Page 67 of Her Highlander's Darkest Temptation
He hadn’t thought of it, but once Ewan asked the question, he had no uncertainty regarding his answer. “Aye. I wish tae.”
Alex snorted. “Then ye definitely best tell the lass an’ the Council. An’ be prepared tae have a fight on yer hands worthy o’ any battlefield.”
“She’s worth it. An’ I’ve never shirked from a battle.” Donall ground out the words, anger sparking inside him at the idea that anyone might try to take Lydia away from him.
“Aye. But ye’ll be battlin’ Cameron Clan, an’ mayhap the English as well. ‘Tis a precarious position tae be in.” Alex leaned forward. “An’ there’s a good chance ye’ll fight yer Council as well.”
“Aye.” Donall swallowed a large mouthful of his whisky, then set the glass aside. “I’ll fight them with words, an’ with me blade if I have tae.”
Ewan offered a wry grin. “Well, at least ye ken the people o’ Ranald Keep will agree with ye, given the admiration servants and guards alike have shown in more than one occasion fer her kindness, her hard work and help as a healer.”
That was a small consolation - the knowledge that his warriors and guards and people were as protective of his chosen lady as he himself was.
Donall startled when Ewan rose and placed a hand on his shoulder. “If ye love her an’ care fer her so much, then we’ll stand beside ye. Alex an’ I just want ye tae be aware o’ what ye may be facin’ tae keep her. What ye’re riskin’, an’ what ye might stand tae lose.”
His freedom. His lairdship. The support of his Council and his clan. For a moment, fear hammered in his heart. Then Donall pushed it ruthlessly to one side. Even if he had to face anotheryear, or score of years, in the king’s gaol, Lydia was worth the risk. “’Tis a danger I’m willin’ tae face, fer her.”
Alex grinned and leaned over to clap him on the shoulder. “Good man. We’ll help ye.”
“Although…” Ewan smirked at him. “Daes the lass ken all o’ that?”
It abruptly occurred to Donall that he hadn’t told Lydia about the letter he’d written and planned to send to Laird Wycliffe. Nor had he expressed his intentions to Lydia, having only just realized them himself.
Donall cursed, then drained his glass and set it down, before rising to his feet. “If ye’ll excuse me, I’ve business tae attend tae.”
He departed the council chamber with Ewan and Alex’s laughter in his ears, and his mind focused on one thing and one thing alone - talking to Lydia. He had to convey the true depth of his feelings for her.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
“So what will ye be daein’ now?” Lydia blinked owlishly at the question from Maisie as the two of them made their way back to their rooms. “Now that Laird Ranald kens the truth, an’ the Council daes as well…”
“Och, I do not know…” Lydia shook her head. “They know who I am, but in regards tae what I intend to do… I intended to do nothing other than continue studying with Evelyn.”
“Och, but ye’re a lady an’ all…”
“I was.” Lydia shrugged and tugged her shawl a little closer around her shoulders. “But here I am only Lydia, the apprentice healer, and I much prefer that.”
Maisie scoffed. “Och, well, if ye say so… what is that?” The maid pointed to Lydia’s bed.
There on the pillow was a small folded sheet of paper, her name emblazoned across it in a firm, spiky hand Lydia thought she recognized. “It looks like a note.”
Maisie huffed. “I ken that! I want tae ken what it says.”
Lydia nodded, unable to refute what the other lass was saying. She moved across the room to pick up the letter and unfold it.
Lydia,
When ye receive this, go tae the guard tower that we met on a few nights afore, the night the rain came an’ soaked us both. I will meet ye there. There are things I wish tae say tae ye, an’ that seems like the best place.
I await ye.
Donall
“Donall? Nay… Laird Ranald?”
Lydia startled, flushing deeply as she realized that Maisie had been reading around her shoulder. She’d been so absorbed in the letter she hadn’t noticed. “Why would Laird Ranald…?”
Lydia blinked at her, bemused. “You… you can read it? I thought…”
