Page 47 of The Highlander's Captured Bride
“Because,” he smoothed a thumb over her cheek, “Ye’re nay ready for what would come next.”
Knowing it might not help much she still asked, “And what would that be?”
A smile was her first answer before he spoke, “Just to say, it was going to be…more intense, but dinnae ye worry about that now. I feared I was going too far with ye but then, ye dinnae stop me so, I figured…” he kissed her cheek.
She tried to piece together the events that had preceded her lying on her bed with Ethan close to her. “May I ask… how did this come along?”
His lips pressed a little, and his gaze strayed from her briefly, a spasm of emotion crossed his face, and his eyes showed raw yearning, “Mayhap it was because sitting by yer door I realized the difference. Maria was beautiful, aye, blond, willowy and cultured but her spirit was false. She held me on strings like a marionette and lead me along with words. Yer words are true, I can feel yer care for me whenever ye even look at me. I ken ye dinnae want to hurt me whenever ye contradict me but every time ye’ve done it, it was for the best. Ye might not be as cultured or a soothsayer, but ye are loyal, brave and honest. Maria was none of those things.” He laughed. “I ken she would have a conniption if ye even suggested she wear a pair of trousers.”
“And all that just…coalesced into kissing me?” she asked.
“Half of it was.” He snaked an arm around her back and nudged her close. “But the other half is…I may nae have it all together and I may nae ken many things but there is one I dae…I ken I beginning to love ye, Violet.”
His whispered confession in the dark was louder than a blaring horn to her ears. Her shock was so was intense, that it took her a while to fully internalize what he had said. Twice her mouth opened only to shut over the wrong answer and when on the third, her true emotions pushed themselves forward before her doubt.
“And I was kenning I was the only one,” she replied, in a voice as hushed as his had been.
The soft kiss she earned from her confession was sweet and decidedly loving. His body was close, his touch tender and his gaze loaded with affection. “I dinnae want ye to leave.”
“Neither dae I,” she added.
Lying there with him so close, she was able to dream, of things that might never be. One with Ethan, where she had a band of gold around her finger, one where she woke up to snow-capped mountains, and one where she came to a bedroom warmed by a fire and a bed with her husband. But now… her head twisted away and uncertainty began to lace through her as much as the fire he had awakened inside her did.
“We’ll get through this,” he said, nudging her head back with his knuckles.
Wordlessly, she just rested her head on the arm he provided and closed her eyes. “I hope so.”
* * *
Ethan was gone when she woke the next day but that did not stop the smile from spreading across her face. She reached out and felt the cold sheets but still smiled anyway. She slid her hand over his vacant place and reflected on how Ethan had been with her last night.
Perhaps, there was a future with him here. Reluctantly, she slid out of the bed and went to do a quick washing and put on a new dress. With her hair down and a soft peaceful emotion resting on her chest, she went to the great hall and saw Ethan, his father, and his uncle there. The two were talking to themselves while Ethan stabbed at his food with a sullenness that she had not expected after their lovely night.
She mounted the dais and greeted the men but her attention was directed on Ethan. When she did meet his eyes, she saw deep confliction there. Taking a seat, she cocked a curious look at him but then was drawn to the Laird’s conversation.
“—The Laird is nay a part of it,” Mister MacFerson said. “I dinnae ken he would dae anything or let anyone instigate trouble between ye after all the measures Finley put in to have peace between us and them.”
Her lips parted in surprised realization as she shot an understanding look to Ethan. No wonder he was looking put-out, the Laird Hofte had denied any wrongdoing on his part and with him cleared as suspect, they had run into another dead end. She reached out to touch him but quickly drew her back. Her aborted move, however, was caught by the Laird’s brother, who, after a furrowed brow, went back to finishing his conversation. Her father was notably absent.
A trencher of cold roasted meat and roll of warm flaky bread was placed before her; she had the presence of mind to utter a thank you before eating. Ethan finished his meal and left with an agitated stride; although she wanted to go and offer any help she could, she stayed and ate. He was probably headed off to the stables to ride anyway and it was prudent for him to work off his emotions in the best way he knew.
With her eyes focused on the trencher, she tried to piece through this mystery. If it was not the once-rival Clan behind the murder of Finley or the sudden mysterious poisoning of Miss O’Bachnon, who was it? Who could be so insidious that they would kill an innocent man and single mother?
Whoever it is, he is a heartless man, that’s for sure.
The sound of boots on the dais made her look up and spotted her father bending to speak to the Laird. His face was calm, but she knew from all the times she observed him that he was most calm when times and situations were dire. Laird MacFerson nodded curtly and excused himself from his brother while her father was gesturing for her to come along as well.
Satisfied that she had eaten her fill, she stood, while Mister MacFerson was protesting. “Shouldnae I come with ye? I’m happy to assist if ye need me.”
The Laird dropped a hand on his brother’s slimmer shoulder. “Nae this time Callum, we dinnae need ye this time, but thanks for the offer.”
Mister MacFerson’s brow ticked up. “History has shown, brother, that every time ye say that ye daenae need me help, it is a forerunner of me having to come in later and fix whatever mistake ye’ve made. Dae ye want to continue that cycle?”
Laird MacFerson snorted. “Twice I had an issue with collecting me taxes and ye used yer book knowledge to fix it, and now ye bring that up? How long are ye going to ride that horse, Callum? I’ll see ye this evening.”
With a wry shake of his head, Mister MacFerson went back to finishing his meal, and Violet followed her father and the Laird. They took the corridor to his meeting room and upon entering, her first thought was that Ethan should be with them, but as she was thinking it, Ethan came in. His expression was guarded but underneath it, his eyes flashed worry.
He sat, and before anyone spoke, he did. “Where dae we go from here?” His bopping Adam’s apple was visibly showing his uncertainty. “If Clan Hofte isnae behind this…what are we going to dae?”
