Page 63 of The Highlander's Illicit Bride
Struan grinned wryly. “It would be preferable. It’d allow me tae keep her safe,” he said. “But I promised her that when we gotthrough all this, the decision was hers tae make. I will nae force her intae a life she daesnae want, like her faither seeks tae.”
As he spoke the words, a stitch passed through his heart that made him grimace. The thought of a life without Isolde by his side was intolerable. The merest contemplation of it hurt.
“Ye ken eventually, those two schemin’ vipers will find a way tae play nice together and come fer her, dinnae ye?” Ewan asked, echoing his earlier thoughts.
Struan nodded. “Aye. I’ve already thought of that,” he said. “’Tis why I need the Council tae announce their decision about what our course of action should be according tae them.”
Ewan’s face clouded over, and he lowered his gaze to the sand beneath his boots. Struan studied him for a moment, curious. Ewan was not a man to give himself over to fear or worry and yet, as he sat there staring at the ground, he seemed consumed by both. When the silence between them lingered, Struan cleared his throat.
“What is it then?” Struan finally asked.
“Truth?”
“Aye, me friend. Always.”
“I worry about a couple of things.”
Struan looked at him expectantly, and Ewan grimaced. “First, that we will nae be able tae hold our ground against two clans. When Murdoch and Dougal finally figure out they’re better together than apart, they’ll work together and come fer us. And they’ll come fer Isolde.”
“Is there a question in there?” Struan asked with a grin.
Ewan’s expression remained sober. “Is she worth it? Is she worth havin’ two clans—two armies—comin’ fer us?”
Struan pursed his lips. “They’re goin’ tae come anyway. If we give Isolde back tae them, they’ll marry her tae Dougal, seal their pact, and march on Achnacarry anyway. They are both our enemies. And I think deep down, ye ken that already,” he said solemnly. “And tae answer yer other question… aye. She’s worth it.”
“Ye seem strangely unworried at the idea that we’ll have two armies breathin’ down our bleedin’ necks,” Ewan said. “Ye seem almost confident we can beat them.”
“Isolde gives me the confidence tae believe we can,” he replied simply. “She makes me feel like I can dae anything and that nay matter what, everythin’ will be all right.”
Ewan’s lips quirked ruefully. “Hope is a fine thing. But hope didnae ever win a battle. Hope cannae help us once the arrows start flyin’ and the steel starts singin’. I just… I hope ye ken what ye’re daein’ and what ye’re gettin’ us intae.”
“I’m nae gettin’ us intae anythin’,” Struan said. “Either way, Murdoch and Dougal will come fer us. ‘Tis only a matter of when.”
“I still think keepin’ Murdoch’s daughter and Dougal’s soon-tae-be bride in Achnacarry is gettin’ us intae somethin’,” he said with a laugh.
“They’ve got nay idea she’s here. I told ye that before,” Struan said. “We didnae escape together and they’ve nae reason taesuspect she’s with me. ‘Tis why Murdoch sent his offer tae make a swap fer Finlay.”
“And yet, they always seem tae be better informed than we ken and ken things they shouldnae have nay way of kennin’.”
Struan shrugged. “I can promise ye they dinnae ken she’s here. And I’m nae gettin’ us intae anythin’ that wasnae already happenin’,” he said. “All I’ve done is speed up the time ‘tis goin’ tae take them tae get here.”
Ewan got to his feet and clapped Struan on the shoulder. “Well, most of all, I hope ye’re right about her bein’ worth it.”
His best friend walked out of the practice yard without another word, leaving Struan there to ponder his words. It was true that the fight was coming no matter what. There was nothing he could do to stop it. Dougal had coveted his lands for far too long and Murdoch had hated his family and had wanted to destroy them for even longer than that.
Struan got to his feet and tossed the rag onto the table then grabbed his shirt. As he walked out of the practice yard, Ewan’s voice continued to echo around his mind, asking him again and again whether she would come to hate him for killing her father. He wanted to believe the answer was no. But as he stalked along the corridors, heading for his chamber, Struan had to admit—if only to himself—that he wasn’t entirely certain she wouldn’t.
Although he wanted to believe it was remote, if he was being honest, there was a chance Isolde could very well come to resent him for killing her father.
CHAPTER 27
After spending the day with Mairi, Isolde felt refreshed and invigorated. But she also felt a sharp pain in her heart. She had come to like Mairi enormously. She’d never had a friend her own age or somebody whose merest presence lifted her heart. She’d found those things in Mairi and the thought of walking away filled her with a sense of grief so powerful, it stole the breath from her lungs.
It only compounded the grief and loss that racked her heart and soul at the thought of leaving Struan as well. She couldn’t breathe and felt like she was teetering on the edge of a chasm of panic and grief.
The Camerons had shown her nothing but kindness and acceptance. But leaving was the right thing to do. It was the only thing she could do if she wanted to keep Struan, Mairi, and their loved ones safe. She knew Struan was certain her father would be coming to Achnacarry whether she was there or not. And perhaps he was right. But he would have less of a reason to unleash his fury if she was not there—and did not marry Struan.
If I married him without me faither’s consent, his rage would be unimaginable.
