His penetrating green gaze never left Edith. “A pleasure, Mistress Gallagher.”
Ismay looked around the room, nodded in appreciation, and then left Edith alone with the handsome Scot. Edith remained frozen, like a rabbit spotting danger, as he circled the table and approached. Her heart beat frantically when he gently took her elbow and guided her toward a chair. It was all she could do to keep her legs beneath her before she collapsed onto the seat.
His fingers brushed her shoulder as he pushed her chair closer to the table, sending gooseflesh prickling along her arms. “I am pleased you came, lass. I didnae know if you would.”
She didn’t know what to say. If he had stayed away, there would be no war waging inside her. Nevertheless, he was here, and lovely evening he’d planned for them filled her with wistfulness. In lieu of words, she uttered an ambiguous grunt and shook out the napkin to drape it over her lap.
Mr. McTaggart chuckled and took his seat across from her. “You learnt a thing or two from your time with the clan. I expect ye’ll be able to carry on a conversation without using a single word in no time.”
Edith smiled. Tension melted from her shoulders. “What I meant to say was… thank you for inviting me.”
“Would you like to see what we’re being served before you offer your thanks?” He lifted a silver dome from one of the dishes.
Edith’s eyes widened. “A soufflé. I never learned to make one that didn’t cave in the middle. What’s inside?”
“Corned beef.”
He served a generous spoonful onto her plate, and Edith leaned forward to inhale the savory scent. “It looks and smells delicious,” she said. “I believe I will stand by my thank you, after all.”
Next, he poured red wine into her goblet. When he set the bottle aside, she raised an eyebrow in question.
“I’m refraining from drinking anything more potent than tea,” he said with a wink. “A certain bonnie lass suggested I should keep my wits about me if I want her to take me seriously.”
Edith lifted the goblet and slowly swirled the wine, a subtle move she’d seen Lord Thorne make at supper, avoiding Mr. McTaggart’s flirtatious teasing. Memories of their kiss on the stairway made her pulse to sputter. But as the meal progressed and she sipped her wine, her initial tension began to ease. Warm tingles spread through her body, soaking into her skin and heating her from the inside.
“Is this how everything could be with us?” she blurted. “Uncomplicated? Easy?”
A corner of his mouth inched up. “No’ all the time, I expect. You’re no’ the easy sort, are you, Eddi? But neither am I, so I need a woman to challenge me now and again.”
She placed her wine goblet on the table while she considered his answer. “Is that how you truly view me? I believe you called me a harpy once.”
A deep blush climbed his face. “Well, you cannae hold the past against me. That was before I knew I loved you, lass.”
Edith could sense the wine rushing through her veins, leaving her woolly-headed and uncertain she’d heard correctly. “Did you say you love me?”
“Aye.” He stood and came to urge her to stand too. His arms slid around her waist. “If I didnae love you, I wouldna have asked you to be my bride.”
“You were foxed last night. I thought you didn’t realize what you were saying.”
“Oh, aye. I knew well enough what I wanted last night.” He drew her closer, his touch comforting and exciting at the same time. “It’s the same as I want now. I’ve waited many long years to find you, Eddi, my love. I cannae allow you to walk away.”
He eased from their embrace and lowered to one knee, taking her hands in his. Edith’s fingers curled around his larger, stronger palms and held on tightly.
“Will you marry me, lass?”
Her legs trembled. She wanted to shout out her acceptance and fling herself into his arms. As a girl, she had dreamed of a moment just like this one. A romantic proposal. A declaration of love. Yet, never once in her dreams had she imagined choosing between remaining loyal to a friend and the man she loved. Either way, she would disappoint someone dear to her.
“I—” She swallowed hard. “I don’t know. I mean, I do,” she rushed to clarify when his strong brows furrowed. “I-I think.”
She bit her bottom lip, blinking rapidly to keep the tears at bay. Mr. McTaggart was correct about some things being difficult for them. Besides Lavinia needing her, there was the very real possibility Edith couldn’t bear him children.
His frown deepened, and he rose from the floor. Her heart dropped. He was giving up already.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
“We need to sort through what’s keeping you from knowing.” He slipped his arm around her shoulders and guided her from the dining room. “I cannae be the only one certain about us if we hope for a good start.”
He led her through the dim corridor toward a part of the castle she’d never seen. Candlelight flickered on the stone walls, casting eerie shadows along the winding passage. Memories of nights spent skulking through alleys in search of food or a place to sleep flashed through her mind. She shivered.
