Page 59 of When a Highlander Vows
“Och, ye’ve come. Good.”
Sarah smiled. “Come and sit with us, please. I have nay desire to continue talkin’ about pregnancy and restin’. I want to hear everythin’.” Her eyes flashed at Caitlin as she sat down.
Sarah looked flushed and tired, but happy. Her hands folded over her large belly, and she reached out for Caitlin’s hand. Caitlin took it, and she looked at Rachel for encouragement. Her old friend nodded at her, and she sighed.
“What is it ye wish to ken?” she asked Sarah, a little afraid that since Paige was in the room, she would not be able to tell the truth about Lucas.
Why did I nae think this through? Paige will be furious, and she will surely turn Lucas against me.
But in the last few days, Paige had been very kind to her, providing her with some helpful sleeping herbs to quell the nightmares and relax her mind. She’d also been an entertaining companion in their time with Bram and Martin. Caitlin was beginning to rely upon her as a friend, and as her eyes glanced at Paige, Paige smiled.
Perhaps it is safe now to say, even if I dae nae say all.
“It was unexpected, to be sure, and I never thought it would happen, or anythin’ would happen, but—”
“But what?” Sarah asked kindly.
“But Lucas and I—” she paused, looking at Paige again.
Paige sighed. “Aye, I have seen it, Lass. Even if ye dinnae expect it, the man cannae hide his affection. I can see the way he looks at ye. Only this afternoon when ye were on Bram’s arm. Why, he looked as if he wished to tear the man limb from limb.”
Laughing, Sarah looked up at Paige. “Truly? Och, I would have loved to see that.”
Caitlin looked down at her hands, embarrassed. “I had nay notion that a man such as Lucas would ever look at me. Me eyes. I cannae have a real, normal life. I cannae be a proper wife or lady of a castle or clan. So ye must understand that I dinnae ask for this.”
Her eyes pleaded with the others. “But things have happened between us. He has kissed me, and I have kissed him, many times. But each time, he runs away, claimin’ that it is wrong, that he will hurt me if he remains. And I, fool that I am, cannae help but fall every time we are near to each other. I daenae understand it.”
The others were silent as she spoke, and when she was done, a tear fell down her cheek.
“I think I very well may be in love with the man, but I daenae understand why. It can go nowhere, and it is nae as if we ken much about each other. I just—”
“Ye feel somethin’ deep inside.” Caitlin looked up to see Sarah putting a hand over her chest.
“Aye,” Caitlin nodded, wiping away the tear.
“It was that way with Archie too. I understand ye completely. Somethin’ pulls ye toward the other, even if ye daenae quite understand why. And Lucas is a good man for all his glowerin’ and grumblin’. He is only hurt from the past.”
Caitlin asked, “His family?”
“Aye. But that is his secret to tell,” Sarah said. “He is bein’ a fool for now, lettin’ ye go, but I daenae think he will be so for long.”
She smiled. “Listen to me. Let it sit for a time. Sometimes men just need a little bit of time to think over their mistakes, and then they come to see it.”
“Even if it takes a bit longer than we’d like,” Paige agreed, making Sarah chuckle.
“Aye, but there is one more thing to say.”
“What is it?” Caitlin asked.
“That ye must begin to see yerself clearly in yer mind’s eye and in yer heart. Caitlin, ye have so much to offer. Yer kindness, yer goodness, yer selfless spirit. Even if ye claim yer eyesight is poor, ye have found yer way around the Castle well enough. Every servant and every soldier brightens when ye enter the room. Ye could be anything and anyone ye’d like to be; and it doesnae depend upon Lucas’ gettin’ out of his own way. Just remember that.”
Love and gratitude swelled in Caitlin’s heart, and she felt Rachel and Mary’s hands on her shoulders.
“Aye, the lass is right, Miss,” Rachel said. “Ye let the villagers at home tell ye what ye are, but ye are nae just poor eyesight. Ye are special.”
Caitlin looked down, a smile on her face.
“Ye all are far too kind to me. How can I ever repay ye?”
