Page 40 of The Highland Curse

“Didnae I tell ye that I would be back?”

“Aye, ye did.” The horrors of the past few days caught up with her, and the words came out in a rush. “But I thought Fingal had convinced ye that I was insane. And I was afraid that ye would nae want tae associate with me any longer. He knew how tae conjure magic, and all along he planed tae murder me…”

He tightened his hold on her. “I wouldnae have let him do that. I knew that he was up tae something when his raven kept trailing us.”

“I didnae think ye accepted what I told ye about the raven.”

“I dismissed the idea at first,” he admitted, “but the bird continued tae follow us tae Dunnvie Castle. And then when MacNauld his men showed up, I knew ‘twas nay coincidence.”

Adrina’s brows creased in confusion. “But how did ye break the spell that Fingal placed on ye? I heard him recite an incantation while ye were unconscious. At the time, I was protected by the bloodstone, but ye didnae have anything tae shield yourself from his black magic.”

“I drank the potion.”

He picked up grimoire from the ground and handed it to her.

“Ye drank the potion?” she asked, taking the book from him. “As I recall, the last of the elixir dripped out from the vial.”

“’Twas nae the last of it.” He picked up his sword and slid it back in its sheath. “Before I left, I asked Venora to prepare an extra bottle of the tincture. ‘Tis ingrained in me tae prepare for the worst,” he said, shrugging as if he thought it was of no consequence. “’Twas after ye related how the curse affected your people that I decided tae take precaution. And before we ventured near the castle, I swallowed some of the concoction. “

“Then ye werenae affected by the black magic?” she asked.

“Nay, I drew from your description of how your people acted, and from what I observed at the courtyard. I then pretended to be under MacNauld’s influence.”

She looked at him in wonder. “When I recounted the descriptions tae ye, I was convinced that ye didnae believe a word I said. But ye retained everything and used it tae fool Fingal.” She paused. “Ye said that ye helped the guards come out of the enchantment?”

“Aye,” he said. “Earlier I had mixed the rest of the potion into the flask of whisky that I carried —”

“’Twas that nasty brew that ye offered me,” she said with a start.

He nodded. “While riding with the guards, I offered them the drink. Nay warm-blooded Scotsman can refuse a draught of whisky nay matter how nasty,” he said grinning. “With one sip of the drink, they came out of their stupor. And when I questioned them about MacNauld, they corroborated with all the things that ye have told me about your clan’s dilemma.”

Something else on the floor caught his attention and he bent to retrieve it.

“Here,” he said. “I believe this brooch belongs tae ye.”

Adrina took it from him and curled her fingers over the jewelry. When she was Fingal’s captive, she desperately wanted it. But now that she had it in her possession again, she wasn’t sure if she needed it. Perhaps if it didn’t exist, no one would have been tempted to wield its power, and her parents wouldn’t have died. The only thing she could do was to store it and the signet ring away. Perhaps over time, she would forget about all the trouble that they caused, all the things that she had lost.

“Thank ye for your help, Duncan,” she said, forcing a smile to her lips. “I might have died had ye nae come along. But now that Fingal and his evil domination are finished, Dunnvie can return tae normal and thrive once again.” She squeezed the brooch in her hand until the metal dug into her palm. “And now that my father is dead, I’ll have tae take leadership of the clan.”

“I’m certain that your clan will survive well under your leadership, however I willnae leave ye.”

She looked at him, startled. Did she hear him correctly?

“Dinnae look sae shocked, lass,” he said, chuckling. “After meeting a courageous lass like yourself do ye think I can walk away?”

Her heart began to accelerate, and the worries she had a moment ago were suspended. If Duncan stayed to help her restore Dunnvie, then the welfare of her clan would be assured.

“I ken that ye have a war tae fight,” she said cautiously. “But if ye want tae stay at Dunnvie Castle for a time, then ye are welcome. Dunnvie Castle may nae have the luxuries that Tancraig —”

“That isnae what I mean,” he said, his chuckle deepening, and the warm resonance of his amusement washed over her. He drew closer to her. Suddenly the humor in his countenance disappeared, and the expression on his rugged features turned serious. Lifting his hand, he traced his fingertips along her jawline. “I’ll make it plain tae ye. Adrina, my lass, I want tae marry ye.”

“Marry me?” she said, stunned. “Ye told me yourself that ye werenae interested in marriage…”

“That was before I got tae ken ye.” His gaze dropped to her mouth, lingering there briefly before he raised his compelling green eyes to hers. “Since then I’ve changed my mind.” He paused. “Ye have bewitched me, lass —”

“But —”

“Nay, let me finish,” he placed a finger to her lips, shushing her. “Ye have placed a spell on me the moment I saw ye at Tancraig Castle. But ‘twas nae magic that caused it. I can assure ye that I’ve never felt this way before for any other woman. ‘Twas your inner beauty, compassion and fire that caught me.” His deep brogue rumbled with love and warmth. “Sae I’ll ask again, Adrina. Will ye be my wife?”

“Aye!” she said, the tears starting to blur her vision. Never did she believe that she would wed the man of her dreams. “I love ye, Duncan.”

“I’m glad.” He brought his thumb and forefinger to her chin, and gently tilted her face up. “Because my heart, body and soul belongs tae ye — for all eternity.”

And with those words, he bent his head, and sealed his oath with a kiss.