Covering Edith with a blanket, Heather took that as her cue to leave, for she had no intention of sleeping until daylight. She doubted she could, even if she wanted to, for her mind was ablaze with too many things: the real killer, the advice Edith had given, the reaction of her father, the lying priest, Brandon’s futile efforts, among others. Those thoughts would only keep chattering, even with her eyes closed.
I do hope that Owen will visit me, otherwise I shall drive myself to the brink of madness, with all of this frantic running in my mind.Heavy limbed and aching from the after effects of the cold, she made her way back up to her chamber. It was not too far from Edith, and Heather hoped that, in time, they would become close, as real sisters were.
Indeed, she already adored Edith. She just wished she had known about her sooner, so she could have shared in their happy wedding day, instead of hearing about it much too late.
Why did you not trust me with it, William?To her dismay, she sensed she already knew the answer. Not long ago, she had openly despised the Scots, as she was taught to do. So, whywould her beloved brother have introduced her to someone he thought she might hate?
A knock came at Heather’s door, just as she was beginning to doubt herself. Beyond the window of her chamber, the first purple flush of dawn strove to lighten the sky, but she doubted any of their quintet, other than Edith, would be asleep before daylight.
“Come in,” she said hesitantly.
If anyone but Owen walked through that door, she would be crushed. Of course, she knew there were exceptions to the things that Edith had said about it being true proof of his affections. Owen might have assumed Heather would be asleep, and wanted to let her rest, or the men’s discussion in the council chamber had been prolonged. The trouble was, she had talked herself into something of a frenzy.
The door opened and, to her immense relief, Owen stepped into the room. He closed the door behind him and made his way directly to her, gathering her up into his arms and holding her as though he never intended to release her again.
“I hoped ye wouldn’ae be asleep,” he murmured, close to her ear.
She smiled and nuzzled into his neck. “I could not rest.”
“Are ye well? Have ye taken ill? Do ye want me to send for the healer?” He pulled back with a start, observing her closely and resting the back of his hand to her brow, to see if she was warm. “Ye’re a touch hot, but then ye’ve been sittin’ close to the fire.”
She took his hand and kissed it. “I am quite well, my love. I have no fever, though I feared I would never be able to feel my body again. I do not believe I have ever been so cold in my life.”
“Are ye warmed now?” A glimmer of relief and irreverence flashed in his eyes.
She slipped her arms around his waist and pulled him back into an embrace. “I will be, as long as I have you here. You are like my own, private furnace.”
“And glad to be,” he said, with a chuckle. “Though, ye shouldn’ae still be in yer damp garments, else ye’ll awaken with a chill.”
She frowned up at him. “But my garments are not—” The laughter in his eyes cut her off. He was teasing her, as if none of the night’s dangers had happened at all.
“May I?” He unfastened the ribbon that tightened the waist of her simple, woolen dress. But, as he reached for her skirts, clearly intending to pull the dress up over her head, she pressed her palms to his chest to stop him.
“There is something I must say to you, Owen,” she murmured, feeling shy. “I do not know how, as I have never told anyone this before, but—”
His fingertips came up to rest on her lips, silencing her. “Let me speak first, love.”
She noticed the sweet term of endearment and hoped the rest of his speech would follow its lead. Or, had he silenced her because he did not want her to confess? Were his feelings not the same as hers?
“I daenae ken what ye’re goin’ to say, but if it’s what me heart longs to hear, then I cannae let ye confess before me,” he continued, with a nervous smile. “I love ye, Heather. I ken it hasnae been easy for us, and it isnae likely to be in the future, at least for a while, but I ken what I want. I want ye, love. And, if ye consent, nothin’ would bring me greater joy than to have ye as me wife.”
Heather’s heart leaped with happiness as she gazed lovingly into his eyes, grateful that he had gone first. For now, she had no reason to fear any of the words that she had wanted to say.
“I love you, too,” she whispered, as though it were a mighty secret. “I realized tonight that I should not try to restrain my feelings for you, as none of us know if there will be a tomorrow. That sounds rather macabre, I know, but it is my inspiration. I do not want to hesitate any longer. I love you. I love you so very much, for though my heart was broken, you have held the pieces together, and I feel them heal every day that I am with you.”
It only occurred to her, as she was speaking, that he had made a proposal of marriage. He had said it with such ease that she had almost missed it entirely.
Marriage? My goodness… to be his wife. What a blessing that would be.Her heart danced a reel, for though she had desired a confession, she had not expected a proposal to come with it.
Owen cupped her face in his hands. “I never kent I could feel this way. I didnae think it possible.”
“Nor did I,” she admitted. “I thought I was destined for a loveless union with a gentleman that I would be fortunate to tolerate. That is how it seems to be for other young ladies, but then you came along, in such a… peculiar fashion, and you have changed my very existence. I cannot go back, I do not wish to go back, and so… yes, my love, I will marry you.”
Owen smiled. “I kent that if ye loved me and I loved ye, ye’d have to make a choice. It warms me heart and soul to hear ye say that ye’ve chosen me. I willnae make ye regret it,” he promised. “From this day until our last, which I hope is decades in the future, I will do all within me power to keep ye feelin’ loved. Ye’re me savior and me gift, Heather, and I love ye with all I am.”
“There was no choice. I do believe it was always supposed to be you,” she told him, lifting up on tiptoe to press her lips to his. He might have confessed first, but she would seal their promise with a kiss before he could.
He smiled against her lips and caught her mouth with his, while his hand slipped behind her head, running his fingertips through her hair as he kissed her. Already, she could feel a change in the way he kissed her, as if he had left all of his hesitation behind, too.
