The Enemy and Miss Innes (Tales from the Highlands, #2)

by Martha Keyes

“I only wish ta protect my wife and bairn—I dinna care ta spend any more time on a man so undeservin’ of it.”

But even a small hope could light the dark,

I dinna think he’ll hear me—love rings too loudly in his ears.”

she was not so proud that she could not admit she had been bested. She couldn’t help liking him the better for it.

A boorish, heavy-handed foe disgusted her; one who could meet her and equal her in a battle of wits commanded respect and admiration, reluctant as she might be to give it.

It was one thing to say something to a man’s face—it was quite another to be discovered saying it when one believed he was not present.

perhaps ye prefer no’ ta betray yer incompetence. After all, ‘tis easier ta pass judgment on the work of others than ta do it yerself.”

Miss Innes was handsome in her haughtiness; with a smile on her face, she was exquisite.

Whether it was because he had lit a fire beneath her or because it was not her nature to do things by halves, Miss Innes proved a hardworking companion.

She had the courage to do what he wished he himself could do—what he would have done if his family’s safety wasn’t at stake.

Whatever his feelings toward Angus, Malcolm obeyed his orders strictly. That was a sign of weakness she could not excuse or forgive, and weak men were often the most cruel.

He treated his property with the same possessiveness

Was she so bored now that the presence of an enemy was to be looked on with anticipation?

“Not all men find women so elusive, my dear. Perhaps if you stopped looking at them as prey, you might discover that for yourself.”

“Ye’ve already decided what ye think of me, and persuadin’ a person of somethin’ they’re set against believin’ is a battle lost before it ever begins.”

“And you should like to be there to witness my humbling, no doubt.” “I’d rather be there ta catch ye in my arms.”

He wasn’t entirely sure that his plan hadn’t begun to rebel against him like a turncoat soldier on his own troop.

It took a strong man not to react in anger to what had just happened; it took a kind and gentle one to tell the untruth afterward, amidst such pain.

a man who will weep for his dog’s pain has a heart that beats for others, whether they be human or animal. You are not like Angus, Malcolm.”

She adopted toward him what she hoped was an attitude of nonchalant benevolence, and he seemed to respond with his own version of it, though his brooding expression and the care he took with his words could not truly be considered either benevolent or nonchalant.

“Weak men cannot stand to see weakness in others, for it reminds them of what they most hate about themselves.”

“Trust is when ye ken a person willna betray ye even if they can, no’ simply because they canna.”

“By the time I am done with you, you will look as though you just emerged from Loch Morar, and I can imagine nothing better to do with my time. You will need to lay your head back more than that, though.”

“A monster who employs other monsters to do his bidding is the worst kind.”

“The only difference between the person willing to do something and the person who actually does it is circumstance, is it not?”

He could no longer live in the shadows, defined by his worst moments. To step fully into the light required that he first claim and acknowledge his own darkness. His mother’s words rang in his ears. I would rather live as poor outcasts than see the darkness consume ye.

Just be certain yer mistake is no’ punishin’ him a second time for havin’ the heart and courage ta love his family in such a way.

she was less of a hotheaded fool than many chose to think her,

I never deserved ye, but I could never persuade my heart of that, so with ye it remains.

If ye believe nothin’ else, believe that ‘twas all done in love.

Either a complete stranger was in possession of her heartfelt sentiments, or Malcolm had received them and not thought it worth responding.

“If this is how ye treat yer enemies, I forbid ye from ever havin’ another.”

Malcolm had come to know many people who were the worse for deeper acquaintance. Elizabeth was the opposite.

Everything she did, she did with her whole heart.

his sons imbued with respect and admiration for women, for Elizabeth would command it.

She had loved what he had condemned as unlovable, forgiven the unforgivable; she had freed him, mind, body, and soul, from his bonds.