“Oh,” Isla gasped. “My father used to have one of those. His name is Arnold. He is now in charge of my father’s businesses, and all he does is make me money.”
“Money?” he asked in confusion, and Isla’s lips curved into a grin. “Women dinnae need to work and make money.”
“Do ye also believe that they only belong in the Castle or household to clean up and squeeze out heirs?” she retorted, not giving him a chance to reply or defend himself before adding, “That is a primitive way of thinkin’ in my time.”
Jack said nothing, but his frown stayed, so she continued, “Let’s just say I am a noble lady of very high status back in my time in England. I have wealth, an estate to myself and everything anyone could ever think of.”
He slowed the pace then and when the horse came to a complete stop, he said, “I dinnae think a woman is only for squeezin’ out heirs, I am simply shocked that lasses make money in yer time.”
“Yes, of course we do,” Isla replied, then turned to look at him, and the sharp movement made her lose her balance on the saddle. She yelped, but Jack moved fast and caught her by the waist before she fell off the horse.
“Careful, else ye’ll break yer neck,” he said as he steadied her back.
Isla lost her breath for a second, and it wasn’t only because of her near fall. He was holding her waist and his body was closer to hers now, pressing into her until her skin flushed with the heat emanating from him.
“I… thanks,” she said, cleared her throat, then adjusted herself on the saddle. “Money is what we use to buy items in the market. It’s like your Pound Scots. Ours is just pounds now.”
Jack was staring at her in an intense way that made her shiver, and she felt a weird tension in the air to as their short silence festered.
“I have an idea,” Jack suddenly said once a second passed. Isla was caught off balance when he jumped off the saddle, clamped his hands on her waist and put her on the ground too.
She gasped and her hands moved to his chest to hold on for support. Isla didn’t think Jack noticed she was nervous, and even as her cheeks flushed, she had to push the tingles rising inside her down and focus on what he was saying to her.
“What do you mean?” Isla asked.
“Ye want to go back to yer time, and I want to help my people. We can help each other.”
Her brows furrowed together as she wasn’t fully understanding what he meant yet.
“My people intend for me to help the Clan either by makin’ us alliances to brin’ in enough to support the Clan through the winter, or by me takin’ a wife. My plan is for ye to be my betrothed. That way ye can help me pretend to them, and I can help ye find the gypsy who cursed ye.”
6
Jack stared at her and waited for a reaction. She blinked at first, her green eyes remained entwined with his, and the rush of heat that had been coursing through him since he touched her waist earlier multiplied.
He was doing his best to stay calm. Her looks pierced through his heart at high speed. Jack had never seen anyone this beautiful. Now that he stood closer to her, he could see her smooth skin, and the freckles on her cheeks.
The crimson shade on there was lovely. Jack felt the urge to brush his hands over the side of her face and push away the strands of hair falling there. If all she said was true… if she was truly from the future, then she could help him.
He didn’t need to take a Lady Wife like his Clansmen wanted if she acted as his betrothed, and when the time came, he could help her find the gypsy who brought her here to his land.
The more he thought of the idea, the more it made sense to him, but she was still quiet, staring at him like she had not heard what he said.
“Isla,” he called, and she finally blinked. “Did ye hear a word I just said?”
“I did, I just…” she paused, then she shook her head and burst into a short laugh, “you want me to be your betrothed?”
“Only for the time being,” he said to her. “I can help ye find the gypsy ye need to find once the fair starts in three months, and—”
“Three months?” she gasped. “I did not think I’d have to stay here that long, and… three months?”
She moved away from him, shoved her fingers through her hair, and started pacing around. “I cannot stay here; I’m not supposed to be here, and this… wedding you is simply the craziest of it all… how do we make that happen? I do not even know who you are.”
“I am an honorable man, and I will keep my word and help ye find yer way back to yer time. It is a fake betrothal so ye are expected to do nothin’ of course.”
She folded her arms over her chest. “Do you even believe a word of all I told you since? Do you believe I am from the future?”
She gauged his expression after asking, trying to tell what he was thinking.