Page 37 of Claimed by the Ruthless Highlander (Taming the Highland Devils #2)

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

M aisie sat in the parlor, her fingers drumming nervously on the carved oak arm of her chair.

The room was richly adorned, with tapestries depicting the McGowan lineage, their threads gleaming in the firelight, and velvet curtains framing the tall windows.

A polished hearth radiated warmth, and the scent of polished wood and wax lingered in the air.

Yet despite the grandeur surrounding her, Maisie felt hollow, her mind restless and her heart weighed down with thoughts she could not voice as she compared the McGowan castle to the lavishness of the seaside McGibb castle with all its wealth and glory.

Lavina approached, concern etching her features. "Maisie… I've noticed a change in ye since ye returned," she said gently, perching on the opposite chair. "Ye daenae speak as ye did, and there's a shadow upon yer eyes."

Maisie forced a smile, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's nothin', Lavina… truly, I am well," she replied, her tone light but hollow. "Perhaps I'm merely tired from the ordeal and the… excitement of me return."

Lavina leaned forward, her eyes narrowing with resolve. "Ye cannae fool me, sister. Somethin' happened while ye were away, and I demand to ken the truth."

Maisie shifted uncomfortably, her fingers gripping the arm of her chair. "I've told ye, Lavina, nothin' happened. Just… a long journey and weariness, that's all," she murmured, her voice tight.

Lavina's hands fell to her lap, but her gaze was unwavering. "Ye daenae have to keep it from me, Maisie. I am yer sister, and I will help ye bear it if it be so."

Maisie's chest tightened, a flush rising to her cheeks. "There's nothin' to tell! Lavina, I am safe, I am fine, and that is all ye need to ken," she said, her voice rising slightly.

"But ye daenae seem fine," Lavina pressed, leaning closer, her voice edged with worry. "I see it in the way ye sit, the way ye avoid me, the way yer thoughts are far away. I willnae let ye hide it from me any longer."

Maisie's patience snapped like a frayed rope. "Lavina! I said it's nothin'! I am nae to blame for what troubles me, and it is none of yer concern!" she exclaimed, standing abruptly.

The chair scraped against the floor as she spun on her heel, her skirts brushing past the low table adorned with crystal decanters and silver candlesticks. Lavina rose as well, reaching out as if to stop her.

"I daenae want to hear it any longer," Maisie said sharply, her voice trembling with frustration and unshed tears. "I need air… I need to be alone."

She stormed from the parlor, the wooden floorboards echoing under her hurried steps, and flung open the doors to the gardens.

The cool night air hit her face, bringing a sharp clarity to her muddled thoughts.

Flowers and shrubs brushed against her skirts as she strode across the moonlit paths, the scent of wet earth and night-blooming jasmine filling her senses.

For a moment, she let herself breathe, the tension in her chest loosening ever so slightly, though her heart remained heavy with secrets she could not share.

In the quiet of the gardens, Maisie pressed her hands to her face and let a shiver of frustration and helplessness escape her. She longed for the freedom to speak, to unburden herself of the memories she carried from the McGibb castle, yet she knew she could not.

Her mind spun with thoughts of Caiden, of the storm of emotions he had left behind, and of the life she had returned to that now felt distant.

The moonlight glinted off the dew-covered grass, and Maisie let herself pace, each step a quiet rebellion against the weight of restraint and the confines of her duty.

She did not notice Lavina until her sister's voice cut sharply through the night air.

"Maisie! Daenae walk away from me!" Lavina shouted, her tone carrying both authority and worry. "Ye are still me little sister, and I will nae let ye hide from me!"

Maisie paused, letting out a long sigh as the tension drained slightly from her shoulders.

She sank onto a nearby garden bench, the cool wood grounding her as she tried to calm the storm of emotions within.

The moonlight fell softly across her face, and she realized the only person she could trust with her truth was Lavina.

"All right, Lavina… I'll tell ye what happened," Maisie began, her voice trembling. "But ye must swear ye will nae judge me, and ye must promise nae to tell Theodore, for it could spark war between our clans."

Lavina nodded and sat beside her, solemnly, placing a reassuring hand over her sister's. "I swear it, Maisie. Speak, and I will listen without word of it leavin' me lips," she said gently.

Maisie took a deep breath, her fingers fidgeting nervously. "It was a misunderstandin'," she admitted. "Someone thought I was stealin' the paintin' I went to buy, and so they thought I was a thief. They took me under false information, believin' I was in league with criminals."

"Who?" Lavina asked, her eyes wide in surprise.

"Laird McGibb," Maisie confessed, her voice soft but steady.

"Laird McGibb?" Lavina gasped.

"Aye. It was his mother's paintin', and he believed I could retrieve it for him. That is why he took me… thinkin' he was right in his actions."

Lavina's hand flew to her mouth, shocked at the revelation. "Ye mean… the laird actually kidnapped ye?" she asked, her voice trembling with disbelief.

Maisie nodded, swallowing hard. "Aye… but he treated me like royalty at Castle McGibb. Over time… we grew closer. Closer than we should have. I daenae regret it, but it has left me tangled in a mess of feelings I cannae sort."

"Ye came to care for him?" Lavina asked.

"More than I can even understand, and now we are parted," Maisie sobbed.

"I understand the feelin', as ye well ken," Lavina hugged Maisie.

"Maisie, ye have been through a heartbreak that cannae heal overnight," she said, her voice full of warmth and understanding.

"If ye truly care for this man, if yer heart is set upon him…

it will take time to mend. But ye are nae alone.

I will stand by ye through it all, even when it is hard. "

Maisie wiped her tears away, ashamed but relieved. "Thank ye, Lavina… I daenae want to carry this alone any longer," she admitted. "Ye have always been the one I could trust, and I feared this would spark fury between our clans, and it neednae be that way. It was a misunderstandin'."

Lavina shook her head gently. "Ye have done the right thing by tellin' me," she replied.

"And Maisie… listen to me. Love is never simple, especially when it crosses paths with duty and honor.

But it is also never somethin' to be feared.

Ye must follow yer heart carefully, but without hidin' it from those who care for ye. "

Maisie took a long breath, letting the weight of her confession settle into the cool night air.

She felt lighter than she had in weeks, the burden of secrecy shared with someone who truly understood.

"I daenae ken what will come of this… if Caiden will ever see me again," she whispered.

"He sent me back home because he said it was the right thing to do. "

Lavina squeezed her hand, offering quiet reassurance. "He may… or he may nae, sister, but ye will never face it alone. If yer heart yearns for him, then ye must protect it… and I will protect ye in doin' so."

Maisie's lips curved in a faint, grateful smile, the first genuine one since returning home. For the first time in days, she felt a flicker of hope amid the tangled emotions.

"Thank ye, Lavina… truly," she murmured, leaning back against the bench. The two sisters sat together in silence, the night wrapping around them like a protective cloak, the bond between them stronger than any fear or heartbreak.

Lavina's voice broke the quiet, gentle but firm. "Ye must, Maisie, for the heart needs it. But nay matter what happens, remember this… ye are never alone, and love, though it may ache, is worth holdin' onto."

Maisie nodded, letting the warmth of her sister's words seep into her. Though the ache for Caiden still pulsed within her, she felt fortified by Lavina's presence.

For the first time since her ordeal, she believed that she could navigate the tumult of her emotions and face whatever came next. The moonlight shimmered across the garden paths, and Maisie felt a quiet strength settle within her, knowing she had someone by her side who would never let her falter.

Maisie's hands trembled slightly as she took Lavina's. "Ye daenae think me immoral… or… disgustin'?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

She feared judgment from her sister, though she knew Lavina loved her fiercely.

Lavina shook her head firmly, placing a reassuring hand on Maisie's cheek. "There's nothin' disgustin' about lovin' someone, Maisie. Ye followed yer heart, and that is nay shame at all. Love is nay crime, and it doesnae make ye less of a woman."

Maisie's lip trembled, and she looked up at Lavina, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Our mother… she taught us propriety, and I…

I let a man into me bed and heart without marriage," she confessed, the weight of her guilt pressing against her chest. The words hung between them, heavy with the traditions they had been raised to honor.

Lavina smiled gently, her own eyes warm and full of understanding. "We are nae our mother, Maisie. Though she was a great woman, and we loved her dearly, I ken she would be proud of the strength ye've shown. Ye are brave and true to yerself, and I ken that I am proud of ye, aye."

Maisie threw her arms around Lavina, hugging her tightly, feeling the comfort and support she had longed for.

"Thank ye, Lavina… truly," she whispered against her sister's shoulder. The embrace eased the storm in her heart, and for a brief moment, the world outside the garden seemed far away and unimportant.

Helping Lavina steady herself, Maisie guided her toward her chambers, careful of each step, as her sister's condition made even short walks a challenge.

Once inside, they were seated at a small table, a modest but hearty Scottish meal laid before them.

A steaming bowl of lamb stew filled the air with rich aromas, accompanied by oatcakes and fresh butter, roasted root vegetables glistening under the firelight.

A small pot of warm whisky sat nearby, adding its smoky warmth to the room.

Maisie reached for a spoon and dipped into the stew, savoring the tender chunks of lamb and the comforting broth.

"Ye need to eat, Lavina, since ye are eatin' for two" she said, smiling.

Lavina took a careful bite, smiling through the simple pleasure of the meal. The two sisters ate together, the flickering candlelight dancing across their faces, and Maisie felt a sense of peace she hadn't known since her return.

As they shared the meal, Maisie's mind wandered briefly to the events that had led her home.

Though her heart ached for Caiden, she found solace in this moment with Lavina.

The simplicity of the Scottish fare, the warmth of the fire, and the closeness of her sister reminded her that not all battles needed to be fought alone.

Tonight, at least, she could be Maisie, just a sister, just a woman, just a soul healing in the comfort of family.