Page 126 of Sighs of the Highland Wind
She turned around suddenly as she was distracted by the sight of a magnificent heron which landed on a low-hanging tree branch and stood looking around himself as if waiting for everyone to admire his beauty.
And all the time Tearlach watched her, admiring her profile, her shining blonde hair, the curve of her breasts, everything that made her who she was - the woman he loved. Could he tell her now? Dare he?
“Norah?” He asked. His voice was trembling.
She turned to him, smiling. “Yes, Tearlach?”
“Dae ye know how much I love you - how much I have always loved you?” He left the words hanging in the air, unable to say any more.
“I thought you did when we were younger,” she replied, “but lately I thought you had changed your mind.”
“Never, never, never, my darlin’,” he told her, raising a hand to cup her cheek. “I should never have left you. I was young an’ daft, but ye know that, an’ I am full o’ regret at bein’ so stubborn’ an stupid. I have loved you since the first time I saw you in the carriage, since the first day ye came to the forge.
Every minute I was away I never stopped thinkin’ about ye. I always thought I could dae everythin’ by myself, my own way, an’ I would never listen to anyone else. My Da told me not to goaway an’ fight but I thought I knew best. I always did, but I was wrong. I’m sorry.”
Norah looked at his dejected face for a moment, then smiled. “There is no need to be sorry, Tearlach. You said sorry already and you had no need to. I never want to hear that word dropping from your lips again. Promise me.”
“I promise,” he replied. Looking into her eyes, he began to hope, and a moment later she said the words that put him out of his misery for good.
“I love you, Tearlach,” she whispered. Her eyes were shining with happy tears. “And I have for a very long time. I would do anything for you.”
“Anything?” he asked nervously. He felt as though he was standing on the edge of a precipice as he waited for her answer.
“Anything,” Norah confirmed, laughing softly.
“Then - Norah -” he stopped, unable to get the words out of his mouth, but suddenly they burst out all at once. “Will ye marry me? I know I am not the best man in the world but I will do everythin’ I can to make ye happy.”
Norah began to laugh, and for a moment he thought she was going to refuse him, perhaps thinking that his proposal was ridiculous, but then she kissed him.
It began gently, but after a few seconds it became something else as Tearlach gently eased Norah backwards onto the grass. He felt her breathing quicken, heard her moan of desire, and his body hardened in response. He made a low growling noise in his throat and thrust his tongue inside Norah’s mouth, tasting her sweetness as she responded eagerly.
Norah was in heaven. They had kissed before, of course, but this was like nothing else she had ever experienced with Tearlach. Now that she was committed to him, now that she was sure he was hers, and hers alone, she could allow him as much freedom as he wanted. She felt his hands cup her breast and tease out her nipple with his thumb, before moving to her backside and brushing over the mound of her sex.
She had never felt anything like it. Suddenly she felt wicked, as if some lustful spirit had invaded her body. She had always been taught that such desires were bad, but she no longer believed that, and even if they were, she gloried in her sinfulness. How could something that felt as blissful as this possibly be wrong?
Norah could have lain on the grass forever with Tearlach’s thigh draped over her, pinning her down, his hands and mouth giving her more pleasure than she had ever thought possible.
When they drew apart a few moments later, Tearlach realized that Norah still had not answered his question. “Norah.” He heard his voice crack as he said her name. “Ye havenae answered me. Will you marry me?”
An imp of mischief inside her wanted to make him wait, but as she looked up into his apple green eyes and saw how anxious he was Norah found that she could not. It would have been too cruel.
“Of course I will marry you, Tearlach,” she replied. “In fact, if you had not asked me, I would have asked you.”
“Really?” He was astounded.
“Yes, really,” she assured him. “You escaped from me once, Tearlach McLachlan, but I am never going to let you do it again!”
Tearlach held out his hands, pressing his wrists together.
Norah looked at him, puzzled. “What does this mean?” she asked, frowning.
“Well, if I am your captive,” he replied, eyes twinkling, “where are my chains?”
21
Norah had written her father a long letter telling him what her circumstances were, and what had happened in her life since the last time she had seen him. She had omitted to tell him where she was living, however, since she did not trust him to keep her secret. She had not expected to receive an answer, but an answer had arrived a few days later in the shape of her father himself.
The morning of his arrival was two days before the wedding, and now Liam Brown was standing uncomfortably before his daughter, looking anywhere but in her eyes.
