Eventually, when they crossed into the west wing, he turned to her and said, “Listen, Ava, I need to explain in detail why I couldnae marry ye.”
“All right, go ahead then,” she encouraged him.
Finlay let out a sigh and rubbed his head. “Ye see, I thought ye would be better off with me braither.”
Ava stopped in her tracks. Finlay knew she hated it when people made decisions for her. Still, she waited for him to continue.
“And, I was afraid. I couldnae get married, and I didnae want to hurt ye. If word got out that I spent the night with one lassie or another, I did not want ye to be humiliated or ashamed of me.”
Ava felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She forced herself to breathe slowly. “We discussed that when we agreed to marry. I told ye I daenae care who ye sleep with or what other people think of me.”
“I ken, but it was also unfair to ask ye to marry me when I knew ye could never be truly happy. And Caden… well, he was lookin’ for a wife anyway. I ken ye needed yer uncle off yer back, and Caden is a good man. He’ll take care of ye like I couldnae.” Finlay pressed his lips together, shifting from one foot to another.
“I simply cannae understand why ye thought ye could make this decision for me, Finlay,” she chided, and he hung his head. “Ye’ve ken me since we were bairns. Ye ken better than everyone besides me sisters that I need to make me own decisions.”
Finlay nodded. He opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off.
“I’m nae like Emma, kind and flexible. Or like Thalia, open and enthusiastic about whatever life throws her way. I’m very set inmeways, determined to live the life I dreamed of. With my little animals and the peace and quiet of nae running a household, letalone an entire clan! It was unkind and wrong of ye to take me freedom and agency away from me. Ye didnae even warn me.”
Tears welled up in her eyes and she took a deep breath to calm herself before she cried. She was still frustrated, but she had to admit, Finlay’s plan made sense. And, in a way, being married to Caden was much better than being married to Finlay, or any other man her uncle might have chosen.Notbecause she wanted him, of course, but because…well…he could carry her around, that should count for something.
Finlay reached out a hand, and she took it. He ducked down to her height and looked her right in the eye. “Ava, I am so sorry I disappointed ye. I was a coward.”
Ava swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Thank ye. Ye ken, I told ye I daenae blame ye, nae truly. I am frustrated, and scared, but I understand. It was unfair of me to expect ye to marry me when I kent ye daenae want it.” She gave him a small smile. “Thank ye for helping me weather me uncle’s insane demands. And thank ye for findin’ a way to get me out of marryin’ some strange old man.”
“Ye’re welcome. Now, do ye forgive me?” Finlay pushed his bottom lip out so far that it was comical.
She resisted the urge to laugh as she tapped a finger against her lips. “Hmm, nae sure yet.”
She gave him a teasing smile, before he pulled her into a hug. It felt warm, familiar, and comforting in the whirlwind of emotions of the past several days.
“Daenae stop on me accord,” Caden’s voice tore through the air behind them, low and lethal.
Ava’s heart skipped several beats.
Finlay jumped back as if she had burned him, leaving a current of cool air in his wake. She rolled her eyes at him.
Then, she turned to face Caden. “I’m so happy ye could join us,husband.”
Caden opened his mouth, but was interrupted by Nathan, who chose that moment to rush toward them in the corridor. Finlay and Ava both knelt to greet the boy, but he ran past them to the window. He clapped his hands together and pointed at the snow outside, squealing in delight.
Ava was so relieved that the child was oblivious to the tension he broke. She was also pleased that he was warming up to her.
Walking up behind him, she wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “Ye want to go play in the snow with me?” she asked.
“S-s-snow,” Nathan whispered to the window in a low, sweet voice.
Ava froze and looked back at Caden and Finlay, who seemed just as shocked as she was.
Not wanting to scare the little one though, she hurried to reply.
“Snow, it is, then, laddie.”
Nathan clapped again and rushed into her arms. Ava looked up at Caden with pride.
See, ye old beast? He just needs time and encouragement.
Ava took Nathan upstairs to change into warmer clothes before going outside to play. Caden had to admit that he had never seen the boy so happy.
