Page 80 of Highlander's Captive Bride
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Bellamy felt rather swept away by the rapidity of events, while at the same time knowing he had never been happier. A warmth had settled in his chest that he could not recall ever experiencing before, not even as a child. It was a different sort of happiness from that carefree, youthful exuberance, more fulfilling, more satisfying, and it had a feeling of permanence that he found he liked very much.
It had banished the loneliness that had dwelled in his heart since losing first his mother, then his father, and then, most tragically, his beloved Bridie.
And it was all down to the small woman with the beautiful face, kind eyes, and quick wit sitting next to him at the Laird’s table in his very own dining hall. He was trying to be a good host to her brother, who was a very good fellow, as it turned out, yet his eyes and mind kept wandering back to Daisy.
She’s goin’ to marry me! She’s goin’ to be me wife!
The words kept going round and round in his mind like a celebratory chant and would not stop. He felt on top of the world!
He came out of his reverie slightly to hear Dominic saying, “I have some good news for ye, Sister.”
Bellamy could guess what it was by the way the man’s eyes were dancing, and unusually, he felt joy for him.
“Aye, me and Violet, we have a bairn on the way,” Dominic said.
To Bellamy’s amusement, Daisy let out a little scream of joy and jumped up to run around the table. She embraced her brother warmly.
“Och, that’s wonderful news, indeed!” she cried, her face glowing. “I’m to be an auntie again!”
“Aye. I wish Faither was here to see it,” Dominic said, and Bellamy saw his eyes turn a little dark above the scar that marred one of his cheeks.
“I ken, Braither. Dakota and Delilah said exactly the same thing when they were expecting, d’ye remember? ’Tis natural to feel that way. But I like to think both Maither and Faither are looking down on us all and ken what’s going on. They must be so proud of ye, Dominic,” she told him.
“Thank ye, Daisy. I hope that’s true.”
“I hope ’tis true also,” Bellamy chimed in, warmed by the little reunion between siblings. “I often think of me maither and faither, especially me faither when I’m in a tight spot. But I miss me sister the most. Bridie was always full of kind words and encouragement for everyone.”
“Have ye just one sister, Bellamy?” Dominic asked.
“Aye, she passed a few years ago.”
Bellamy did not want to elaborate just then, but he caught the tender glance Daisy shot him when she came to sit back down beside him again. She patted his hand affectionately.
“Well, I have three, and I can tell ye, I dinnae ken whether it’s a curse or a blessing at times,” Dominic said, his eyes twinkling at his sister, who slapped his arm in mock reprimand. “It took me ages to get rid of this one. I thought she’d never leave. After me accident—” He gestured to his burns. “—she made me her wee project. She was determined to heal me. All she did was drive me mad. It was a bloody nightmare. And wait ’til ye meet the other two, wheesht!” He shook his head at Bellamy, grinning widely before taking a deep draught of his ale.
“Och, I think ye’re lucky if the other two are anything like Daisy,” Bellamy said, looking at her, his heart overflowing with love. He laughed to see her blushing.
“Shush,” she chided him with a smile. “Ye’ll give me a big head.”
But he went on. “She’s helped me so much, finding out what was wrong with me daughter and staying to help me people during the recent attack. We couldnae have gotten through it all without her.”
“Aye, that was a nasty business with yer wee lassie. ’Tis a good thing ye got the bastard that did it, in the end,” Dominic said.
“Well, the business isnae concluded,” Bellamy explained. “For though it was Lachlan Pearson who gave the order to poison Elodie, it was his sister, me ward Nadia, who gave it to her. She’s in the dungeons now. I still havenae decided what to do with her,” he admitted.
Dominic helped himself to some slices of beef from a nearby platter. “She’s the one ye saved when ye thought ye wiped out the McGowans, is that right?” he asked, looking at Bellamy with interest.
“What will ye do with her?” Daisy put in. “I wish I could feel sorry for her, but I cannae, not after what she did.”
Bellamy scratched his head. “I’m nae sure, to tell ye the truth. What d’ye think, Dominic?”
Dominic chewed on a mouthful of beef before answering. “Well, if it was me, I ken I couldnae bring meself to kill such a young lassie, though what she did was wicked. Ye could send her to a nunnery, I suppose. Or banish her from yer lands,” he suggested.
Bellamy nodded. “Aye, ye’re right. I couldnae kill her, but banishing her could be the answer. Thank ye, I’ll think on that,” he said, sincerely glad to have another laird’s opinion on the matter.
“So, when is the wee bairn due?” Daisy asked—keen to get back to happier subjects, Bellamy thought.
