Page 80 of The Anguish of the Scottish Lairds
Eva’s hands shook as she unfolded the parchment, looking at the careful strokes on the page she held.
She began to read aloud:
Dearest daughter,
I’m sorry I’ll not be with you when you are ready to marry. If I were, I would choose a certain man for you. You are my only daughter, my sweetest lass, with a quirkiness that I love. It will take a special man to take care of you, one who will allow you to be yourself—a beautiful girl who has a strength inside her that she has yet to discover.
But that day will come.
The man I have chosen I have studied from afar. He has an impeccable character. A man of honor who is the only man I’ve seen who deserves you, who will love you and also guard your tender heart.
Sloan Rankin …
Eva stopped because the tears burst like they’d been kept inside for years. She reached for Sloan’s hand and continued:
Sloan Rankin is an honest, hardworking chieftain who takes his responsibilities verra seriously and manages his clan and its members as if they were all part of his family. A fierce warrior, he will pick up the tiniest bird in his hands and set it back in its nest with such care that I know he will always treat you with kindness.
I can ask no more of any man, but I’m convinced that you and Sloan Rankin are destined to be a truly happy couple who will have several fine bairns.
How do I know? From deep in my heart, I know he is for you.
But also, the small golden bird sitting on my window edge chirping is telling me so.
I wish the two of you all the happiness in the world.
I love you, my sweet princess Eva.
Love the man with all you have,
Papa
Sobbing so much that her mother grabbed a linen square for her, Eva hugged Sloan first, then her mother. “How did he know Sloan was right for me? It had to be something more than a bird.”
Her mother smiled, leaning back in her chair. “Many moons ago, you snuck out the back door when your brothers and the other lads went down to fish in the sound one summer. Your sire and I were arguing about something, so we never noticed that you disappeared. I never would have guessed that you would do such a thing, but half the hour later, Sloan came up and handed you to me. You were soaked, had jumped in the water after the others had climbed into a boat and rowed to the middle. Sloan told your father that he saw you coming so he stayed back, but you jumped in before he could stop you. Poor Sloan thought we were going to yell at him for allowing you to get all wet. But your father had nearly fainted with fear, thanking Sloan for saving his wee lassie for him. Once Sloan left, your father told me that Sloan was your person. He always believed it.”
“Mama, why did you never tell me? I knew he chose someone.”
Rut kissed her daughter’s forehead, brushing the wild strands of Eva’s waves back from her face. “Becauseyou, not your father, needed to choose your husband. But I’ll also tell you something else that has haunted me since I helped him write that letter.”
Her mother brushed the tears away. “That golden bird never left until I finished the last word.”
Eva looked out the window. “What did the bird look like?”
Her mother smiled, her eyes misting.
“Oddly enough, she reminded me a wee bit of that Lia.”
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
And the others
Thane watched his wife try to fit a newly sewn gown to Alana, who did her best to wiggle out of it, so distracted by Lia and Magni that she couldn’t settle.
His mother stood next to him from afar and whispered, “She hasn’t figured it out yet?”
He suspected Tamsin was carrying their first bairn, but he wasn’t certain. “Mama, I think she does, but she was so afraid that Raghnall did permanent damage to her insides that she feared she’d never be able to carry again.”
“She’s had her courses since you married, though. I know it because she asked me a few questions once.”
