He glared at her, but remained silent.
‘You only told Aidan part of it when you admitted that she asked for your help.’
‘I told him the truth,’ he argued.
‘Liar.’ She leaned closer to him. ‘Aye, Catriona came to you when she discovered what she thought was the truth from Gowan’s son—that Aidan sent him away to seduce her.’
‘He did.’
‘You sent the man. You could have stopped it. You could have told Aidan from the start and it would never have got to this point, Connor.’
‘Your point, lady?’
‘That she asked for your help in escaping. She asked for your help because she also discovered she is carrying Aidan’s child, our kin, and she could not face him, knowing...’ Jocelyn paused. ‘Or believing what you let her believe.’
Connor pushed out of the chair and began walking around the perimeter of the chamber, beginning and stopping whatever words he wanted to say several times before any came out of his mouth.
‘I thought he would tire of chasing a woman who did not want him. I thought that if he tried and failed, he would move on to another woman, as he always had before.’ Connor raked his hands through his hair and stared at her. The thorn was still there, waiting to be pulled free.
‘I thought he would see the wisdom in choosing another woman, a woman better than her in so many ways. Yet, he clung to her.’
‘He loved her, Connor,’ she whispered.
‘Then, when Munro told her his version of what had happened, the one Aidan also believed, she asked me to help her leave. She would make no claim on our son if I found a new place for her to live. The daft woman would take nothing more than a small settlement and did not even admit to me that she was carrying.’ He paused and looked at her then. ‘It was exactly what I wanted to happen. So, I did as she asked.’
‘So, why did you not reveal her secret to him? That she knew she carried his child when she left him?’
His voice shook with sadness and resignation as he said the rest. ‘Because it would have broken him to let him know he would lose her and his child. I could not stand to have him suffer that way.’
‘So, you kept that very important matter to yourself?’
‘’Twas better not to reveal it.’
When he met her gaze, she saw the pain of a father trying to protect his son. Yet, he’d put them together when he thought they would fall apart. Then, in separating them, he forced his son away.
Now she needed to come up with a way to bring them all—Aidan and Catriona, father and son, kith and kin, back together. Jocelyn walked to the door and called several servants to her.
‘What are you doing?’ Connor asked.
‘Preparing to visit my daughter.’
‘Lilidh? Now? Why?’ he asked, watching as she gave orders that would see trunks packed and horses and supplies prepared.
‘Because I also discovered where you sent her and sent Aidan there. Now, you have to devise a plan to heal this breach before we arrive there.’
‘He is the pigheaded, wrong...’
‘Stubborn one. I know. He is the very image of you, my love,’ she said, walking to him now. ‘He is the best of you and the worst. And if you do not mend this tear, you will never survive it. We will never survive it.’ She smiled as he considered her words. ‘You may even have to apologise.’
‘Jocelyn!’ he drawled out. ‘I should not have to—’ She reached up and put her hand over his mouth to stop him.
‘Ah, but you are the stronger, the wiser, the more experienced man in this situation. It is your place to lead by example.’
He mulled over her words, but the doubtful expression in his amber eyes showed he did not think much of it. So, she used the threat she kept away for those times when reason and rational thought did not work.
‘If my son does not return to his home, I will not return either.’
She needed Connor as she needed the air to breathe and she knew he needed her in the same manner. Their love was tempered by fire and challenged and strengthened over the decades since their marriage. But part of that love included their bond with their children. Breaking that bond damaged everything between them. This was no idle threat and she held her breath, praying he understood it the same way that she did.
