Page 36 of When a Highlander Vows (Enemies to Lovers #1)

36

O nce they entered the main hall, the pets found them, rushing through the door to them. Caitlin paused in the doorway, Lucas’ hand still holding hers.

“Dear Lord,” she whispered to herself as she looked up and around.

Everything thing, every detail in the room was clear. From the artwork to the armor to the outline of stones in the castle wall. She could even see the individual flames in the fire in the hearth. And then when her eyes turned to the group of people sitting at the longest table in the hall, she could see each of their faces clearly and from a distance.

Colin, Sarah, Archie, Paige, and Lottie all were looking at her with amazement as well as happiness.

“So ye have finally joined us! I took the liberty of invitin’ everyone to have our evenin’ meal with us,” Lottie said with a big smile.

It embarrassed her to think that everyone seemed to know about her and Lucas, but with her mind more focused on what she was seeing with her eyes, she didn’t care. It was incredible, something she’d never thought possible in the whole of her life.

What would Seamus think of this ? she thought with delight and a tinge of sadness that he was not there to share in her happiness.

“Caitlin, what are ye wearin’?” Colin called, cocking his head to the side.

With Lucas’ hand in hers, she approached the table. Everyone’s eyes followed her, and everyone was interested in what she wore on her eyes.

“This is the reason Lucas left all of a sudden,” she said. “He went to get me this beautiful gift. They are spectacles; they help me to see. It is an amazin’ thing,” She looked at him, and he smiled at her, squeezing her hand.

She looked around the hall, still amazed at how perfectly she could see it all. It would never get old or tiresome, to be able to see the world again.

I cannae wait to see the sea.

“Aye, I had heard about them from Paige, and I went in search of them. I was so lucky to find them too. It did nae take me long.”

“Fate had a hand in things,” Lottie said. “I knew it would. How wonderful.” She pulled Caitlin into an embrace, and the others did the same, coming to congratulate her.

She started crying and laughing at the same time, and once all the greetings had been made, Lucas led her to a seat. Everyone seemed to know that there was now something between them, even if she wasn’t yet entirely sure what it was. But she knew that Lucas would share his heart when he was ready, and she too would share hers. But now, it was enough to be close to him, to know that he cared for her deeply, that they’d given one another such wonderful pleasure. The gift he’d given her was a true gesture of his love. She had been given her sight again.

After they sat, Paige, reached over to grab Caitlin’s hand and whispered, “I am so happy for ye, Lass,” she said, watching as Caitlin removed the spectacles and set them next to her.

With everyone so close to her, she could see their faces clearly.

Paige said, “Bram was nae for ye. I thought perhaps it might have worked, but I can see now that ye are happy this way. It seems that he is the same,” she added, nodding at Lucas who was in spirited conversation with Archie.

“Aye,” Caitlin said with a blush, and frowning, she added, “Ye daenae mind?”

“Nay, nae at all.” With a rueful expression, she added, “I am sorry for what I said. But I willnae stand in the way of true love. I think I simply want it for myself, and I thought Lucas was—” she let her eyes wander to him, and Caitlin worried for a second about the heart of her friend. “It wasnae love. I ken that now.”

“And Martin?” Caitlin teased.

“Och, nay. He is just a friend, although I dae think he wishes for it to be more, but I have nay interest in him like that at all. Perhaps there will be someone else.” She got a distant look in her eye, and Caitlin smiled.

“Aye, of course, there will be. Paige, whatever ye may think of me, I think ye lovely and bonny, and smart. There will be someone who will see that. I ken it. Daenae lose hope. And if someone like me can find a love, then so can ye.”

Paige laughed and shook her head. “Ye still cannae see yer worth, can ye?”

“Aye,” Sarah said. “She will struggle with that always, I believe. But I hope that Lucas will help to teach her to see it more and more. He had better, or I will have somethin’ to say about it.”

Caitlin blushed, afraid that the men could overhear the ladies’ conversation. Turning to Lucas, she saw he was watching her but only for a moment. He gave her a quick smile, now so easy on his face, before turning back to his friend.

As a group, they ate, and Lottie regaled them with a few tales of the past in which a drunken guest had been found days later after a feast, still drunk, in a hidden alcove in the castle. Once food, wine, and laughter had all filled them to satisfaction, it was time for bed.

Caitlin was exhausted. She hadn’t realized how much energy she’d put into hoping for Lucas to see the light, to see her as something more than just his ward. To get out of his own head to see that he deserved happiness too.

“I can see that our guest of honor is fatigued,” Lottie said, winking at her, and Caitlin blushed.

She wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to the idea that Lottie knew how much Caitlin loved Lucas and had wished for him to feel the same, but perhaps one day she could get used to it.

“Ye must nae always think of me as a guest of honor, Lottie,” she said with a laugh, “if I am to be here for so long.” She did not wish to say forever, afraid it might scare Lucas away.

“Just for a little while longer, Lass,” Lottie said with a big smile, the creases around her eyes growing longer.

They all stood, and Archie took his wife’s arm, and Colin jumped up from his seat to come and stand next to Caitlin.

“Will ye always wear those spectacles, Caitlin?” he asked her, looking up at them hanging from her hand.

“Nay, only when I need them, Lad. When I want to see far away, I will wear them. Dae ye like them?”

“Aye,” he said nodding with a big smile, and she knelt down, grabbing his hand.

“I’m glad. Perhaps ye and I can go to the garden soon, and I can take me spectacles and finally see all the plants.”

“Aye!” he cried with delight. “I want to dae that.”

Sarah laughed. “Fine, but nae now, Lad.” She reached out a hand for him, and he rushed toward her, grabbing it.

When Caitlin stood, she could feel Lucas at her back, and it sent a warm wave of pleasure through her. She felt safe and protected, and she bit back a delighted gasp when she felt his hand spread across her lower back. Through all the layers of fabric and stays, she could feel the heat of his hand.

“Good night, everyone,” she said, and they waved, calling their goodnights, and Lottie kissed her on the cheek.

“Welcome home, Lass, for I hope ye will now think of it as such,” she whispered in her ear, and Caitlin smiled as she left.

Turning to Lucas, he instantly drew her into his arms, no matter who might see. He smiled again, and her eyes fell to his mouth. She would never tire of his smile or the fact that holding her seemed to make him happy.

“May I take ye to yer chamber, Sunshine?” he asked.

“Aye. Please.” Her heart speeding up, she took his arm, hoping that he might wish to stay with her, that they could continue what they started in his study.

She had spent so long without the touch of a man, and now that she’d met a man she was in love with, a man she wished to spend her days with, she was not eager to wait.

She leaned her head on his shoulder as they walked up to her chamber, Fallows and Percy following behind dutifully. This time, she wasn’t nervous with him, only excited. There was so much time ahead of them to learn one another, and she could finally hear more about his terrible past. She wanted to help him, to bring the light he so desperately needed. For even though he thought himself not capable, he had brought her light as well into the darkness of all her loss.

Outside her door, she turned to face him. Percy meowed to get into her chamber, and Fallows scratched, so she opened her door, and then turned back. Lucas was standing in front of her, his hands behind his back, and Caitlin frowned.

“Ye willnae come in?” she asked, disappointed, and he shook his head.

“Nay. Ye need yer rest. If I stay, we would be daein’ anythin’ but restin’.” His hungry look made her breathe in slowly, and she smiled, anticipating such a pleasure.

“Aye, but what if that is what I want?” she asked, reaching out for his shirt again as she had before, making him step closer to her.

“Me bold lass,” he said with a smile before kissing her.

She pulled him tight, hoping she could convince him with a kiss. His beard tickled against her mouth, making her warm and wet, ready again to feel his body against hers as he brought her to pleasure.

“I never thought I was so bold,” she said, when their lips parted. “I had never thought it of meself before. I suppose ye make me bolder with the way ye are always so confident and strong.”

Her hands slid up his shoulders, and when they met at the back of his neck, his eyes flashed at her with unspoken desire.

“I love that ye think me thus. But in yer presence, I feel as unschooled as a young boy, nervous about me every move,” he said honestly, and then he looked surprised that he had been so honest.

“Truly? One would never know.” She kissed him again, lightly on the lips, and he gripped her waist, holding her tight before he let her go and stepped back.

“Ye must let me go, Caitlin, for me willpower is about to snap.”

She sighed. If he wanted to be noble, then she would have to let him. She was tired, and tomorrow, she wanted to be at full strength to start their lives together.

“All right,” she said, stepping backward into her chamber, not letting her gaze drop.

A little growl escaped his throat, and she laughed, then shut the door in his face. Arla came soon after to help her to undress, and had brought a bath as well.

Once Caitlin slipped inside the warm water, she could tell Arla was eager to ask her something, and so with a chuckle, she said, “Go on, Arla. Ye seem to want to talk. What is it?”

Arla grinned and she turned to face Caitlin. “Ye must forgive me, Miss, but everyone is discussin’ it. Did the Laird bring ye a special gift? A gift to help ye see?”

“Aye,” Caitlin said, motioning to the table next to her bed. “They are there. The spectacles. It is incredible what they can dae. I never imagined it possible.”

She watched as Arla went to them and picked them up reverently, turning them over in her hands before setting them back down.

“Miss!” she cried. “How romantic!” She rushed back to Caitlin’s side. “Dae ye nae think?”

“I—” she began, not sure what to say after all that had happened. It was not a great secret, yet she did not want to share something so private. “It is a kind gesture. Very kind,” she settled on saying.

Arla winked at her. “Yer secret is safe with me. I ken the Laird cares for ye, Lass, ye daenae have to say anythin’.”

Caitlin couldn’t help it. She smiled as Arla finished her tasks about the chamber and bid her good night. In her rose-scented bath, Caitlin wondered at what a beautiful future lay ahead of her. Her life thus far had been full of sadness and darkness and loss, but now, she was able to find the happiness that had long been awaiting her. It was within her grasp.