He’ll come around, Madadh said, startling me.
“Whyhim?” Callum demanded.
“He has a massive house,” I snapped.
He has a few massive things, Madadh chuffed.
“Ah dinnae like this,” Uncle Callum muttered, shaking his head before turning his glare back on Thaddeus.
“I assure you, I was going to ask for Euphemia’s hand in marriage as soon as we returned,” Thaddeus said, trying to reassure him.
But my uncle’s eyes narrowed on him before flicking back to me.
“I bet ye were,” he growled, nostrils flaring.
My cheeks heated at his suspicion, but I hooked my arm through my uncle’s.
“Just think,” I said lightly, tugging at him,“he’ll be like yer new son.”
“Ower ma dead body,” he snapped—but his arm tightened around mine.
And finally, he moved.
? ? ?
The journey home in the coach was awkward. My uncle wedged himself firmly between us, though it did nothing to stop Thaddeus and me from staring at one another.
“Yer baith making me feel ill,” he muttered eventually.
The truth was, I felt an almost constant need to touch some part of Thaddeus. Even with the bond between us, the ache to be close to him refused to fade.
Without a word, my uncle dragged me off the path to Eilidh House and took me home. When I glanced back, Thaddeus stood there—looking forlorn. Lost.
The sensation hit me through the bond a heartbeat later.
Even Madadh whined at the separation.
The guilt hit hard when Aunt Flora burst into tears at the sight of me. Lying to them—about getting lost, snowed in, and some vague illness—felt heavier than I’d expected.
My uncle stood in the corner, grunting every so often.
“We’ll be going home tomorrow,” he said.
“Home tae what?” I gasped, panic flaring sharp and sudden.“There’s nae work and nae food.”
And Thaddeus.
I turned to Aunt Flora, who was wringing her hands.
“I want tae marry him,” I said.
Her eyes widened.
“Ye’d want tae marry a Sassunach,” Ranald sneered from behind me.
I spun to face him.
“Aye. Ah wud,” I snapped.“He didnae huv anythin’tae dae wi’what happened tae oor parents.”
