Page 54 of The Highlander's Twisted Deal
Duncan’s voice sounded amused. The handle clicked, and the door squeaked open. Callum groaned, closing his eyes. He heard his cousin pad across the floor, and he felt the bed dip as he rolled onto it beside him.
Callum was lying with his head towards the foot of the bed, his stockinged feet propped up on the pillows. Duncan casually kicked off his boots and mirrored his position, folding his hands across his stomach.
“So,” Duncan said comfortably after a moment or two had elapsed, “are ye going to tell me what’s going on or nae?”
Another few minutes of silence ticked by between them. Callum considered lying, but really, it seemed like too much effort. He watched the spider work high above his head, entrapping a small fly and winding it into a neat little cobweb parcel, and then retreating to the center of its web, waiting.
Must be able to see everything up there.I have been a great, great fool, little spider. If ye kenned how I’d messed it all up, ye would be shocked. Isnae love supposed to be the simplest, most natural thing in the world? Doesnae seem like it to me. It’s like trying to cross a spiked pit on the haft of a spear. Dangerous, and far too easy to lose yer balance.
“The betrothal is over between me and Ava,” he said, at last.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Duncan glance sharply at him.
“This is sudden,” Duncan said carefully. “Can I assume that this happened between ye leaving the feasting hall looking as if ye were on a mission and then returning a while later and drinking everything in yer reach?”
Callum swallowed hard. “Aye, we agreed on it then.”
“Agreed? It sounds to me like ye just told her what was going to happen. Are ye sure it was a discussion? Are ye sure yeagreed?”
“I gave her the money we’d agreed upon.”
There was a silence, and then Duncan propped himself up on his elbow. “Let me be clear,” he began. “Ye told her, a lass who is clearly falling in love with ye, that it was over between ye and then shoved a bag of money at her and ran away?”
“Aye,” Callum said, in a small voice. “That’s about the long and short of it.”
“GoodGodman, what were ye thinking? Of course, she’s angry! Of course, she’s upset! Ye shouldnae have done that.”
Callum rolled onto his side. “What was I meant to do? I cannae marry her.”
“Why nae?”
“Ye ken why nae.”
“Aye, and aside from a mad faither, I havenae heard a good reason why ye shouldnae marry her. Why are ye doing this to yerself, Callum?”
Callum shook his head. “Ye dinnae understand.”
“Does she nae deserve the truth?”
“It’s nae about the truth. Of course, she deserves the truth. She deserves everything, but… but I’m afraid, Duncan. I’m afraid she’ll make believe that it doesnae matter, that so long as we’re together, it’ll be fine, and then… and then something bad will happen.”
“Think of how ye feel right now, Callum,” Duncan said softly. “Think about the hollow feeling in yer chest, the way yer heart aches, the way ye think of nothing but her. Do ye really think she’ll stay after this? Do ye think ye will ever see her again?”
“She’s free to go wherever she likes.”
“Aye, and ye will feel this way for the rest of yer life. Do ye nae understand? Something bad has already happened. Ye have wasted yer life, so far, terrified to get close to people in case ye hurt them. Callum, ye are the kindest man I have ever kenned, the finest laird our clan has ever seen. When will ye stop punishing yerself for a sin that isnae yers?”
Callum pulled himself upright, sitting on the edge of the bed and leaning forward, breathing deeply until the powerful feeling of nausea ebbed away. “I must let her go,” he rasped. “I have to.”
Duncan shuffled forward, placing a hand on his cousin’s shoulder. “Ye must tell her the truth,” he said firmly. “She deserves it. Tell her the truth, tell her how ye feel, and see how it goes from there. If she chooses nae to take the risk of being with ye, then ye have yer answer. If ye dinnae speak to her, lad, ye will spend the rest of yer life thinkingwhat if.”
Callum closed his eyes, leaning forward so that his forehead almost touched his knees. “Ye are right,” he mumbled. “Bring me me clothes, Duncan, please. I need to get dressed.”
“Aye, I will.” Duncan’s voice sounded light with relief. “Da’s ill today, and Ma is off visiting some locals whose houses were damaged in the storm, so we’ll have time to plan it out. By the way, did ye ken there’s a massive spider above yer bed?”
“Aye, I ken. Leave it be. Oh, and bring me a bucket, will ye? I think I’m going to be sick.”
Callum’s newfound courage faltered as he strode down the hallway. Ava’s door was at the end of the corridor, and her mother and friend’s room was just a little way before it. He knocked on Ava’s door, but there was no answer. Glancing down the hallway to where Duncan loitered at the end, he lifted his eyebrows.
