Page 53 of Highlander's Rebellious Affair
Ian was lost in his reading when he heard footsteps, and looked up to see Hope walk into their chamber, and toward him. A wide grin spread out on her face as she reached the bed, and sat. Her scent instantly filled his nostrils, and he closed the journal and gave her his attention.
“Ye look beautiful,” he whispered and she flushed. Hope had her hair styled in a traditional Galloway style, like a chignon on the top of her head, with all strands swept away from her face, and he loved the new look. “I love what ye’ve done with yer hair.”
Her hands moved and she gently touched the sides of her hair. “Rhea helped,” she replied. “Yer sister and I get along really well, and she kept me entertained the entire evening, with stories of what it was like playin’ with ye around the Castle.”
Ian knew Rhea must have told her much about his mischievous adventures as a boy. He smiled, and Hope reached for his hand, and asked, “Did ye learn anythin’ from the journal?”
“Nothin’ that I dinnae already ken about Lyall, but I will read through every word he has written down,” he replied, and she nodded. Ian dropped the book and moved to relax on the bed with her. He pulled her close to his heart, and listened to the steady sound of her heart beating beneath his hands on her chest.
“I made my first tonic today,” Hope told him. “It felt amazing to do that on my own, and I cannae wait to try out more.”
Ian listened to her tell him about her day in the garden and how she had prepared the tonic because she remembered how Orlaith did it every time. Her voice brought him peace, and he wanted their lives to always be like this. He hoped his marriage to Hope would last a long time, and he would get a chance to grow old with her.
In that moment, Ian remembered his father, and the sad smile on his face whenever he had talked about his mother. Ian hadn’t met her, but he knew she was amazing from everything his father had told him and Rhea when they were little. Hope was happy, and he was too, so he wanted them to remain this way forever.
“I am glad that ye are happy,” Ian said, and she raised her head, and looked into his eyes.
“Of course, I am happy. I am in love with ye, Ian and that alone makes me happy.”
Ian pulled her back to his chest and she snuggled into him. He fell asleep, and woke up later that night when Hope was fast asleep beside him. He slipped out of the bed, picked up the journal and continued to read.
Ian flipped through the pages of the journal, and continued his journey into his uncle’s heart. His breath caught in his throat when he reached the page with the most shocking information, and he clenched his fists on his lap as he read the next lines of words.
I would have had the bonnie lass for myself if nay for Ian. He has taken that one chance from me, and I would stop at nothing to have her for myself, even if it means taking his life.
He should have died a long time ago alongside his mother, and my only mistake is failing to do it right the first time. When I pushed her off the stairs that night, I should have finished the job properly, and made sure both her and that child died. If that had happened, then he wouldnae create such problems for me now.
But there is always another chance, and this time Ian willnae see it coming.
Ian blinked back the tears as the words made sense to him. His father had told him of his mother’s death and why she died. In the last days of her pregnancy with him, she had fallen down the stairs in the Castle, and the healer had not been able to save both her and the baby, so they had delivered him while she died.
From Lyall’s words he understood what had happened that night. His uncle had pushed his mother down the stairs… Lyall had murdered not only his father, but also his mother.
38
Ian managed to keep his rage at bay until Lyall recovered fully from the effects of the antidote, and was strong enough to host a feast to celebrate his victory over death. Ian didn’t oppose the feast as it was the perfect opportunity for him to disclose his uncle’s crimes to every Laird in attendance, and every man in Galloway.
So, while the servant prepared the meals, and decorated the Grand Hall with flowers and white drapes to suit Lyall’s taste, he plotted his grand disclosure. Hope and Ian strolled the Castle that night to the feast when they met with Lyall.
His smile was gigantic and smug as always, and Ian maintained a firm grip on Hope’s hand as they waited for him to speak first. “Yer uncle survives death first hand and ye dinnae even pay yer respects,” he said. “Some people might think ye were glad I got hurt and ye wished those were my last days.”
Ian forced a smile. “I am glad ye’re alive,” he said and bowed. Lyall nodded, and his gaze moved to Hope first. For a moment, Ian thought he would say something to her. He saw Hope lower her gaze, and he waited, but Lyall said nothing as he walked past them.
“I think he is up to somethin’,” he said to Hope as they continued their stroll down the corridor and she agreed with him. The feast was going to be grand and he knew it was unlike his uncle to not create a scene and try to find the one who tried to kill him, but then Ian had the upper hand this time.
Whatever Lyall’s plan had been, he had trumped it because his uncle hadn’t anticipated the move he played. He spent the entire day with Hope strolling the Castle before they went into the garden to relax.
His sister was in the village with Callum and the goldsmith, and the plan was for her to bring them into the Castle when the feast had already begun. For the first time he looked forward to his uncle’s feast and what would happen at it.
On the day of the feast, Ian waited for Hope to meet him in the Grand Hall. Tonight, marked either the beginning of a new era for the entire Clan or the end of everything he had worked so hard to gather against his uncle, and he didn’t know what to expect.
When Hope walked down the stairs to meet him, he felt his heart race just from the sight of her. She wore a long-sleeved green dress with brown embroidery that matched the color of her hair and eyes. It reminded him of the day he met her for the first time. That night when she had walked into the Hall in her father’s Castle, his breath had stopped.
Hope got to his side, and extended her hand to him. He took her hand and linked their fingers, then stepped closer to her, and placed a kiss on her cheeks. “Ye look beautiful,” he whispered and she flushed.
“Whatever happens tonight,” Hope began. “I want ye to ken that I love ye, and I will stand by ye no matter what.”
Her loyalty and love made his heart swell, and Ian’s mind spun.I cannae believe this is about to happen.
