Page 60 of Her Highland Prophecy
“Aye, me too, lass,” he said.
They sat in silence under the shade of the large tree by the loch, both of them lost in their own thoughts. Together but miles apart, the breach between them seemed almost impossible to surmount.
21
He watched with a grimace from high within the Castle as Gordain and his Sassenach left the Castle. The fool had managed to get her away and safe, but they would have to come back sometime.
Ever since he had returned with the woman the previous week, things had been going downhill. Everything had been perfect before then! He had managed to successfully sabotage every single offer for betrothal that the son of the Laird had had, leaving the Clan in dire straits and the Lairdship ripe for the picking.
For him to pick, of course. Once he proved to the rest of the Clan that the Laird was untrustworthy and that he could not help sustain them, it would be easy enough to swoop in and save the day. He had been preparing years for this very moment.
The Laird was so soft that he was practically begging for someone to challenge him for his title.
And then that oaf had to go and ruin anything by bringing a wealthy Sassenach wench as his betrothed.
He shook his head in disbelief. Gordain was so hotheaded and impetuous that he had not expected him to make such a smart move, especially after he had expressed his discontent with his previous betrothals. What was so different about that woman that made him want to settle down?
Although, he had to admit that once he wrestled the Lairdship from the oaf and his father, it would be his pleasure to marry her whether she wanted it or not. There was something about her that was so unbelievably enticing.
But first, he had to get Gordain out of the picture. He had made so many mistakes with that. Everything would have been so much simpler if he hadn’t missed with the arrow.
He had hoped that the letter he left in his room in the middle of the night would be enough to deter the oaf, but it seemed to make him even more determined. Although, he still found it amusing that he had gone to old man Tamas for help. As if the grizzled old wood stump would be able to do anything against him.
Poisoning the Sassenach was unfortunate, but he needed to scare them somehow. Of course, it was a non-lethal poison and a just large enough dose to make her sick without doing any serious harm. He had hoped that would force them to retreat, but after seeing them leave on horseback with nothing but a small package, he did not think she would be going away anytime soon.
Why did the Sassenach wench have to ruin everything again?
He had thought that he could get control without seriously harming everyone before she arrived. Now, he did not think that getting rid of Gordain would be enough.
He would have to eliminate both of them.
After that it would be simple enough to take control of the Clan. No one would question it.
Decision made, he reached for a sheet of parchment. He would have to get a message out to one of the assassins he knew. They would take care of his little problem for him if they were offered enough gold.
He would be Laird of the Sutherford Clan and nothing and no one would stop him.
22
The sun shone brightly over Diana and Gordain as they lay back against the grass by their small, hidden loch. Beautiful as it was, Gordain couldn’t seem to settle. He had agreed with Diana a moment ago when she had wanted to stop, but deep down he just wanted to keep her with him, the consequences be damned.
But he knew that he couldn’t, wouldn’t do that for her. He could see how difficult it was for her to be away from her people and her time, and he refused to be the one to cause her such sadness. Maybe they could find a middle ground though—
“What if I told ye that I didnae care?” he said abruptly, shattering the silence that had fallen. He leaned up on his elbow, his body facing hers.
“What do you mean?” she asked, her head turning slightly toward him.
“I want to be with ye, Diana,” he said, hoping she could hear the truth of it in his voice. “I dinnae care if we have one hour or a hundred years together. If this is all the time that we have, then we shouldnae waste it.”
Her eyes closed again, her face scrunching into something like pain.
“I want to be with you too, Gordain,” she said, and though he had already known in a way, hearing the words sent a thrill through him. “But it’s too painful. I don’t know if I can do this and then just leave next week. It wouldn’t be fair to do that to you.”
Her beautiful green eyes pleaded with him to understand. He reached out and cupped her cheek.
“Dinna fash about me, my Princess. This is my choice and I want to be with ye even if ye had to leave on the morrow. Would ye deny me and yerself whatever time we have to be together?”
“Gordain—” she sighed and he could hear the hesitation there.
