Page 24 of Love Me Forever (Highland Duo #2)

R oyce stood in silence, facing Ian. Brianna and Moira had taken their leave, Moira finally having insisted that Brianna should rest, and he could not have agreed more, though he kept his opinion silent.

He worried that Brianna was being stubborn and ignoring the ache that he knew she suffered, for it had plagued her much on the journey.

He had spent much time considering the consequences of his decision not to inform her of his identity.

At first the decision had been a practical one since she had reacted with fright to his appearance.

There had been no point in adding to her fear, so he had kept his infamous identity from her.

After fate had seemed to step in, he found himself unwilling to admit to his legendary exploits.

He had wanted her to come to know him, not the legend.

He wanted her to know that he had a heart and soul that ached to be loved as much as he wanted to love someone.

He had found all his heart’s desires in her, and he had not wanted to lose them.

That had made the choice easy for him, though he understood there would be consequences to his decision. He now faced those consequences and would deal with them as a warrior who had just begun the fiercest and most necessary battle of his life.

“A drink?” Ian offered, the silence having grown too heavy in the confined room.

“Aye, a drink I could use right now,” Royce admitted, his voice filled with the confident arrogance of a warrior who demonstrated no fear.

Ian was a victorious warrior in his own right but often preferred to war with words. He walked to the narrow table, poured them each an ale, and returned to where Royce stood near the hearth. “It is only the two of us now,” he said, handing him a full tankard. “Say what you will.”

Royce grinned. “You remind me much of your sister. Brave even when faced with difficult odds.”

“I am not foolish enough to think that my clan can match your clan’s strength, but know I am not foolish in regard to my sister.”

“I counted on that,” Royce said, raising his tankard as if in a toast before taking a hefty swallow.

“Sit,” Ian offered as he took one of the chairs near the hearth.

Royce understood it was time for them to talk, and this was what he had waited for.

He knew her brother by reputation and knew that he was a sensible man.

He would understand when he explained to him how it was best that Brianna and he wed, child or not.

He intended to take his time so that there would be no doubt in Ian’s mind that he agreed it was best for them to wed.

He took another swallow of ale, saw that Ian waited patiently for him to speak, and understood the importance of how he relayed his intentions. He would be practical and firm and, above all, sensible about this whole matter.

He took another gulp of ale, then said, “I love your sister and cannot live without her.”

Ian smiled and nodded. “This is what I have waited to hear.”

Royce leaned back in the chair and sighed like a man relieved of a heavy burden.

“I do not know how it happened. I cannot even tell you when it happened, it just did. One day I realized that I loved her beyond reason. It made no sense to me and at times still does not. I only know that it is real, and I thrill at the thought of our love. I miss her right this very moment. We have spent every hour of every day together for the last several weeks, and I do not like when she is not by my side. I ache for her presence.”

He shook his head, feeling completely confused by it all.

Ian laughed, a good hardy laugh. “I know exactly what you are feeling, for I experienced the same myself. It was like a punch to the body, but never physically feeling the punch, only being affected by it.”

“Aye, that is it.” Royce rubbed his jaw. “I prefer the punch.”

Ian laughed again. “I agree. It is easier to deal with and the pain fades. The emotion that follows this undetectable punch is devastating to the senses. You sometimes feel a fool.”

“Or behave foolishly.”

Ian nodded in agreement and his face softened in a smile. “But then there are those moments together that linger in your memory and heart and you thank the Lord every day for all the foolishness.”

Royce nodded with him. “I feel that Brianna is a cherished gift sent from the heavens, and I swear I will do everything in my power to see her happy and content.”

“This I also wished to hear.”

“I have no quarrel with you or your clan and have no intentions of warring with you regardless of your decision, and yet I thought to war with you if you did not grant me permission to wed your sister.” Royce shook his head. “An unwise thought.”

“An understandable thought for a man in love,” Ian said.

“Madly in love, insanely in love, ridiculously in love, and loving every moment of it.”

Ian stood, patted his shoulder, and took his empty tankard from him to refill along with his own. “I noticed that my sister feels the same for you.”

“I know she loves me as much as I love her. She is being stubborn.” He folded his arms across his massive chest.

“Determined, we say around here,” Ian said, returning to his seat and handing the full tankard to Royce.

“Your wife’s doing, from what I hear.”

Ian smiled. “You will find Moira’s hand in many things around here, and I warn you she is extremely intelligent, so be careful in your dealings with her.”

He cringed. “Must I deal with her? I deal much better with men.”

“She is protective of Brianna. She was a great help to her in her time of need.”

“Brianna spoke of her husband.”

Ian looked surprised. “She confided in you about Arran?”

“We talked much during our confinement, and I must say that I hope he suffered in death for his sins.”

“I was told that his body was burned beyond recognition. They identified him from the ring that he wore.”

“How can you be certain it was he who burned?” Royce asked.

“I sent men to view the remains. It was one of them who discovered the ring amongst the charred flesh and pocketed it as proof. The man fit Arran’s height and size, and the cloth he wore was of the Cameron clan. I saw no reason to doubt the body his.”

“Brianna knows nothing of this?”

“Nay, she did not ask and I saw no reason to tell her. I think she was relieved that her ordeal had finally come to an end, and she was free to travel about without several men to protect her.”

“I will protect her now.” Royce was insistent.

Ian was just as insistent. “She is my sister and my responsibility until she weds you, then she is yours to protect.”

Royce smiled. “I have permission to wed her regardless of whether she carries my child or not?”

“I had not known that she thought herself barren,” Ian said with concern.

“She is not.”

“You are so sure?”

Royce nodded. “A spineless coward has not the balls to father a child.”

Ian roared with laughter. “So you think, then, I will be an uncle soon?”

“Aye, you will, and I a father,” Royce said with pride.

“And if not?”

“I will find another way to convince your sister to wed me.”

“I will not force her to wed you,” Ian said.

“I understand and respect you for that, but I know. How do I know?” He shrugged. “I do not understand. I only know that Brianna will bear me children.”

“Then we will soon celebrate a wedding,” Ian said and raised his tankard in a toast.

Royce raised his. “I am grateful to you and I promise you this. I will protect Brianna with my life and not even death will keep me from seeing her safe, I love her that much.”

“This pleases me to hear and it pleases me to call you brother,” Ian said and extended his hand to him.

Royce gave his hand a hardy shake. “I must take my leave in a few days and see to clan matters. I will leave some of my men behind—” Royce raised his hand to stop Ian from interrupting. “I leave the men as a show of strength that our clans will soon unite.”

Ian nodded in acceptance.

Royce continued. “It should be time enough upon my return to know if Brianna is with child. But I advise that you plan a wedding regardless of her objections.”

“We shall have a large celebration.”

“I will return with many men to help in the celebration.”

“They are welcome,” Ian said.

“All will go well,” Royce said confidently.

“Aye, it will,” Ian agreed.

Royce grew quiet and silence filled the room.

“You miss my sister.”

Royce sighed. “Like a lovesick lad.”

Ian leaned close to him and whispered, “I will tell you where her bedchamber is.”

Royce grinned and listened.

* * *

Brianna stood by the hearth in her chamber.

The roaring fire cast a much-needed heat over her chilled body.

She wore her white linen night shift and was barefoot.

She had been snug beneath the wool blankets on her bed but found that she could not get warm.

Finally in a need to chase her chill, she climbed out of bed and came to stand in front of the fire’s warmth.

She could not stop thinking of Royce. He had sounded so confident that she carried his child.

She placed a hand to her flat stomach. She would have loved to have given him a child—many children, if it was possible.

But it was not and he knew that. Why, then, did he persist in this ridiculous pursuit?

Nothing would come of it except that he would be free of her.

Did he want to be free of her?

Was there no truth to his words to her?

Had he ever really loved her?

And why with all these endless questions did she still love him?