Page 25 of Love Beyond Reach (Morna’s Legacy #11)

T he next morning , I woke to Alasdair shaking my shoulders. He was trembling with excitement, and I knew before I opened my eyes that Elspeth had finally told him about the baby.

“Morna, lass, I’ve news to tell ye. Elspeth…she…she’s with child again.”

I couldn’t remember a time when I’d seen him more ecstatic.

Lifting me from the bed with ease, he pulled me into a hug that left my feet dangling a good distance from the floor. He continued to speak into my ear as he spun me around.

“Ye will be an auntie again. She thinks ’tis another boy, though I doona know how she could possibly know. I doona care if the babe comes out half-horse, I shall love it. Always before, when she’s lost them, ’twas earlier in the pregnancy. She has much hope that this one shall live.”

Finally, he set me down. I steadied myself as I smiled at him. I didn’t tell him that I already knew. It was fitting that he believe himself the first to know.

“’Tis the happiest news I’ve heard in some time. What do ye think wee Eoin will think of it?”

Alasdair laughed and moved to the window. Down below, Eoin was readying his pony to go out on a ride with his grandfather.

“I expect he’ll be excited enough until the babe arrives. After that, I willna be surprised if years pass before he makes his peace with having less attention.”

It would certainly be an adjustment for the sweet, spoiled child, but there was nothing better than having a sibling with whom to share your childhood.

Alasdair had told me many times that he wished we were closer in age so that we could’ve grown up together.

By the time I arrived, Alasdair was nearly grown.

“There will always be plenty of people around the castle to give Eoin attention, so perhaps he willna mind the child as much as ye think.”

I leaned in to hug my brother once again. Alasdair’s smile was contagious. His happiness pushed away the dreadful feelings I’d fallen asleep with.

“I’m happy for ye, brother. And for Elspeth. And even for myself. Being an aunt has been one of the greatest joys of my life. Have ye told Father yet?”

Alasdair shook his head and pulled away to head toward the door.

“No. I mean to join them on their ride and tell them both at once. Eoin watches Father so closely. If he shows that he is glad and happy about the news, mayhap Eoin will feel the same.”

Alasdair all but skipped out of my room. I was still smiling long after he’d gone.

B y mid-day , everyone in and around the castle had heard the wonderful news, and happy chatter abounded. The sudden distraction allowed me time to roam the halls of the castle undisturbed. I spent most of the day working through my own thoughts.

I loved Jerry. I could no longer deny the truth of it to myself. I could also no longer deny that it didn’t matter at all. I could never have him. I would never see him again.

What then was I to do?

I would be married by the end of the year whether I liked it or not. Was Henry the man I wished to marry?

I didn’t love him—of that, I was almost certain. While I enjoyed his company well enough, my mind rarely thought of him when apart from him, and I didn’t feel the same innate terror at the thought of losing him that I still felt when I thought of Jerry.

I enjoyed his company and conversation. I found him charming and attractive and perplexing in a way that piqued my interest. I was sure I would never be bored in a life with him and that at least was something.

There was also the undeniable fact that my body enjoyed his company to the point of making me feel shameful from the desire he stirred in me.

While Henry had always remained semi-polite and gentlemanly, if ever the day came when he asked me to do something entirely indecent, I wasn’t altogether sure I would deny him.

I think the possibility of such a request made the allure of him even greater. When in the presence of my brother or father or anyone else really, Henry was the epitome of all things proper.

When alone, he couldn’t keep his hands off me. I didn’t want him to.

A life with Henry would be filled with surprises, splendid conversation, and if our passion in kissing was any indication, spectacular love making. Most people would only ever dream of such a match.

Even if my heart would never love him in the way I wished it would, by the time the sun began to set over Conall Castle, I’d made my decision.

I would be a fool to send Henry away. I would tell him at dinner that I wished to be his bride.

“ D o ye mean it , lass? Ye shall make me the happiest man alive.”

I decided to tell Henry just as everyone gathered for dinner so that he could make the announcement over our meal. He appeared excited by my decision but not the least bit surprised.

I don’t think he’d ever doubted that I would eventually say yes.

“Aye, I’ll marry ye. I thought ye could tell everyone tonight.”

“I doona wish to wait a moment. Let us tell them now.”

Grabbing my hand, Henry led me into the dining hall where Father, Alasdair, Elspeth, and Eoin sat gathered around the table. Mary stood in the corner of the room, waiting for us to sit so she could summon the other servants to bring out the food.

Henry didn’t waste a moment.

“Today is the happiest of days. Not only have we learned that a new child is to be welcomed into yer family, but I now know that I shall have the privilege of joining ye, as well. Morna has finally agreed to be my wife.”

The reaction around the room was far more mixed than I anticipated. While Eoin began clapping in ignorant delight and Father stood to hug us both, everyone else looked as if I’d just punched them.

I heard Mary drop something in the back of the room. Elspeth glanced down at the table as if to hide her expression, and Alasdair’s face gave nothing away. My brother’s eyes locked with mine in a steadfast gaze that held a thousand questions.

Father carried on his congratulations with such enthusiasm that dinner was able to progress without Henry taking notice of the subdued responses from everyone else.

I couldn’t eat a bite. Not with the way Alasdair continued to stare at me throughout the meal.

Before everyone was even finished, Alasdair stood.

“Morna, I’ve something of Mother’s I wish to give ye. She’d want ye to have it now that ye are betrothed.”

It was the perfect excuse, but I knew there was no gift awaiting me outside the room. Nerves settling deep inside me, I followed my brother outside.

“Ye’ve a habit of pulling me away from dinner.”

Ignoring me, Alasdair turned and sat down on one of the stairwell steps. I joined him.

“Are ye sure about this, lass? Ye doona have to marry him.”

I nodded.

“Aye, I do. Father has made it clear that I must marry. Ye know if I send Henry away, Ludo Buchanan will come. If he’s anything like ye described him to be, I’m quite certain I’d rather die than marry him. Henry is a proper choice. I’ve made up my mind.”

Alasdair sighed. “I want so much more for ye than a ‘proper choice.’ I want ye to love as I have loved.”

Reaching my hand to soothe him, I patted my brother’s back. “We canna all be as lucky as ye and Elspeth. Doona worry for me. I’m settled in my decision.”

“Does that mean ye’ve told him, then? He knows of yer magic and ye trust him with it?”

My hand stilled on his back. I would never tell anyone of my magic ever again. I wanted nothing to do with it.

“No.”

“Ye must tell him, Morna. I doona know what happened between ye and Jerry, but I am no fool. His departure injured ye in a way that turned ye away from magic. Ye know ye doona have that choice—magic is not something that ye can either take or leave. It will always be a part of ye.

“When ye doona practice, when ye doona continue to learn, the power builds up inside ye. Ye canna hide it from Henry forever. If ye are willing to trust yer life to him, ye must trust this secret to him, as well.”

Alasdair stood, kissed the top of my head, and left me with the only ultimatum I’d ever heard escape his lips.

“’Twould be unfair to both of ye to wed and keep this a secret. I’ll give ye three days, lass. If ye doona tell him by then, I’ll do it myself.”