Helene snuggled closer. “Mmm…”
“I must tell ye something, love.” Dougall stepped back far enough to see her face and Helene again had an immediate sense of impending doom.
“What is it?” she asked, her voice filled with worry.
“Me father wishes me to return home. I must go.”
Helene’s worst fears were coming to fruition. “Ye cannae, ye’ve only just returned. What will I do without ye?”
“Helene, I want ye to come with me. It will be a good time for ye to meet me father and brothers. Ye can meet me sister, Brenna as well.”
She released the breath she’d been holding. “Ye really wish me to go with ye?”
“Aye.” Dougall got down on one knee. “But I have something to ask ye first.” He gazed up into her face and Helene felt her knees go weak. “Helene, will ye marry me?”
This is what she’d wanted to hear for so many months. She opened her mouth to speak, but her voice was lost. Tears of joy streamed down her face as she gazed upon Dougall’s puzzled expression.
“Do ye nay wish to marry me, Helene?” He sounded worried.
Helene pulled his head into her body and hugged him tightly, both laughing and crying. Finally her voice returned. “Aye, Dougall. I’ll happily marry ye.”
Dougall sprang to his feet and took her in his arms. “I love ye, Helene. I can’t imagine living me life without ye.”
“Oh, Dougall. I love ye. I always have.”
Their lips met in tender passion as they expressed their love, devotion and commitment to one another.
“Shall we go tell the others?” Dougall asked, wiping a happy tear from her face.
Helene nodded as Dougall pulled her into his side and headed for the great hall to make their announcement.
Irene, Jenna and Ashley gathered around Helene, each taking a turn to hug her and let her know how happy they were for her. The men did the same with Dougall.
“Shall we have a toast to this couple who are so obviously meant for one another?” Laird Robert MacKenzie asked.
“Aye. Sophia, will ye see to the whisky?” Irene smiled warmly in Sophia’s direction. “I imagine we’ll be hearing this same news about ye as well.”
Sophia blushed, glancing at Latharn. “Congratulations, Helene.”
“Thank ye, Sophia.” Helene watched as Sophia left the room to get the whisky.
“I hate that you’re leaving us,” Ashley said. “But I couldn’t be happier that it will be to marry Dougall.”
“We’ll be back. I’m sure of it. And we’ll celebrate me marriage then.” Helene said as she glanced at this group of women who’d been her sisters, her friends, her confidants. She wished she believed in her heart the words she’d just uttered. Something was telling her that this might be the last time she set eyes on her dear friends. A sadness came over her which she didn’t wish the others to see, so she smiled brightly and caught Dougall’s eye as he enjoyed the congratulations of the men.
He came to her immediately, taking her hand in his. “Is all well, Helene?” He seemed to sense her uneasiness and Helene immediately felt some relief with him by her side.
“Aye. I dinnae wish to leave Breaghacraig for good, Dougall.” She’d never lived anywhere other than Breaghacraig and the thought of leaving it forever to live in a strange new place where the only one she knew would be Dougall was unsettling to say the least.
Dougall stroked her cheek as he whispered, “We’ll be back, love. Dinnae fear. Ye’ll see yer friends again.”
“But if we don’t come back, Dougall, I want ye to ken that I love ye and I’m happy to spend the rest of me life with ye where ever that may be.” She hoped he knew she truly meant what she was saying. Helene could do anything as long as Dougall was by her side to protect and love her.
Lifting Helene’s chin with his finger, Dougall gazed into her eyes. “I’m happy of that, but as I said, we’ll be back. Dinnae think on it again. I dinnae wish to be away from me home for long either.”
Dougall had expressed to Helene on many occasions that he considered Breaghacraig his home and the MacKenzies his family, so she knew this was as difficult for him as it was for her. Mayhap he was right. They had no idea what Paddraig MacRae wanted with Dougall, but it couldn’t possibly be anything that would hold him there. He’d explained to her that he was in line to be laird, but his father was a hearty soul and Dougall couldn’t imagine him handing over the lairdship to him unless he was on his death bed. There was nae a thing to keep him there.
Chapter 2
