“If we resolve this, Dom, I have no reason to leave. I don’t want to leaveyou. But I can’t stop thinking this is the right decision.”
“Canna stop.” Dominic’s eyes narrowed. “Just how long have ye been crafting this idea, sparrow?”
“Since the arrow in the meadow,” Emelie confessed. “I’m scared, wolf. I’m scared for you, for our bairn, for this clan, for me. I don’t know what else to suggest. Staying here isn’t hiding me well enough if this is even aboot me. We don’t know if the cause of this is purposely being cagey, or if they don’t know there are two bairns involved.”
“I ken ye’re scared, but where do I take ye? South to yer family and toward every Lowlander in Scotland? North in late autumn, where we could be snowed in if winter comes early? Do I take men from the garrison who we need to protect the keep, Laurel, and Rick? Do I take ye to another one of our keeps and bring danger to people who dinna have the resources to defend themselves as we do here? Ye canna leave, Em. Nay until we ken who this is aboot.”
“Then ask your prisoner again. Demand the men on the wall speak.”
“We dinna consider going anywhere without thinking this through, Em. I still believe ye are safer here than out on the road.”
“I don’t disagree with you,” Emelie said. “But staying may not be a choice much longer.”
Dominic studied Emelie, making his heart race with apprehension. “Promise me ye willna take this into yer own hands. Promise, Emelie, or I willna let ye out of this chamber until ye die of auld age. I will break ma promise to release ye if ye dinna promise me right now.”
“Do you really think I would take off without you?”
“Aye. I think ye’re growing desperate enough to do just that.”
“You really believe I’m that stupid.”
“Dinna pretend to be insulted. Stupidity and desperation arenae the same, but sometimes desperation makes people do unreasonable things. I dinna think ye’re stupid in the slightest. I think ye’re canny enough to figure out how to slip out. But ye ken I will come after ye. What happens if I canna get to ye soon enough?”
“Then we’re at an impasse.” Emelie crossed her arms and inhaled a deep breath. Her lips pursed to keep from saying more.
“We are nae. We are coming to an agreement to consider as many choices as we can think of, then we will pick the best one. And that may be staying here. Promise me, Emelie.” Dominic’s fingers bit into Emelie’s upper arms as he grasped them. She suspected he wanted to shake her, but he wouldn’t. The punishing hold spoke of his fear though, and she knew she was adding to it. She leaned against him, and he released her arms immediately. He wrapped himself around her. “I’m terrified, Emelie. Please dinna decide aught without me.”
“I promise,” Emelie conceded. She could hear the raw anguish in Dominic’s voice, and she realized that not only was he scared, he also felt guilty. He feared what she did: that she brought danger to the clan. But he also believed he brought yet another wife to his people who caused trouble, even if this wasn’t Emelie’s fault. She understood he was grasping at any means to fix the problem. “Dom, I’m tired. Can we lie down for a while? Will you stay until I fall asleep?”
“I’m nae leaving yer side.” Dominic pulled the laces free from Emelie’s gown and lifted it over her head. Pushing it down over her belly and hips was no longer an option. He stripped off his boots and plaid as Emelie climbed into bed in her stockings and chemise. He drew her closer once he tucked them under the covers. He knew she suggested the nap to give him time to think, comfort her, and to ease his own fears. He knew she understood all he wanted to do was hold her, to feel that she was safe with him.
“Dominic, no matter what happens, I love you. That won’t change, whether I stay or I go.”
“I willna break ma promise like I said. I shouldnae have threatened that.”
“I promise not to leave on my own. I’m not bothered by what you said. I understand. But I need you to stop thinking this is your fault. Whoever is doing this brought danger to our clan. It wasn’t you.” Emelie’s voice dropped, and Dominic struggled to hear her. “I don’t want you to regret bringing me here.”
“Emelie, ye are ma wife. I love ye, and I do nae regret handfasting with ye. I havenae once, and I willna. Emelie, I want ye to marry me. A priest, the kirk, and vows nay one can break.”
“I want to marry you too. My answer is yes. Without reservation, yes. But I’m scared this isn’t the right time for that.”
“Some people—especially Lowlanders who dinna understand our traditions—will claim it isnae a proper marriage. And in a sense, they arenae wrong. If ye’re ma wife before God and the law, whoever this is, may nae be so quick to act anymore.” Dominic tipped Emelie’s chin until their gazes met. “But dinna for a moment think that is the only reason I wish to marry ye. Trouble or nae, I want to spend the rest of ma life with ye, Em; I want to build a family with ye, and I want to grow auld with ye. I want to share ma life with only ye. I have since the vera beginning. I would have married ye from the start. I offered the handfast because I realized marrying a stranger might be too much for ye to accept.”
“It was, but only because of the situation I was in. I wanted to marry you, too. I still do. And not for the protection you’ve given me. I want to marry you because I can’t imagine spending a lifetime without talking to you, seeing you, holding you. I don’t want any other mon to be the father of any of my children. I love you.” Emelie paused as a new thought came to mind. “Do we have to post the banns still?”
“Aye. Even with a handfast, we must.”
“It’ll force this person’s hand. Either they come forward to stop us, if this is aboot me, or they’ll get more desperate to keep us from marrying.”
“I’m nae eager to tempt fate, Em. I dinna want to make them act in haste. It only makes it more dangerous for ye.”
“The only other option, besides me leaving, is waiting indefinitely. Do you want that?”
“I dinna want any of this.” Dominic considered their choices, which seemed as limited as Emelie said. “We post the banns. If aught happens, then we ken it’s aboot us. If that’s the case, we’ll sail down Loch Awe. Brodie and I have a winter hunting cabin. Nae many people ken where it is. We can go there if we canna stay here.”
Emelie nodded, glad they finally had a possible resolution. She tucked herself back under Dominic’s chin. When he spoke again, she fought to listen. The rumble of his chest made her sleepy.
“I’m hesitant to take ye because it willna be vera comfortable for ye. It’s meant for a handful of men who only need a place to lay their head at night while they spend the day hunting. There arenae any beds, nae even cots. We just use bedrolls.”
