Page 53 of Claimed By the Heartless Highlander
“Sayin’ ye did a poor job of explainin’ is like sayin’ the ocean is wet, Duncan Wallace, and ye ken it. Ye let me think ye were mournin’ a dead lover, and ye kept yer secrets until they nearly choked both of us, and Lily as well. Ye were suffocatin’ her, and ye ken it as well as I do.”
“Mayhap. Aye.” He nodded slowly.
“There’s nay ‘mayhap’ about it.” Ailis shook her head. “Now I ken why ye acted the way ye did, but can ye truly nae see how yer silence and yer half-truths put both of us in danger? I wouldnae have let meself get lost in thought if I’d kenned what ye were afraid of, and mayhap I’d nae have been caught. And Lily… I’d never have encouraged her to mischief or put the idea of sneakin’ out in her head if I’d kenned there was a true danger beyond the walls!”
“I ken. And I’m sorry for it. I’ve been sorry since afore ye were kidnapped, and I’m twice as sorry now.”
Duncan pushed away from the wall, and for once, the stony mask was gone, and she could see the remorse darkening the blue of his eyes to the color of evening skies.
She wanted to speak, but he continued, the words tumbling from his lips like a torrent. “I’m sorry for that, and for tryin’ to keep ye away from Lily. I feared… I dinnae ken what I feared. That she’d be discovered, that ye’d begin to question her parentage and wonder why I was so attached to her, that word of her might spread beyond the walls when ye were visitin’ yer friends… I dinnae ken. All of it and none of it.”
He took a deep breath. “I’ve lived so long with the fear of her bein’ discovered, of Clan Fraser comin’ and destroyin’ everythin’ around me for the second time… It made me foolish. And it took ye walkin’ away for me to realize how much. I should never have refused to answer yer questions, and I should never have tried to come between ye and Lily.”
Her heart leaped with joy at hearing those words, but it sank again when she realized he’d made no mention of himself.
She swallowed. “Does this mean ye’ll nae try to keep me from her?”
“Nay. And I’ll nae protest if ye take her on outings, to the seashore, or berry-pickin’ or aught else, so long as she’s guarded. I want ye to be a part of her life.”
“And what about me bein’ a part of yers?”
She knew what answer she hoped for, and which one she feared.
She wasn’t expecting Duncan to stride across the study, gently take her face in his hands, and kiss her as if both their lives depended on it.
* * *
He hadn’t intended to kiss her, but the words he wanted to speak wouldn’t come, not in the face of how often he’d managed to make her angry or drive her almost to tears since their first meeting.
He was terrified he’d make her want to leave him again, so he poured all of his feelings into the kiss, trying to convey all the passion and desperation he’d felt as he raced to save her.
She was gasping as he released her, but her eyes were dark, and he remembered a second too late that he’d kissed her like that once before.
He stepped back. “Ailis… I…”
“What?” She stepped back, putting some distance between them, despite the passion he’d clearly felt when she responded to his kiss. “I told ye afore, I willnae have ye tryin’ to distract me with such things.”
“I ken. But I… I was terrified of losin’ ye, and I couldnae help but kiss ye, now that ye’re safe and back here with me.”
“And that’s sweet of ye, but it doesnae answer me question. What sort of place am I to have in yer life?” Her eyes held his, stern and sad despite the blush that stained her cheeks.
“Ailis, ye’re me betrothed. I want ye to wed me when the month is out. Become me wife and Lily’s maither.”
“And? Ye’ve asked me that afore. But I’ve said afore, and I’ll say again, Duncan… I dinnae want a marriage of convenience. I willnae be a wife in name only, and a stranger or a permanent guest whenever ye’re nae wantin’ yer marital rights or a wife to show off.”
Her spine straightened as she lifted her chin. “If I’m to be married, it will be a proper marriage. One with a lovin’ husband who wants me in his life.”
Her eyes glistened with tears, but her expression was determined. “I ken we still dinnae ken each other well just yet. I’m only askin’ that ye give me till the end of the month, and truly try to get to ken me, and let me ken ye. And if after that ye still cannae care for me as a?—”
“Too late.” The words escaped his lips, a low growl that he couldn’t stop and had no desire to restrain.
Ailis froze. “I… what…”
“Ye’re too late.” He stepped closer until her back was pressed against the wall. “Ye’re bargainin’ for an answer I already ken, and for a heart that’s already given away.”
She lowered her head, but he caught her chin and brought her eyes up to meet his. “I’ve been fallin’ in love with ye since we first met, for all me efforts to avoid that very thing. Even before that, even through yer letters. Afore I kenned what was happenin’, ye were a part of me heart, and I was feelin’ things I’d sworn I’d live the rest of me days without. Ye’ve chastised me well for me lies, and ye can add to them the lie that I wasnae interested in more than a marriage alliance.”
He was leaning in to kiss her, to show her just how much he wanted her, including her love, when a sharp knock on the door startled him.
