Page 92 of Sutherland's Secret
“Ah. And how do ye feel about that?”
She shrugged. “I care, but not as much as I would have.”
“Or as much as ye should?”
She detected sharpness in his tone that put her on alert. “What does that mean?”
“It means ye should not discount Thomas. He knows what he speaks of.”
“Does he? And pray tell what does he speak of?”
“Obviously I did not hear yer conversation, but I can easily guess at it.”
“Please, enlighten me.” Her anger was in her voice and he looked at her quickly.
“Yer parents will no’ approve of us. Ye will no’ have the support of yer friends. It will be a lonely life for ye when ye return.”
Her gaze slid away, because it was so close to what Thomas had said that she was disconcerted.
“Ah,” he said. “I was right.”
“And do you know what I said?”
“That ye did no’ care.”
“You certainly know how to take the wind out of my sails.”
“But ye should care, lass. Yer people and mine do no’ get along. Yer family is powerful, and ye and I will just hurt them.”
“My family can take care of themselves. And there are some Scots and English who get along.”
He huffed out a breath. “Very few.”
She tilted her head at him. “So what are you saying, Brice?”
“Nothing that ye don’t already know, lass.”
“So I should just forget you and all of the Sutherlands and the people I’ve helped? What about the babe I delivered? Should I forget her, too? Just walk away as if nothing happened up here in the Highlands? And what about you, Brice? Will you forget about me just as easily?”
His chest heaved in a deep breath as if it were difficult for him to breathe. She understood, because it was difficult for her to breathe.
“No,” he said.
“No, you won’t forget me?”
He moved abruptly, taking her by the shoulders and nearly lifting her off the deck. “No, damn ye. I will no’ forget ye. I’ll never forget ye’. For as long as I draw breath, you will be a part of me. Ye will always live in my heart.”
She looked him in the eye. Slowly he set her back on her feet and took a step backward. She said, “Good. Because I won’t forget, either. I don’t want to forget any of it. Edinburgh. Fort Augustus. Castle Dornach. They’re all entrenched in my heart and my soul. Forever. I owe it to Charles to remember. I owe it to England to reveal Blackwood for what he is, and I owe it to myself to never, ever forget you or the friends I made in your clan.”
He rubbed his eyes. “This is a mighty fine fix we’re in.”
She rested her palm on his cheek. “I have to trust that this will work out.”
“Ye have more faith than I do, then.”
Chapter 37
Eleanor smoothed the skirts of the gown she was wearing. It was very plain compared to those she wore in London, but beautiful nonetheless. Cecilia had found it in the back of the wardrobe. It was an emerald green brocade, very simply cut and a few seasons out of date, but Eleanor didn’t care.
