Page 64 of Highlander Lord Of Vengeance

She reached out and placed her hand on his arm. “You told me to trust you. I trust you to speak truthfully to me.”

Her innocent touch sent a spark racing through him, igniting things in him that should not be on his mind right now. But nor should he tell her what Torrance said, but didn’t she have a right to know?

The fire cracked, a sudden pop breaking the silence.

“I speak his words not mine,” Ryland said, his voice low and rough. “He said you were a worthless wife that you couldn’t get with child and that he intended to get rid of you and get a new wife. He told me that I was to carry through with his plan.”

The words struck like a lash, though she had braced for them. Her throat tightened, her jaw clenched. But she didn’t look away.

“You gave your word to him to do as he asked,” she said, with a tremor in her voice.

His eyes met hers, solemn, unflinching. “Not about that. That I refused to do.”

She blinked, stunned by the quiet weight of his words and what they could mean. The flicker of pain inside her chest softened.

“He never knew you. Never cared to get to know you. Torrance cared for no one but Torrance,” Ryland said. “You are a beautiful, courageous woman who deserves so much more.”

Her breath caught at his heartfelt words. “How did he react to your refusal?”

Torrance grinned. “He died cursing me since I told him I would do something he failed to do. That I would get you withchild and not just one but many and that I would be a good husband to you.”

Her mouth fell open, and her eyes went wide, he so stunned her.

Ryland took her hand in his. “I do not know how this situation will end. Whether I will have no choice but to remain Torrance and let Ryland die or if I can reclaim my life. If I must remain Torrance to keep peace, then I would be honored for you to remain my wife and share our life together. If I can return to being Ryland, then—” He shook his head. “I intended to give you a choice. Be free or wed me, but since we have coupled, we will wed.”

“You would want me as your wife?” she asked bewildered.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

She spoke truthfully. “I thought you didn’t find me appealing.”

“I found you appealing since the first day I saw you.”

That shocked her. She never even imagined that he thought about her, though she had thought of him and his kindness to her.

“I always wanted to thank you for your kindness the day you were at Clan Glencairn and retrieved my shawl and spoke in defense of me. Though Torrance made sure I suffered for embarrassing him.”

Ryland’s eyes darkened. “What did he do to you?”

“Two days in my bedchamber with nothing but bread and water. Thankfully one of the servants took pity on me and snuck food to me.”

“I am sorry you were punished for what I did, but it wasn’t then that I found you appealing. The day I defended you was the day I fell in love with you.”

Esme’s mouth fell open, no words falling out. Had she heard him correctly? Had he said he had fallen in love with her? How could that be?

“I should explain,” Ryland said when she remained speechless.

Esme nodded.

“I first saw you when I accompanied my da to your clan for him to speak with your father concerning trade. I saw you sitting under a tree hugging a kitten, kissing him on the head, smiling. I never saw someone as beautiful as you. I couldn’t stop thinking about you. You were on my mind day and night. I finally told my father that I wished to wed you and to make an offer of marriage to your father.”

Ryland turned quiet a moment. “I fear my offer spurred Torrance to make an offer of marriage for you since he forever felt in competition with me. I was furious when I found out what he did and that your father accepted his offer over mine. I confronted him and we fought, actually fought over it, and even though I bested him, it didn’t matter. He laughed and said it was done, the agreement signed and that you would be his wife.”

Quiet settled over him once again. “My first thought when I saw Torrance near death was that you would be free to wed again and I didn’t intend to lose you a second time. When he presented his plan to me, it wasn’t only my clan I wanted to protect… it was you.”

Esme stared dumbfounded at him. “My father never told me. No one ever told me. I would have gladly accepted your offer. It has been so difficult thinking you two different men, finding that I enjoyed being with one and fearful of being with the other. To realize I cared for one and not the other.”

“You care for me… for Ryland,” he asked anxiously.

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