How could she doubthim?
“Sweet lass, I would spend every waking moment up here, loving you roundly and ne’er stopping until the end of alldays.”
“That is lust, notlove.”
“We will speak of love at the year’s end.” He had to be firm. He’d never forgive himself if the hardships of his life wearied her. And though things were much better than he’d dared to hope – a wildly popular writer had rented a room in the Gannet House basement to use days as a secluded writing office, paying a huge rent because he so wished and could, claiming it was worth the inspiration he found in such an atmospheric oldhouse.
He’d also engaged Greyson’s assistance in research, wanting to use his knowledge of ships, sailing, and the far northern seas in a new series he was penning aboutVikings.
In payment, he’d promised Greyson a small percentage ofroyalties.
Still…
He suspected Irwin Russell’s landowning friend, or even a Dudding, would have made her a much more suitable husband,financially.
“The time will pass soon enough,” he said, knowing he was the better man for her in every otherway.
“Nae.” She shook her head. “I would hear the wordsnow.”
“Lass.” He frowned as she crossed to the room and bent to scoop her discarded gown off the garret’s hard, wood-plankedfloor.
Wiggle had apparently been napping under the gown for he sped away now, running to the windows where he leapt about on a ‘ladder’ of branches Greyson had built for him in thecorner.
Greyson sighed, watching him. Sometimes he wished his own life could be sosimple.
More than anything, he wanted Opheliahappy.
“Precious lass,” he began again, “I have told you why I cannae say thewords.”
“And I have waited.” She pulled the gown over her head, covering her sweetness, a determined glint in her eyes. “Now I am tired. Not of you, my heart, but of the silence. So listen, and hear me well. There is no reason todelay.”
Greyson snatched an ancient plaid off a chair and threw it on before he answered. “Nothing has changed. When the year ismet-”
“You saw the seahorse,” she said, making no sense atall.
“So?”
“It means I have found happiness,” she told him, her voice thick. “True love, and the greatest ever contentment. Supposedly, you should feel thesame.”
Hedid.
But he was also aHighlander.
His damnable pride held histongue.
“See here,lass-”
“No, you must see.” She dashed at her cheek and he was horrified to see a tear track glistening on her petal-smooth skin. “Do you know why my silver shawl is so special? Why it means so much tome?”
“I ken thon wee piece of it near maddened me until I found you,” headmitted.
“There is more.” She went again to the windows, turning her back to him as shespoke…
“Many years ago, when my parents still lived, my father took us on a short holiday to Skye,” she told him, her voice soft, gentled by reminiscence. “It was the most exhilarating time, such a joy.” She paused, a visible chill rippling through her. “I should say that was so until the morning I walked a beach alone and had to see hundreds of tiny seahorses washingashore.”
“Seahorses?” Greyson crossed the room to her, but remained standing a foot or so behind her. “Were theyalive?”
“Yes,” she said, her voice hitching. “But they shouldn’t have been there. They belong in deep water, far out to sea. Yet they kept coming ashore. I ran up and down the beach, gathering them by the handfuls, returning them to thewater.
