Page 47 of Deceived by the Highlander (Daughters of the Isle #2)

“Freyja, I’ve always consoled myself that I’ve never lied to ye.

And I haven’t in so many words, but it’s not the truth.

When I first met ye, I told ye I was the earl’s half-brother, but I kept a secret from ye because he swore me to silence.

But it doesn’t change the fact I lied to ye by omission.

And for that, I’ll never forgive myself.

I know how highly ye prize the truth, and God knows I’d do anything to make it right, but I can’t change the past.”

She didn’t reply but her bottom lip trembled. He swallowed, tormented by what he had to say next, but there was no fleeing from it.

“In the stables, after Ranulph died.” His voice was hoarse but somehow he pushed on. “Ye were right. I took advantage. I took away yer choice, Freyja, and for that I’m sorrier than ye’ll ever know.”

“No.” The denial burst from her, and she pressed her hand against his heart.

“Don’t ever think that Alasdair, for it’s not true.

I knew exactly what we were doing, and I wanted it more than anything.

I only said ye took advantage of me because I was hurt and angry, but I didn’t mean it, even as I said it. ”

Relief spilled through him and a tiny flicker of hope stirred. But it still didn’t change one thing. “Ye still had no choice but to wed me, though.”

A blush heated her cheeks, but she didn’t look away. “I’m a skilled healer, and I know many things that some men believe should not be known. I knew I wouldn’t conceive yer bairn that day, Alasdair.”

He wasn’t entirely sure how she could know such a thing for certain, and in truth he didn’t want to delve further into such things, but it was enough that she hadn’t been compromised into marrying him because of what he’d—what they’d—done.

“I’m thankful to hear it.” He sucked in a great breath.

There was only one thing left to tell her, and after everything he’d confessed already, it surely wouldn’t be too hard.

“Freyja, ye’ve had my heart since the day I met ye.

I don’t need a barony, or a fine castle, or even my bond with the earl.

’Tis ye I need, and without ye, all else is meaningless. ”

“Alasdair Campbell,” she whispered, as she gently traced her fingers along his jaw. “Ye have a honeyed tongue, indeed.”

“No.” He captured her hand and pressed a kiss upon her fingers. “It’s the truth. I’ll never coat my words in honey with ye, Freyja. There’s no need, and never has been. I love ye, and always will, whatever the future may bring.”

“Ye love me, do ye?” She shook her head, and a single tear escaped even though she smiled at him. “Well, I’m happy to hear it. A one-sided love would be a great burden to bear and that’s a fact.”

“A one-sided love?” Did she mean what he hoped she did?

“Thankfully not, as it transpires. I love ye too, Alasdair. Why do ye think I followed ye today, instead of retreating to Dunochty? Why do ye think I’m so content here in the Highlands, when I was always so certain I could never leave Sgur Castle?”

Fierce joy, that he had never imagined could exist surged through him. His wife, his beloved Freyja, loved him. Whatever else happened, all was right in his world.

“There’s no need now to postpone our visit to William and Lady Isolde,” he said. “But before we go to Creagdoun, we shall travel to Eigg to see yer sister and ensure Lady Helga is well. I’ve been remiss. We should have visited sooner. I know, in yer heart, ye miss yer isle terribly.”

A strange expression settled over her face. “I do,” she said. “But, Alasdair, there’s something I didn’t tell ye about our Pict queen ancestor.”

“Yer warrior queen foremother.” He grinned at her and wrapped his arms around her, even though he didn’t know why she’d brought up her ancestor right now. “What else did she do? I can scarcely imagine.”

She shook her head as her fingers tangled in his hair. “I shouldn’t tell ye, for ’tis a secret handed down from mother to daughter, but I want ye to know.” She took a deep breath before she whispered, “ The bloodline of the Isle must prevail beyond quietus.”

A shiver chased along his arms, although he wasn’t sure why. “What does it mean?”

“I thought it meant if the daughters of Sgur abandon our Isle, our bloodline will die. It’s what all three of us were taught, and that tenet is a part of us.

I have wondered if only one of us needs to remain on Eigg to fulfil the legacy.

But now I’m not convinced that’s what the Deep Knowing truly means.

Maybe ye were right, after all, when ye said our Pict queen will never be forgotten as long as her story is told.

Maybe it’s her memory that must prevail beyond the Small Isles. ”

“I don’t know,” he confessed. “All I want is for ye to be happy, Freyja.”

“I am happy,” she whispered. “I’m happy to be here, in the arms of the man I love.”

With a groan, he walked her backwards, towards the bed. But as they passed by the table he paused, his gaze falling on the package.

Later.

Unfortunately, she followed his glance. “Is that for Seoc? He was uncommonly excited when it arrived.”

With a sigh, he released her and picked it up. “No. ’Tis for ye.”

Her eyes widened as he handed it to her. “Good Lord, did ye buy me a slab of marble?”

“What use would a slab of marble be to ye?”

She smiled before placing it back on the table and untying the string that bound it. She pulled off the packaging, and then went as still as marble herself.

Time seemed to still as she gazed at the volumes, and then, reverently, she traced a finger over the cover of the first massive tome before opening the book.

Awe transfigured her face as she gasped softly and turned a page or two, clearly enthralled by the wonders it beheld. And as he watched her, a half-forgotten conversation rippled through his mind.

Her light must never be dimmed.

He’d always thought Ranulph was reminding him to keep his word and not trick Freyja into marriage. But that wasn’t what he’d meant at all. He’d been referring to her healing skills. Telling Alasdair to respect her knowledge. But he’d never needed Ranulph’s reminder for that.

“Is it all ye hoped it would be?” His voice was hushed.

She tore her gaze from her book. It was a trick of the sunlight through the window, but regardless, all he saw was her bathed in an ethereal glow.

“Aye,” she breathed. “’Tis so much more. I never believed I’d get the chance to see these books, let alone own them. I don’t know how to thank ye, Alasdair. ’Tis the most thoughtful gift in the world.”

He almost quipped better than a diamond necklace? But he swallowed the words for they weren’t necessary. He knew her answer.

He always had.

“I’m glad.” His voice was gruff. “I know how dearly ye wanted to read it. Now ye’ll be as good, if not better, than all those physicians in that fancy London college.”

“But to think ye recalled our conversation. We scarcely even knew each other back then.” She drew in a tremulous breath before coming to him and cradling his face. “Only a man with a truly caring heart would’ve thought of purchasing his wife such an unconventional gift.”

He wrapped his arms around her and swung her off her feet, the sound of her laughter washing the last remnants of guilt from his soul. “That’s because no other man is as fortunate as I, to be wed to such an unconventional woman as ye.”

They tumbled onto the bed, facing each other, and he tenderly brushed back an errant curl from her cheek. His words echoed in his mind, and a strange realization struck.

He’d never formally asked her to be his wife. Events had simply unfolded, after Ranulph’s deathbed declaration.

Doubtless it was a foolish move, and Freyja would laugh at him. But it didn’t matter. It needed to be done.

He pushed himself from the bed, pulling her upright so she sat on the edge, and then sank to his knees before her.

“Lady Freyja of Sgur Castle, if we had our time over again, would ye do me the honor of consenting to be my bride?”

She didn’t even hesitate. She took his hands and pressed them to her lips, before she gave her answer. “Alasdair Campbell, laird of my heart, I’d marry ye a thousand times over, and that’s the truth.”

Laird of my heart. He kissed her, his clever, incomparable wife, and the last shadows of his past withered until they vanished forever beneath the sun-filled future that beckoned with Freyja by his side.

The End