“By all means.”
Every muscle in Bryan’s body was so tense it ached. Could this truly be happening? Could these two men be so close to reaching an agreement?
And would the result be that Bryan would never see Katherine again?
“First,” Angus began, ticking the points off on his fingers. “Ye must stand by yer word that yer man will not interfere in our affairs. He may live among us without fear, he will be treated as a guest, his messages will be allowed freely and without inspection, but the moment he gives an order in yer name and expects me tae follow it, he will be expelled, and our agreement will be nullified.”
“Aye, that’s acceptable,” Alex replied. “What else?”
“Second, I dinnae want yer observer tae be Kirk Oliphant,” he continued shrewdly. “Forgive me, but the thought of entertaining the man ye meant tae marry her off tae, does nay sit well with me.”
“That’s reasonable enough. And the third?”
To Bryan’s surprise, the laird pointed at him. “I dinnae want him tae be yer observer either. From what I understand, he bears a marked resemblance tae the description of the man who abducted Katherine. I’d just as soon make sure that such a man never cast a shadow on McGregor lands ever again, under any circumstances.”
“Good. Then we have an accord.” Alex turned to Bryan. “Captain Black, ye may inform the McGregor sisters they will be going home at once.”
19
As he left the Great Hall, Bryan was certain he knew why Alex had chosen him for this errand: The laird anticipated that Bryan would want the chance to say a proper goodbye to Katherine.
He was grateful to Alex for that, at least, though his emotions were churning within him, crashing against each other like waves in a storm. It seemed there would be no need for war. Wasn’t that supposed to be enough to make him feel happy and relieved?
Hadn’t he spent much of the past year dreading the prospect of leading men into battle against the McGregors? Hadn’t he suffered nightmares of the men under his command dying needlessly; of having to convince the dead soldiers’ wives and children that their sacrifices had not been in vain?
Now all of that had been avoided in the span of a single conversation between lairds.
And if that was not enough to satisfy him, he supposed he should be delighted that Katherine would not be forced to marry a man she did not love. He had been desperate for some other option to present itself, and now his prayers had been answered.
But if shehadmarried Kirk, then at least she would have remained here, Bryan thought as he opened the door of the Great Hall and stepped out into the corridor.I would never have allowed anything inappropriate between us, but if nothing else, I would still have had the pleasure of her company.
Except he knew that in the end, that would have been worse. The kind of slow torture neither he nor Katherine would be able to endure for long. Not before their resolve eventually crumbled, and theydiddo something that would shame all parties involved.
No. This was what was best for everyone.
At least, that’s what he told himself when he found Katherine waiting for him in the corridor. She looked so beautiful, so hopeful, that he almost could not bring himself to tell her. He had to, though. No matter how much it hurt, he knew it would still be easiest for her to hear it from him.
He hoped so, at any rate.
“That did not take long,” she breathed, her eyes gleaming expectantly. “Were they able tae come tae an understanding?”
“They were, aye.” There was a lump in Bryan’s throat. “There will be peace, and ye willnae have tae marry Kirk Oliphant. Not only that, but yer sister is tae be released immediately.”
Katherine’s face lit up. “I cannae believe it!”
Then, realization dawned on her, and her smile faded. “So, that means I am tae return home, then? With him?”
Bryan nodded. “Aye. Ye and yer sister both.”
She blinked, confused. “But he thinks I betrayed him while I was here.Why would he want me back?”
“Ye’re still his daughter,” the captain replied quietly, “and he still wishes tae marry ye off tae someone from another clan someday, tae strengthen his own position.”
She laughed faintly. “‘Tis strange. Once I came tae accept that I would likely be marrying Kirk. Well, I suppose I got usedtae the notion of remaining here. I assumed my father wouldnae want me back. I’d given up on ever being accepted as a McGregor again.”
“Is this happy news for ye, then?” he asked hoarsely. “Tae be in yer father’s good graces again, when ye had abandoned all hope of it?”
Katherine shivered. “Somehow, I dinnae believe that being invited back will be quite the same as ‘being in his good graces.’ Nevertheless, it’s where I belong, isn’t it? I’m still a McGregor. The people here were kind enough to let me forget that for a short while, and I’ll always be grateful for it.”
