Page 32 of The Lady in Pearls
“You’d really let me go?” she asked.
“Yes, but you’d take my heart with you, lass.” He choked on the last few words. And, in that moment, she saw him in a way she hadn’t before. She saw Lachlan’s heart beneath the tall muscled form that remained on bended knee before her. His heart was in his eyes and the pain of his past, so vividly exposed, that she hurt with him. There was no menace, no anger or hatred there, only love and the fear of losing it. But it all brought one question to mind, one she still didn’t know the answer to.
“Whydo you love me?”
He answered without hesitation, “Because of who you are. Not as the daughter of a wretched man, but as a woman who cares about strangers and fights for her life and refuses to surrender to fate. A woman who smiles and dances and finds joy even after enduring so much sorrow. You love with all your heart and make me want to be the best version of myself. I can’t breathe when I think of you hurting, lass. You’ve become a part of me, and I hope that there’s a little bit of me inside you too. I cannot imagine my life without you.” He pressed his lips to her hand. “I made a vow in the church to you. Two souls made one, two hearts made one. The heavens brought us together and only you can break us apart.”
Daphne stared down at him, too afraid to hope that all he said was true.
“Lachlan, even if I believe you, it won’t erase the fact that my father caused your brother’s death. Your mother will never forgive me.”
He was on his feet, tugging her into his arms, embracing her so tight that she had to shove at him to get room to breathe.
“All that matters, is that you are my wife, my love. What your father did was a true dishonor, but William was his own man. He took his own life by his own choice. I didn’t want to face that truth, but I have to. Tragedy brought you to me, but I promise to let only hope bind us from now on.”
She pressed her cheek to his chest, her heart still heavy with concern. “What about Moira?”
“She likes you. She wanted you gone to protect you from me and my thirst for vengeance. But my only plan is to love you. Madly, wildly, deeply.” He leaned back so he could cup her face.
“Lachlan,” she breathed, trembling, wanting to believe him, to trust him.
He brushed a thumb over her lips so intently that he seemed to be imprinting their shape upon his memory. “Aye?”
“You cannot lie to me, ever again. I need…Ideservea husband who loves me enough to give me honesty. If you won’t be that man, then I have to leave.” She was amazed at the strength in her voice. She meant every word. She would protect herself no matter the consequences.
Lachlan nodded. “Aye, you’re right. And you have my word. I am your man, lass. Always.” The word was breathed so softy it sounded like a prayer.
By the forest’s edge, a deer wandered out and watched their reunion with mild interest.
“Then take me home.” Home to Huntley. Home with him.
Please let him be a man of his word. Please let him love me.
Lachlan laughed with such joy and relief that he swung her around in the air before he set her back down.
“Ach, lass,” he murmured, kissing her. “You’ll be the death of me if I lose you.”
“Then don’t lose me.” She bit her lip but finally smiled after a moment. She was so afraid to hope they could be happy—
Crack!
The report of a rifle exploded around them and the deer bolted across the road. Lachlan grunted and stumbled, still holding her in his arms, but she saw pain streak across his features before he dropped his arms and crumpled to the ground.
Blood suddenly covered her face and his.
“Lachlan!” She screamed, falling to her knees by his side.
“My lord!” The driver leapt from the coach and dashed over to Lachlan.
“He’s bleeding!” Daphne touched Lachlan’s head. Blood poured from a deep cut along one of his temples.
“He’s been shot.”
“What?” Daphne frantically ripped at the hem of her dress, freeing a bit of fabric. She pressed it to the wound, staunching it. Terror pounded inside her.
Shot. Blood. Death. The three words cut through her over and over as she pressed the cloth tight to Lachlan’s head.
“Seamus! You shot his lordship!” Both the driver and Daphne looked in the direction of sounds coming from the nearby underbrush. An old man and a young boy emerged from the foliage. The young boy carried a rifle. The old man shook the young boy by the shoulders and tore the rifle from his hands.
