“You haven’t told her, have you?” Laurel asked without preamble.
“She knows Colina was unfaithful.”
“And that’s it?” Laurel sighed. “No wonder she thinks you’re grieving for her.”
“What?” Dominic glanced at Laurel before skipping another stone. “Why would a mon grieve a cheating wife?”
“Because she believes you still love Colina. She thought it was grief, not anger when you saw your chamber. She thinks you couldn’t go in there because the memories were too painful. She’s right, of course. But she thinks it’s because you miss Colina, not because you despise her. Why haven’t you told her?”
“Did you spill all your secrets to Brodie within days of meeting him?”
“I did.” Laurel’s answer was succinct and practical. Dominic turned to look at his sister-by-marriage and realized she wasn’t exaggerating. Her blunt answer matched the truth. “Are you too angry to even speak of her?”
“No. I mean, I can contain my anger most of the time. I know I overreacted, but I didn’t want Emelie anywhere near the evil Colina possessed. You know Em. She’s naive, but she’s not cruel or deceptive.”
“No, she is not. That’s why she deserves the truth,” Laurel pointed out.
“What am I supposed to say? ‘Hello, new wife. My auld wife only married me to become Lady Campbell. She killed my mother and tried to kill Laurel. She plotted to have Brodie’s first bride murdered. And she was lazy to boot.’ That’s a fine welcome to her new home.”
“I don’t see why not. That’s what happened. Colina was evil. She played you and Graham for fools. You saw in her what she wanted you to see. She did the exact same thing to Graham. The difference is, you chose honor and duty when Graham chose envy and malice.” Laurel slid off the boulder and stood before Dominic. She smiled as she considered how similar the brothers appeared. But she’d never been attracted to Dominic, and she could already tell that the only Campbell brother who held any appeal to Emelie was Dominic. “No one saw Colina for who she really was. If I hadn’t come along, it’s likely no one would have. Her pride led her to boast and made it easy for me to deduce what she did. But you were a good husband to her. I saw it, and I’ve heard how you were. It wasn’t your fault.”
“Nae ma fault!” Dominic exploded. He registered the shock on Laurel’s face, but she didn’t step back. “How the hell was it nae ma fault? I brought that bitch into our home, made her part of ma family and ma clan. I coddled her and defended her to everyone. I chose her over duty. I even ran from a bluidy battlefield to see her and ease her fears rather than stay with Brodie and help with our dead and wounded. She cuckolded me, and there isnae a member of this clan that doesnae ken that. She betrayed us all. She betrayed me.” Dominic’s voice was a raspy whisper by the time he finished.
“Dom, let yourself grieve.” Laurel’s voice was soothing, but it grated on Dominic’s frayed nerves. “You might not be grieving Colina, but you have a right to grieve the death of your dreams, of what you believed your life would be. Take if from someone who bottled up that same grief for years on end. It doesn’t make you a pretty person. It drives everyone around you away. Is that what you want with Emelie? Is that why you brought her here? To abandon her?”
“I would never abandon her,” Dominic growled.
“Your body might be here, but your heart won’t be. That’s the most painful kind of abandonment. It’s the cruelest.” Dominic listened to the pain in Laurel’s voice. She’d reconciled with her older brother, Montgomery, but little had changed between her and her parents or her other sisters. They refused to accept that she wasn’t the shrew people had called her, nor did any of them admit that sending Laurel to court was the wrong choice. “Dom, I’m her friend, but I’m not her husband. I will help her adjust, and I’ll make sure she has aught she needs for her and the bairn. But there are some things only you can provide.”
“I ken.” Dominic sighed, tossing the last of his pebbles in the water, before scrubbing his hands over his face. “I never want her to regret coming here. I want her to have a place to call home, even if she only accepts it for a year.”
“Do you want her to stay longer? Do you really want to be her child’s father?”
“Yes, to both. The bairn is ours, not hers, as far as I’m concerned.”
“Then you’d better tell her. And sooner rather than later. She won’t appreciate you keeping secrets when she’s trusted you with hers.”
“I ken, and I will. I promise.” Dominic accepted Laurel’s embrace. They walked back to the keep as the bells chimed for the evening meal.
* * *
Dominic ducked into the barracks and rushed to run a soapy linen over his neck and chest before changing out of the breeks he’d worn while at court and traveling. He breathed a sigh of relief when he wrapped his plaid around him and donned his sporran. He felt normal once more. He’d been sleeping in the barracks whenever he was home, so he still had a set of clothes waiting for him. He couldn’t fathom why Lowlanders preferred the ridiculous breeks to the freedom of a plaid. The single piece of clothing was more useful than an entire Lowland wardrobe put together.
Settled into his regular attire and looking once more like a proper Highlander, Dominic entered the Great Hall just as Emelie descended the stairs. He could tell she’d bathed because the long platinum braid that hung over her shoulder was still damp. She had on a subdued gown compared to what she would have worn at court, but she looked stunning. The kirtle fit her perfectly, accentuating all the right angles. But Dominic immediately noticed that it was snug across the bust. He caught her surreptitious glances down at it and when she tried to adjust the neckline inconspicuously. As he crossed the floor to meet her at the bottom of the stairs, he noticed she was nearly spilling out of the top. When she spotted him, her cheeks flamed red.
“It was the only one that even came close to being presentable. I’m so sorry.” At Dominic’s confused stare, she explained. “My breasts have swelled. None of my gowns fit properly. The two I traveled in were meant for the journey and kept me more covered. I need to find Laurel. I’ll embarrass you and me both if I go around like this. Mayhap she has a shawl I can borrow.”
As though she had a sixth sense, Laurel approached with two pieces of fabric in her hands. She handed a plaid and a brooch Emelie hadn’t noticed to Dominic. She kept a white triangular linen that Emelie didn’t recognize. “Go in Brodie’s solar,” Laurel instructed. She cocked an eyebrow at Dominic, but Emelie didn’t understand. Dominic led her into a chamber that felt far more masculine than the solar upstairs. Books, maps, and ledgers lined the walls. An enormous oblong table sat in the center, and Emelie knew this was where Brodie met with the clan council.
“Em,” Dominic said as he closed the door. He turned her toward him and gazed into the blue-hazel eyes that drew him like a moth to the flame. “I would have presented this to you on our wedding day, or even at our handfast if I’d had it. This sash is made with the Campbell laird’s family pattern. When you wear it along with this brooch, people will know you’re the clan tánaiste’s wife.”
Dominic tentatively draped the plaid sash over Emelie’s left shoulder and pinned it in place. His heart stuttered to see her in his clan’s plaid. He didn’t know where Laurel found the brooch, because it wasn’t the one he’d given Colina; he assumed the sash was one of hers and not his dead wife’s. The deep blue complimented Emelie’s eyes and made them sparkle. He’d never seen a more lovely sight than his bride standing before him, and he felt a sense of pride that had been missing for longer than he realized. It had burned low while Colina was alive, and the shame he lived with snuffed it out.
“You’re beautiful,” Dominic murmured before lowering his head to kiss Emelie. She wrapped her arms around his neck and sighed when their lips met. The soft, warm puff of air snapped Dominic’s control. He lifted her off her feet and brought her to the edge of the table. He wasn’t certain who guided who, but Emelie reclined while he brought his body over hers. The kiss shared their combined hunger for more contact. Emelie’s knees bracketed Dominic’s hips as his hands roamed over her ribs, shoulders, and neck. He was careful not to trap her tender breasts between them. When he recalled why he was being cautious, he jerked away.
Dominic stared at Emelie as she propped herself on her elbows, looking hurt and confused. But she still looked delectable and ravishing. He wanted to dive in for a second helping of her kisses. But he also noticed that he’d nearly coupled with her for the first time, and it would have been on a table in his brother’s solar. It felt as wrong as knowing her first time with Henry had been in a scullery storeroom.
“I didn’t lock the door,” Dominic said gruffly. “I don’t want Laurel or Brodie to walk in and embarrass you.” Emelie nodded as he helped her off the table. Her eyes still looked dazed as he led her to the door. He paused before they entered the passageway and tilted her head back. “You are so beautiful, Em. You deserve to be cherished.”
