Page 21 of Following Her Highland Journey (The White Witch’s Apprentices #2)

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W ithin a week of Adair's rescue and Kilnairy's capture, it was over. Shamos managed to use the information they gathered from McNair's man, along with a stern reminder of the previous deals with the McLeods, to convince Laird McMillan to abandon his alliance with Laird McNair. Caiside and Lorcan pledged hundreds of men to approach the surrounding clans and help with the revival efforts, teaming up with the new Laird Martin and several other small lairds to help restore this part of the Highlands back to the peace and tranquility it deserved.

Adair and Henry spent a week in Clan McLeod's keep while Henry healed from his battle wounds and Adair from her emotional scars. Adair spent much of her time with Caiside and Caiside's little daughters, while she noticed that Lorcan visited Henry often in the healing room, where Caiside's own apprentice was taking good care of him. It pleased her to know that the man she loved and Caiside's husband were becoming close friends.

But she herself had avoided the healing room. Everything had felt so perfect and magical since they had successfully destroyed McNair's plans, and she knew that if she went to talk to Henry, they'd have to face reality again. If she was honest with herself, she was simply afraid of what form this reality would take.

In the heat of the moment, they'd kissed. They'd talked about love and longing, about promises and oaths, and more. But did that still apply now? Now that they were out of immediate danger, would Henry still want her, or would he return to the promise he'd made to Isobel? And could Adair blame him if he did?

All of this circled through her mind over and over again until, at last, Caiside asked her, "What are ye waitin' for?"

And though Adair knew that there were lots of things that were stopping her, she also knew that Caiside would reasonably shut every one of them down given half a chance. She would be right, too. Adair couldn't put this off for any longer: it was time to talk to Henry.

Henry was just pulling himself up into a sitting position on the bed when Adair entered. He swung his legs over the side, ready to get up, but stopped as she approached him, instead sitting on the bed like a bench. "Good tae see ye," he said with a broad grin. "I thought ye'd forgotten I existed."

"Forgotten ye ? Heavens forbid," Adair replied with a small laugh. "Ye look better. I'm…sorry I didnae come and visit ye before. It seems I wasnae quite ready tae have the conversation I want…need to have. Please listen. I ken we got caught up in the moment, and we talked about things that people do in such situations, but…I understand the value of a promise."

Henry didn't say anything. He was watching her carefully, and Adair wished she could tell what he was thinking.

"I…Ye're promised tae Isobel. I expressed feelin's for ye, and I meant them, but I had nae right tae question yer decisions," Adair went on. She felt miserable as she spoke, forcing the words out. "I'm so glad I found ye again, and that I'll have ye as a friend in me life, and I…"

"I dinnae want tae be yer friend," Henry interrupted. "At least, that isnae all I want. Is it all ye want?"

Adair's heart hammered as she looked up and met his eyes. He was giving her such a serious look that she almost swooned. "No," she admitted.

"Allow me tae say me piece," Henry insisted. "Adair, I love ye. I do. I love ye with all me heart. I never imagined in me wildest dreams that I'd have a future tae look forward tae until ye came intae me life. I told ye before that I love Isobel as if she were me sister, and I meant it. Ye are the only woman I have ever loved as a man loves a woman, and I dinnae want tae give that up again for a moment."

Adair was quietly crying now, not saying a word. Henry slipped down off the bed until he landed on one knee before her.

"I ken I'll never be worthy of ye," he told her, "But I will spend every day of the rest of me life tryin' tae be if ye'll have me. I must talk with Isobel first, but I want tae be yer husband. Will ye have me?"

Adair touched his cheek. He got to his feet, and they held hands. "I adore ye," she told him. " Adore ye. And if ye can break things off with Isobel without hurtin' her too badly, and if ye mean what ye say…then aye, I can think of nothin' better than tae be yer wife."

"Then it seems there's only one thing left tae do."

Henry had a speech all prepared. It was going to be beautiful, poignant, and touch on how much he loved Isobel like a sister and how much he appreciated everything they'd done for each other. He planned to get down on his knees and apologize, and promise her he'd always be there for her, and all sorts of things.

As it turned out, he didn't get the chance to do any of those things. On his first day back at Clan Martin, they held a small funeral for Michael, and took their comfort in their shared grief. It wasn't until the third day that he asked to speak to Isobel alone, and was surprised by how readily she agreed.

They went to their home—no, her home only now—and up to the room that had been Henry's. Before Henry could speak, Isobel jumped in.

"Ye should ken," she said, "That I am betrothed."

Of all the things she could have said, nothing could have shocked Henry more than those words. "Ye're what ?"

Isobel blushed a pretty pink. "I'm betrothed tae be wed. I…I ken it is fast, but it is what we both want. I ken ye and I…but we never loved each other that way, did we? And now ye're free tae marry Adair. That is why ye called me up here, is it nae?"

Henry blinked at her in disbelief. Could this possibly be true? Could Isobel have found her happiness as well, freeing him from guilt? "Aye," he admitted. "But…who?"

She blushed more deeply. "It's…Allan. Laird Martin. Workin' closely together all these days…he's exactly what I'm lookin' for. It's too early to tell if we'll love each other eternally yet, but he's in want of a wife, me a husband, and I already care for him very much. He asked me, and I said…aye. Do ye think me foolish?"

Henry couldn't stop smiling. "Foolish! Nae, me sweet Izzy. I think ye brave, and wonderful, and worth every moment. And I ken ye so well that I see it—ye already have some love for him."

"I do," she admitted. "It's been a few short weeks, but I'm eager to be his bride."

"Then go. Be Lady Martin. I can think of naebody better suited," Henry told her, and he meant every word. The two embraced, and he kissed her on the cheek. "And…bring Allan with ye when ye come."

"Come where?"

"Tae me weddin', of course."

Laughing, Isobel said, "Ye ken what? I'd like nothin' more."