Page 27 of Lyon’s Gift (The Highland Brides #2)

L yon sat at his bedside desk, poring over the manuscripts by candlelight until the wee hours of the morn, reading Meghan’s notes. He sat there, brooding, his head within his hands, watching the candle burn down to its quick.

He couldn’t sleep.

Couldn’t think.

Why did things still feel so wrong?

He’d done what he’d thought he was supposed to—set her free. He’d taken MacKinnon’s example and had accorded her choices. But now he couldn’t forget the look in her eyes as he’d bade her good-bye and walked away, leaving her to Baldwin’s care with that look of utter confusion upon her face.

And then the unspoken fury in her crossed eyes as she’d realized he was truly setting her free.

Christ, but what had he done to her?

And how could he simply leave her now?

He read her notes once more, drinking in her wisdom, hearing her cheeky voice, seeing her smile as he’d peered down into her face, and slammed his fist down upon the desk. Damned if he could just walk away.

So what the devil was he doing sitting here, brooding like a sullen boy?

When in his life had he wanted something and not gone after it?

Never, that he could recall.

Damned if he was going to this time.

He surged upward from the desk, knocking it over, spilling his manuscripts in his haste to go after her.

He had done the right thing, he realized—except for the fact that he’d let her go without telling her what was in his heart. And it was not too bloody late for that.

Meghan could scarcely believe the anger she felt.

“And he woke you, took one bluidy look at you, and sent you off?” she repeated, enraged by Alison’s tale. She was weary from her long walk home, her arm hurt, and her heart ached all the more. “You didna have to e’en ask?”

Alison shook her head, and her own eyes were full of fury for Meghan’s sake.

“Bluidy Sassenach bastard,” Colin spat, though he did not understand the half of it.

Meghan clutched at her arm, heartbroken .

“Och, Meghan, here you go,” Alison said, removing the sling from about her own neck. Hanging it about Meghan’s, she helped her to place her arm within it.

She felt like weeping.

She felt like screaming.

She merely stood there, allowing Alison to tend her arm, though her heart felt mortally wounded.

So much for her hopes that he would love her for more than her face.

So much for his love.

Then again, he had never claimed to love her, Meghan reminded herself. He had only said he wanted her. And that he wanted her heart. Wanting was a far different thing from vowing his love, and that he had not.

Foolish girl, she berated herself.

She held back the tears, telling herself that it was better to learn the truth now, rather than later.

Alison reached out to embrace her. “Now, now,” she crooned, “dinna cry, Meghan!”

Meghan gulped back a sob, unable to restrain it, and returned Alison’s embrace with her good arm.

“Och, but you look horrid,” Alison said, breaking into tears. “I’ve never seen you look so ugly!”

Meghan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “You look horrid, too,” she cried, unable to hold back her sobs any longer. “And you put your bruise on the wrong cheek!”

Colin and Leith and Gavin all exchanged awkward glances with each other.

“Daft women,” Colin said, shaking his head. “All right now, Alison. Enough! Let someone else hug her too.” And he moved in to hug Meghan as Alison released her.

She wept upon Colin’s shoulder, and then Leith’s, and then Gavin’s.

“Welcome home, Meghan,” Gavin said softly. “We’ve missed you, lass.”

“Enough to spare me your sermons?” Meghan asked through her tears.

Gavin chuckled. “Well, that I don’t know. We shall see, I suppose.”

Meghan choked on her laughter. “’Tis good to be home.”

“’Tis good to have you home,” Leith said. “You’re a sight for sore eyes, to be sure.”

“I am so sorry. I should never have risked myself so.”

“’Tis not as though you did so apurpose, Meghan,” Leith replied.

“It’s my fault,” Colin interjected. “I should never have let yet go alone to meet Alison.”

“How can you say such a thing, Colin? It was hardly the first time I’d gone into those woods alone. What will you do, silly mon? Escort me everywhere I go for the rest of our bluidy lives?”

Colin frowned, at a loss for words, and she went on.

“I dinna think so. I can just imagine what all your women would say then, you silly fool.”

“Aye,” Gavin put in. “Precisely what they should be saying anyway—nay!” He spoke with such heartfelt conviction that Meghan felt at home immediately. One thing everyone could count upon was Gavin’s piety in the face of anything at all. He was unswerving in his faith.

Colin cast Gavin a pained glance, and Meghan laughed, telling him, “Dinna say such a thing, Gavin. He will die else wise.”

Leith and Colin both chuckled and so too did Alison.

“And Meghan,” Leith continued, “I’ve something to tell you...”

Meghan looked up at her eldest brother to see that he had moved behind Alison, and she suddenly recalled her friend’s message.

“Oh! And I you,” she exclaimed. “Alison asked me to tell you, Leith, that not only will she wed you, but she will wed you with all her heart.”

Leith peered down at Alison in surprise. “Is this true?” he asked her, his hands going to her shoulders. He turned her to face him.

Alison smiled shyly up at him, and Meghan was so happy for the two of them—so happy she could cry. With a heartbroken sob, she cast herself between them. Alison took her once more into her arms.

“Bluidy, rotten, heart-stealing, lying, conniving Sassenach wretch,” Meghan cried out. “I’m so happy for you, Alison!”

“Och, now,” Alison said, patting Meghan’s back, soothing her. “I know you are, Meghan. Just think... we’re going to be sisters now, in truth,” she said cheerily.

“I’m so happy,” Meghan exclaimed, and wept as though her heart would rent in two.

“Alison,” Colin said, his tone contrite. Alison turned to look at him, continuing to pat Meghan’s back. “Thank you for risking yourself for Meghan,” he said. “That was a brave thing for you to do, lass. We owe you a lot for it.”

Alison smiled brightly at him. “You owe me naught for that, Colin Mac Brodie. But thank you anyhow.”

“Och, now who could that be?” Leith said suddenly.

Meghan was so busy weeping, burying her face against Alison’s shoulder, that she didn’t see the approaching riders, nor did she hear them, until Colin exploded with anger.

“Damn him,” her brother said.

“How dare he show his face here,” Leith said angrily. “English bastard!”

“It’s bluidy Montgomerie,” Gavin said, aghast.

Meghan froze.

She peered up to see Lyon and his men approaching quickly.

Seated high atop his destrier, with his golden hair flowing behind him, he rode toward them, his look wrathful and full of purpose.

“Och, God,” Meghan exclaimed, coming to life as her brothers drew their swords and went to greet him. She seized Alison by the arm. “I cannot face him, Alison. Come with me.”

And she dragged Alison toward the chapel.