Every muscle tightened.“The kirk? Why? Ye said the marriage was a ruse. I never agreed to this.”
“To over-react?I figured it was par for the course,” Theodore answered in a playful note that pulled Madison up short. She glanced at him with her lips pursed together.
“If nae for marriage,then why go?” she asked as she tried not to let the ire lace her tone.
“Tis more than a kirk,it’s an orphanage, lass. Sister Marget and her wee ones live there. I come and check on them from time to time and see they’re cared for.”
Madison blinkedas she let his words seep in. The way he said it so casually, as if it were merely a simple task and nothing more.
“But ye’re a laird,”she answered dumbstruck.
“Aye,”he answered. “Glad ye finally came to that realization. I was startin’ to wonder if ye ever would.” Theodore teased her.
“Nay,”Madison said as she pinched the bridge of her nose. “Lairds daenae go to orphanages.”
“If ye havenae realized,I’m nae like most other lairds, and I’d see meself run through before I become anythin’ like them.”
The convictionin his voice rang truer than anything anyone had ever spoken to her. Madison instantly felt the stress and panic drain from her neck and shoulders until her body was no longer taut. She bobbed her head and let his words seep into the very marrow of her being as they came up on the top of the ridge.
“That’s beautiful,”she managed to get out as Theodore stalled the horse for her to see the full view. Nestled in the valley stood the majestic stone masterpiece with a spire rising to kiss the tip of heaven. Even from far off, she could see the way the ivy grew along the west side, nearly consuming the stone structure.
“Wait till ye see the inside,”Theodore said as they started down the slope.
“The laird has come,”Madison heard a small voice proclaim. She whipped her head about to see where the voice had come from. Little heads started popped up from the garden wall and around trees.
“Theo!”a few children exclaimed as he slowed the horse to a stop. The children flocked to him with huge smiles and open arms.
“It’s him!It really is, he’s come,” another shouted as she noticed a few of the children darting for the kirk.
“And here Ithought ye’d all forgotten about me,” Theodore said as he slipped from the saddle. The wall around Madison’s heart shattered as if it were as fragile as the stained-glass windows of the kirk. It couldn’t make any sense to her that a man, let alone a laird would have such a heart.
“Ye promised sweets,”a young girl said as she rocked eagerly, eyes wide and expectant.
“Did I?”Theodore teased. “Are ye sure? I daenae think Sister Marget would like it very much if I spoiled the meal she has prepared for ye with sweets.”
“So ye dinnae bring any?”the girl asked, her smile dropping to a pout. Madison pressed her lips together to suppress the smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
“Now I dinnae sayI daenae have any,” Theodore said as he dove his hand into his saddlebag and drew out a bag. “Here. Go see that Sister Marget gets this, and I’m sure she’ll give ye one as a reward. Eliza was up all night makin’ these for everyone, so be sure ye share them.”
“I will,”the girl said as she grabbed the bag and darted for the kirk with half the children trailing after.
Theodore turnedto Madison and offered his hand to help her off the horse. She slipped down into his welcoming embrace. Her heart fluttered as she looked up at him. Had the kindness always been there? Or was she only now seeing it for the first time? Madison didn’t know for certain, but what she did know was that she saw it now.
“Come,best see if any of the villagers need help,” Theodore said as a young blond lass stopped in front of them. She bobbed a curtsy, and stood staring at him with a gap toothed smile. .
The doorsof the kirk opened, and a woman in a gray habit stepped out with her arms open wide and welcoming.
“Laird Theodore MacLeon,”she called, warmth in her tone as she stepped forward to greet him. “I have not seen ye for many a wee year.”
Theodore gavea low chuckle that was filled with real warmth. His expression though remained cool as he shrugged, the air around him suddenly thickening with his presence. “Aye, it has been a while since I could ride down into the village without havin’ clan duty to deal with.”
Sister Marget’seyes flicked to the small bag of sweets in his hand, her mouth twisting into an exasperated smile. “And of course, ye remembered to bring the little ones a bag of sweets.”
Theodore’s gazenever wavered as he met her eyes, his voice measured. “Aye. I did.”
Sister Marget’sgaze lingered on Madison, sharp and assessing. She arched an eyebrow, clearly waiting for an introduction. “Are ye goin’ to introduce me to yer lady friend here, then?”
“This is Madison,”Theodore answered.
