Page 60 of Ruining a Highland Healer
She turned then, pain etched into every line of her face. “What hurts the most is that me own faither sold me. He… hesoldme, Torrin. He didnae simply arrange a marriage fer me with a laird he knows. He would have given me tae anyone who would pay the price, nay matter how terrible a man he was. I was lucky itwas ye, but … but it could have easily been someone else. It could have been Laird Keith or even someone worse than him. Me faither wouldnae have cared. He would have handed me off tae anyone an’ I wouldnae have any choice but tae dae as I was told.”
Torrin took a step closer, though he still kept his distance from her. He still remembered how she had withdrawn from him that morning, pulling back when he tried to come closer.
“Ye have a choice now,” Torrin pointed out. “I told ye ye would have a choice on the matter an’ that hasnae changed. Even after agreein’ tae marry me, ye’re free tae change yer mind. I willnae force ye tae wed me if this isnae what ye want.”
Torrin had given it plenty of thought. He didn’t want a reluctant wife; he didn’t want a wife who would avoid him or wish she had never married him. If he was going to be with Valora for the rest of his life, then he wanted her to be a real part of that marriage—just as willing as he was to make it work.
For a long time, Valora was silent, as though she was contemplating whether or not he was telling her the truth. Then, she spoke softly.
“It isnae ye who betrayed me,” she said. “Ye… ye did what ye thought was right, given the situation. But me faither… I ken I shouldnae have expected anythin’ different from the man who only cares fer his personal benefit, but I never thought he would be this cruel. Perhaps it was foolish o’ me tae expect this from him, but?—”
“It wasnae foolish,” said Torrin, shaking his head. “It isnae foolish tae think yer faither wants what is best fer ye.”
Valora didn’t speak; she only turned to face the sea again, watching the violent swell of the waves. Torrin couldn’t imagine the pain she felt; he couldn’t imagine having a father so uncaring, so cruel. He carried his own pain after losing his father—an endless void, one that he could never fill. But that, as much as it pained him, was nothing compared to the knowledge that Valora had been used and discarded, taken advantage of by her own father without any regard as to her fate.
“If ye wish, I’ll leave ye alone,” Torrin offered quietly. “An’ if ye wish, I’ll arrange fer ye tae return home, or any place ye want.”
It took a few moments for Valora to respond, but in the end, she shook her head. “I dinnae wish tae leave,” she said firmly, finally turning to face him once more. “I wish ye hadnae lied tae me, but it’s me faither who sold me off. All o’ this, it’s all his fault. I cannae blame ye fer tryin’ tae save me from Laird Keith. I can only thank ye fer it.”
The last thing Torrin had expected was to be thanked for what he had done. His relief, though, was palpable as Valora moved closer, taking his hand in hers and cradling his cheek with the other. For a moment, they only stared at each other in silence, Torrin gazing into those eyes as blue as the sea below them. Then, he gathered all his courage and kissed her, his heart threatening to burst out of his chest when instead of pulling back, she leaned into the kiss.
“I’m sorry,” he told her when they pulled apart. “I’m sorry I didnae tell ye the truth.”
“It’s alright,” said Valora with a small smile. “It’s alright, Torrin. I understand. But please make sure it never happens again.”
And for that one moment, no matter how brief it was, the weight of the world was lifted off his shoulders.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
The path to the healer’s cottage snaked down from the eastern wing of Halberry Castle, adorned with spring moss. Wildflowers bloomed bright against the darker brush, and a chill breeze blew from the north, carrying with it the scent of pine. A dim afternoon sun lit the way for Valora and Daisy as they walked arm in arm, their skirts brushing against the dewy grass.
“I told ye he was watchin’ ye,” Valora said, grinning mischievously, her cheeks pink with the effort of holding back laughter.
Daisy raised a brow, feigning innocence. “Watchin’ me? He nearly fell right intae a tree tryin’ tae look anywhere else!”
Valora laughed, loud and unbridled. “That’s how ye ken he likes ye. They never look directly when they mean it. They steal glances. They never admit the truth.”
“I’ve nay time fer that,” said Daisy, but her lips curled into a small smile as she said it. She gave Valora’s arm a gentle squeeze. “Besides, what daes it matter? I’ll be forced tae wed someone fer an alliance, like every other noble lass. He’s handsome, but he’s only a merchant.”
Valora couldn’t claim that wasn’t true. Just like her, Daisy would be marrying someone with power, influence; someone who was or would one day become a laird. She could only hope Daisy wouldn’t have the same fate as her—sold off to the highest bidder without any regard to her safety or future.
But it will be a blessin’ if she finds a man as kind as Torrin.
It hadn’t taken Valora long to forgive him. It was not he who had hurt her irreparably, but rather her father, after all. Forgiving Torrin was not hard; forgiving her father was impossible.
“But heishandsome,” Daisy added with a giggle and Valora couldn’t help but join her, the two of them laughing as they made their way down the path.
“Ach, but looks fade,” Valora pointed out. “Whoever ye wed should also be a man o’ integrity.”
For a few moments, they looked at each other in silence, Daisy contemplating Valora’s words. Then, with a chuckle, Valora continued, “But heisvery handsome.”
They were both still laughing as they reached the healer’s cottage. Smoke rose steadily from its chimney, and the scent of dried thyme and rosemary greeted them before they’d even knocked.
Ina opened the door, her head popping out to peer at them. “If it isnae urgent, I’m afraid I have too much work right the now.”
Valora paused, looking into the cottage through the window out front, though the glare of the morning light made it difficult to see much. “How can we help?”
Ina hesitated for a moment. “Ach, I dinnae wish tae burden ye,” she said. “I’m sure ye have other things tae dae.”
