Page 99 of Highland Renegade
Ian stared at Emily, not sure he’d heard her correctly. “Ye want to go back to London?”
“I… Yes. That would be best for both of us.”
He felt like his horse had kicked his gut with a well-shod hoof. He had come up here to convince Emily that, now more than ever, they should marry. “I doona understand, lass. If we marry, we both benefit. The MacGregors get their land back and ye become a MacGregor.”
She stared at him for so long that he began to wonder if she’d taken leave of her senses. “Do ye nae see ’tis practical?”
The question seemed to revive her. “Yes, it is practical. Yes, it would benefit both of us. You would be spared the expense of time and money to reclaim your lands. I would have a place to live—”
“So there ye are.” Ian spread his hands. “I will see to a special license then.”
“No.”
He frowned. “Why nae? We suit. Ye canna deny we do well under the sheets—”
“Lust is not love!” Her hand clamped over her mouth and she looked horror-stricken. “Never mind I said that. I meant—”
“Ye meant…” Understanding washed over him like a breaking wave that he hadn’t seen coming. “Ye doona think I care for ye?”
She hesitated. “I suppose you do care. You did save my life.”
He blinked, not sure what she meant. “Of course, I saved yer life—”
“Just like you would anyone’s.”
“Not just anyone’s. Do ye have any idea of how I felt when I came home and found the note ye thought was from me? Do ye ken what came over me when I thought ye were in danger? And worse, when I found ye in the bog, half sucked under? I…I…doona ken what I would have done if ye had been…if I hadna gotten there in time…”
A second invisible wave crashed over him, making him wonder if he’d scattered some of his wits somewhere. If he had lost Emily that night… If whoever was trying to murder her had succeeded… Nothing else would matter. Becoming un-proscribed, having their name and even their lands restored…none of that would matter if Emily wasn’t with him.
“I love ye, lass. I doona want ye to leave me.”
She stared at him. “You…loveme?”
“Aye. I guess I just now realized it.” He held out his arms. “Will ye stay?”
For an answer, she leaped into his embrace and he covered her mouth with his, angling his head to deepen their kiss so she would know just how much. A soft moan came from her throat just as someone pounded on the door.
“Go away!” he nearly shouted.
The knock sounded again, louder this time.
“I do not think whoever is there is going to listen,” Emily said as she leaned back.
Ian growled and stomped to the door, throwing it open to reveal Fiona.
“Sorry to interrupt,” she said. “but Devon and I would like a word with ye and Emily. In my chamber, if ye please.”
“Yer chamber? Now?”
“Aye, now.” she replied. “What Devon has to say is for yer ears only.”
Devon was standing by the window in Fiona’s chamber, looking out over the back gardens. He turned as they entered and Ian hoped—prayed—that his brother wasn’t going to offer a confession. He steeled himself for the possibility and felt Emily’s warm hand on his arm. She shook her head slightly. He took a deep breath.
“What do ye have to say?”
Devon looked from him to Emily. “First, I want to apologize to ye. It seems I misjudged ye in my dislike for the English.”
“Dislikeis putting it mildly for ye.” Ian looked at his brother quizzically. “What changed your mind?”
