Page 153 of Highlanders for the Holidays
She thought back to the day she’d made her wish at the old well. She had not wished for anything for herself that day, only for her babe. A warm, safe home, with parents who would cherish her, provide for her.
Now, less than a week later, she was sitting beside Connor MacCallen, the chief of their clan, and he was asking for her hand.Hers.The thief’s daughter.
“Are ye sure ’tis nae pity that makes ye want me?”
He looked aghast with that idea. “Nae, I feel no pity for ye, lass, only admiration.”
One look in his eyes was all she needed. He was not telling her these things just to get under her skirt. These weren’t empty, false words, but words from his heart. Until that moment, she hadn’t allowed herself to think him anything more than her chief. A handsome and kind man, to be certain. But a husband?
Again, her thoughts turned back to the wish. Was it possible that whoever ’twas who made wishes come true had looked deep into her heart and seen the truth? Aye, she wanted a family for Nola, but she also wanted more that she daren’t voice or a give moment’s thought to; she wanted a husband. Someone who would be kind to her, a man she could be proud of, someone who would protect her. Connor would be and do all those things, and more. In her heart of hearts, she knew he’d cherish her as well.
Onnleigh pushed aside all the doubts, the worries, the fear, and let her heart fly freely for the first time in an age.
“Aye, Connor MacCallen. I shall marry ye.”
* * *
He could not have been morehappy were he just made King of Scotia. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he picked her up and twirled her about the room. “Ye’ve made me a verra happy man, Onnleigh! A verra happy man!”
’Twas a dream come true for OnnleighingenGrueber as well.
“I’ll have the banns posted on the morrow, if that be alright with ye? We can marry in six weeks?” he said, his voice full of hope, his smile so big and bright there was no need for candles.
“Aye, ye can post them. And aye, I’ll marry ye in six weeks,” she said, allowing her heart to fill with more joy and happiness than she’d ever felt.
In six weeks they would marry, become a family. With Connor already claiming Nola as his own, Onnleigh would be allowed to call herself mother, and none would be the wiser nor question it.
In six weeks, they would begin a life together, as husband and wife.
From her cradle, Nola gurgled, bringing Onnleigh back to reality.
Nola. How do I tell him about Nola?
She did not want to begin a marriage with such a secret looming over her head. Besides, come the wedding night, he would most assuredly discover her missing maidenhead. A part of her wanted to wait before telling him, for fear he’d change his mind. But the honest part of her knew that to keep such a secret would be the same as lying. She could only pray that he would neither change his mind nor become so enraged he’d ask her to leave.
“Connor, I need to tell ye somethin’, somethin’ verra important,” she said as she broke their embrace and stepped away.
Cocking his head slightly, he looked at her with curiosity. “What is it?”
It took a few deep breaths and twisting of her fingers to muster the courage to spit it all out. She told him everything, from the first day Darwud had appeared on her doorstep, to the last day she had seen him. Out of fear and humiliation, she left out a few significant pieces of information—such as Darwud’s identity and that he had slapped her.
To his credit, Connor listened thoughtfully as she paced the floor, purging the secret, or as much of it as she could. Her voice trembled at times, with anger, and grew soft when she felt the surge of humiliation washing over her again. “I be nae a whore,” she told him. “‘But ’twas the first time in an age anyone had shown me a kindness or given me a sweet word.”
When she was finished, she turned to face him, looking directly into his eyes, certain she would find anger or resentment in them. Instead, she found only acceptance.
“Who is he?” he asked, his calm voice belying his anger.
Twisting her fingers together, she asked, “Is nae tellin’ ye the same as lyin’?”
He let loose a deep, frustrated breath. “Why do ye nae want me to know?”
“I worry that if he finds out, he’ll try to take her from me,” she answered in a low, worried voice. “I tried once to give her away, but could nae do it. I love her too much, Connor. I ken now that I cannae live without her.”
He came to her then and wrapped his arms around her protectively. “He will never take our daughter from us. I do nae care who sired her, she still be mine.Ours.” He kissed the top of her head as she melted into him.
“Ye still want me?” she asked in disbelief.
Gently, he pushed her away to look into her eyes. “Of course I still want ye as me wife. What happened in the past does nae change that.”
