Page 50 of The Shadow of a Laird
Maura turned from the depressing view of the weather and smiled at Morag’s kind, tender expression. Morag had been the closest thing to a mother that Maura had had since she lost her own, and she knew she could share all her secrets with her and know they would be safe.
“Nothin’ is wrong, Morag,” Maura said with a smile. “I was just thinkin’ because I have made a big decision.”
The old lady sat down on a worn wooden chair and looked at Maura with anxious anticipation.
“I am leavin’ theGoose an’ Gander,” she said firmly. “I have put away a wee bit every week over the years an’ I have quite a bit saved up now. I want tae start another orphanage, but I want taemake it even better than the one in Duncairn that Laird Forsyth is buildin’. I have found an old house that the owner will sell me at a good price. It will need work done on it, but I think I have enough tae pay a couple o’ men tae help me for a while.”
“The bairns have got tae eat an’ ye will need cleaners an’ suchlike. Ye cannae dae everythin’ yourself.” Morag pointed out anxiously.
“I will probably ask Laird Jamieson for some help” Maura’s tone was determined. “But I am going tae dae this because I have made up my mind, an’ I never change it once I dae that. Ye have known me for years, an’ ye know this is true.”
Morag nodded slowly. “Aye hen, I dae.” Her voice was infinitely sad, and Maura went to embrace her. “I will miss ye somethin’ awful, Maura.”
“An’ I will miss ye too, Morag.” Maura kissed the top of the old woman’s head. “But I will be back tae see ye an’ get some o’ the best shortbread for miles around.”
Morag laughed, but it was a sad sound.
The two women carried on with their activities, and Maura smiled as she scrubbed the floor, remembering Gavin’s efforts. She had to admit that the floors had not been the same since he left, since his muscular arms could wield a scrubbing brush with more power than any three other people combined.
It had been months since they had last seen each other, and the pain of their parting was beginning to fade a little. One of the local lads, the son of a seamstress in Carmalcolm, had shown an interest in her while visiting the tavern for a drink. Maura had not discouraged him, but she was hesitant about pursuing the relationship, although she told herself, she had to move on. Perhaps it was too soon after Gavin, she thought. But when would itnotbe too soon? How long would she have to wait to be ready?
Maura’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the front door opening, and she cursed herself for not locking it after she had gone out to empty the rubbish bins. It was nowhere near time for them to serve food, but someone was obviously very impatient!
“We arenae open yet!” she called. “Come back at noon!”
She heard the sound of heavy footsteps coming towards them, then a thrill went through her as a familiar deep voice called her name. Then a moment later, the tall, imposing figure of Gavin Forsyth filled the doorway.
“Maura,” he said, more quietly this time as he smiled at her. “How are you?”
Maura looked him up and down, drinking in the sight of him like a thirsty person seeing a glass of water. He was just the same, except that his hair had grown longer and was more tousled and more boyishly attractive. She had forgotten how he set her senses afire, and how his presence seemed to fill the whole room. He was still the most beautiful man she had ever seen.
Gavin could not keep his eyes off Maura; as soon as he saw her, he wanted to scoop her up in his arms and carry her away somewhere they could be alone and undisturbed. His rebellious body was telling him that he needed to do more than just look at her.
She was dressed in ordinary working clothes and had a scarf tied around her head and a scrubbing brush in her hand, but she still managed to look magnificent.
“Have ye come tae hear me say congratulations on being a Laird again?” Maura asked, smiling wickedly and hoping to dissipate the tension in the air, even as her heart was hammering a wild tattoo. Why was he there?
He shook his head and stepped forward, then took Maura’s hands and raised them to his lips. “No,” he said tenderly as helooked into her eyes. “I have come to claim the woman I love—if she still wants me.”
For a few seconds, Maura thought she must be dreaming. “But you are betrothed,” she said, puzzled. “Does Elspeth know ye are here?”
“Elspeth and I are no longer together,” Gavin told her. “After we liberated my home, and she saw me building the orphanage, she knew that I was still in love with you. She told me that she would not be happy to be my wife since I was still in love with you. She almost threw me away!”
“You love me?” Maura asked, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“I have loved you almost since the first night we met,” he replied. “Do you not love me back?” He looked anxious, and she hastened to reassure him.
“Oh!” She threw herself into his arms, laughing with joy. “Aye, Gavin—I love ye with my whole heart!”
“Thank god,” Gavin breathed. He looked down into Maura’s blue eyes for a moment, then slowly lowered his lips to hers.
Maura felt the familiar hardness of his body pressed against hers as he pulled her closer, and closer still. The soft caress of his lips became something more insistent, something that thrilled Maura down to her very core. He was finally hers, and her heart beat for him. When they drew apart, he leaned his forehead against hers, breathing heavily.
“I had almost forgotten how good it feels to kiss you,” he whispered. “How good it feels to have you in my arms. Maura, I never want to let you go. You are my everything.”
“An’ you are mine.” She smiled as she looked up into his green eyes, an ocean she would love to drown in. “I thought my heart might break when I knew ye were marryin’ Elspeth, an’ I never dreamed ye would come back tae me.”
“There is just one more thing I have to ask of you,” Gavin said.
