“He has been a good brother to you.”
“Aye, that he has.”
They both looked down at the chained stone, letting silence rest between them.
“If I were to offer you a truth,” Viola said, quietly, “it would be this: I am sorry if I have put you in a position where you feel like your loyalties are divided between Ethan and myself.”
As Malcolm had just done, she mimicked picking up the chain, swinging it over her head, and releasing it.
Malcolm shook his head, something soft and tender in his gaze. “Ah, lass, the decision is hardly that simplistic. My love for Ethan does not have tae be linked with my care for yourself. None of us can help where our affections lie. Why, consider your situation. It’s not as if Ethan and myself were a pair of shoes, and ye simply chose the right over the left. Would ye have fallen for Ethan were I not around?”
Viola pondered that for a long moment, searching her heart.
“No,” she finally said. “I think it might have taken me a bit longer to understand my own heart, but I would have arrived at the same conclusion regardless. Consider that a second bonus truth.” She mimicked tossing the stone once more.
“So there ye are. It isnae as if I manipulated ye into choosing myself over Ethan.”
“But willhesee things that way?”
A long pause.
Malcolm let out a slow breath. “I fear he might not. That’s my truth.”
He mimed throwing the stone again.
“Let me tell Ethan.” She looked up, up, up into Malcolm’s warm brown eyes.
“He’s my brother, perhaps I should—”
“No. It should be me. As you say, Ethan might see the issues as being connected—one, my lack of affection for him, and two, my growing attachment to yourself. I want him to understand that they are unrelated, separate things. I’ll call tomorrow afternoon when he arrives home.”
“Are ye certain, Viola?”
Of course she was certain. Just as certain that she adored the husky sound of her name on his lips.
“I willnae be around tae help,” Malcolm continued. “Sir Rafe has arrived tae visit with Hadley, and we will be consulting on business matters for most of the day.”
“I am sure. Leave it with me. I shall tell Ethan as gently as I can.”
“Thank ye for caring so for my brother.” Malcolm’s eyes melted, the color of treacle in the sun.
“I will always do my best to safeguard those you love. That is my final truth.”
Because my heart is intertwined with yours, and your concerns become my own,she did not deign to add.
She pretended to hurl the stone one last time.
A faint smile touched his lips. “How like ye, lass, tae say and do such admirable things when I cannae kiss them from your lips.” He darted a meaningful glance toward Thistle Muir and the servants surely peeking out windows to watch them.
She raised an eyebrow. “Meet me tomorrow afternoon along the lane before the dinner party, and you may kiss a great many things from my lips.”
And truly, Malcolm’s slow spreading smile was almost as good as a kiss anyway, Viola decided.
But only almost.
17
Viola intended to keep her promise to tell Ethan herself.
