man, irritating as he was, had rescued her, after all. She owed him something for that. Hopefully, when they got to Invergarry, there would be a separate room available. She took a deep breath.
“Fine, then. You can have the bed.”
Rory nearly dropped the saddlebag he was holding as he stared at her. “What?”
“I said you can have the bed—”
“I heard what ye said.”
She knit her brows. “Then why did you ask?”
He shook his head as though to clear it. “Because ’tis the most daft idea ye have had yet.”
“I do not havedaftideas.” Juliana straightened her shoulders. “You admitted my idea to invent the story about the highwaymen accosting us was good.”
“I dinna saygood.”
“You did not say it wasnot, either.”
He blinked at her. “Sometimes when ye speak, ye doona make sense.”
Juliana heaved a sigh. “Never mind. The point is that you agreed to spread the story in Fort William and I happened to come upon a dragoon who will corroborate the incident. And here we are, safe and sound.”
