Page 82 of The Highlander's Alluring Spy
“Father…” Magnolia whispered from where she still stood between the two armies.
The Viscount’s face had gone an ugly shade of puce, and the muttering in the English army was louder than ever before. Still, when the Earl held his hand up for silence, it fell immediately.
“I would ask you a few questions, Laird MacFoihl,” the Earl said seriously. “Will you answer them as best you can?”
William raised an eyebrow. “An’ who dae ye think ye are to be askin’ him questions, Englishman?”
“Peace,” Nathair soothed. “I’ll be happy to answer yer questions, Me Lord. So long as ye might answer some o’ mine later.”
The Earl nodded slightly. “I have just one of import before I allow my daughter to share the truth with these soldiers about the Viscount’s treachery. I will not put her in danger for nothing.”
“Seems to me like Magnolia has a penchant for getting’ into danger with or without yer help,” Nathair told him. He hadn’t glanced at Magnolia again–not yet, he wasn’t ready for that yet–but a small smile played on his lips.
“My Lord, this is absurd!” the Viscount continued to protest.
The Earl lowered his voice, ignoring the Viscount and talking so only Nathair and perhaps William could hear. “Do you love my daughter, young man?”
He didn’t even have to think about it. Yes, she had lied about who she was from the start. Yes, the Magnolia he thought he knew and the Magnolia who was real were not the same person.
But saving Elaine from the loch, that was real.
Helping him plan to save his people from starvation, that had been nothing to do with her spying.
And when she kissed him, it meant nothing to her plot.
How many days did ye race to get here on time, Magnolia? How desperately did ye beg yer Faither about the truth?
Yes, she’d hurt him. Yes, she’d hurt Elaine, the maid Betty, the farm girl Greta…but they only hurt when she left because of what she’d done before. Because of who she’d become to them in such a short time.
Because they loved her.
“Aye,” he said quietly. “Aye. Still, an’ dearly, regardless o’ everythin’ else. I’ve never…I’ve never felt such hurt as when I thought she betrayed me, except maybe when me wife died.”
He felt William looking at him, but he didn’t turn his head, continuing to meet the Earl’s calm, steady gaze.
Magnolia’s father slowly nodded. “I see. And do you or your people have any intention of mounting an attack upon mine?”
“None, Me Lord,” Nathair said quickly. “As I’m sure Magnolia has told ye, we can barely feed ourselves, never mind launchin’ an invasion. We dinnae want bloodshed. We only want to live in peace.”
Both of them looked into each other’s eyes for a moment longer before he saw something change behind the Earl’s.
Lord Winterbourne gave a small nod, then turned and said in a louder voice, “My good men, I would have you listen to the words of Lady Winterbourne. She has carried with her the real letters which she wrote, only to be replaced by the Viscount’s falsehoods.”
“This is slander!” the Viscount snarled. “Men! You were placed under my leadership, and—”
“Viscount, I would have you remember who I am,” Lord Winterbourne said coldly. He nodded at two of the English soldiers, who moved forward and each put a warning hand on the Viscount’s shoulders. “These aremymen. Magnolia, dear, please go ahead.”
Magnolia turned to nod at her father, and in that instant, she and Nathair met eyes again at last.
Nathair had only experienced this feeling once, long ago, when he’d spotted Catrina for the first time. This time, the eyes were blue instead of gray, and the innocence of childhood was long since passed. This time, there was a history of betrayal, of pain, of suffering. This time, he knew what it was to hurt.
But as his eyes met Magnolia’s now, it was that same bolt from the blue, that same shock of lightning as his life was changed forever, with no way back. This time, when his heart sped and his palms started to sweat, he knew why.
Look at that smile. I’d dae anything for that smile.
“I’m sorry,” she mouthed, tears in her eyes.
“I ken,” he said silently back. “I ken.”
