“Or what? Will ye strike me, me Laird? Throw me in the dungeons? Do what ye must, but I will say what ye need to hear because I am yer friend, and I will always be yer friend. I will nae watch ye grow weaker and weaker by the year because of this… this guilt that ye carry. I will nae let yelookweak, Callum.”
“Oh, ye think I look weak?”
“Nay, I think ye look miserable. Ye daenae deserve to be miserable. I think that Lady Melody can make ye happy.”
At the mention of Melody, Callum flinched back, turning away.
“Ye ken the whole story,” he said thickly, staring out of the window. “Ye should ken, better than anyone, why I daenae want to wed Melody. I daenae think she’ll stay much longer.”
“Why nae? Is it because of her own accord, or because ye are pushin’ her away?”
“What’s the difference? The outcome is the same.”
“What’s the diff… Really, me Laird? Ye ken exactly what the difference is. Ye are punishin’ yerself for what happened to yer wife and son, and ye are punishin’ all of us with it.”
Callum closed his eyes. A picture of Melody’s face returned to his mind.
“I daenae want to punish her,” he whispered.
Lucas appeared at his side and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Ye are nae a weak man, Callum,” he murmured. “A blow from a strong man hurts most. And ye are directin’ yer blows toward yerself. Perhaps it’s time to stop .”
“I daenae ken how to stop.”
“Start by talkin’ to Melody. Ye daenae wish to tell me the details, and I’ll nae pry, but I’m willin’ to bet that yer bad mood are connected to somethin’ that happened last night. The guards at the gate said that ye both seemed in a good mood when ye returned, so whatever upset ye happenedafterye returned.”
Callum bit his lip. “Perhaps ye are right. I’ll speak to her, then. Nae to confirm any weddin’ plans, but just to make sure she is nae hurt or upset over anythin’.”
“Of course. Ye can find her in Kat’s room, she went there this mornin’, early, and I reckon they’re still there.”
Callum nodded, then paused, eyes narrowing.
“Did ye nae say ye wouldnae ken?”
“I just… I was there when she arrived.”
He turned slowly to face his friend. Lucas, realizing his mistake, went slowly crimson.
“And why were ye in Kat’s room early this mornin’, long before breakfast?” Callum enquired.
Lucas’ face looked as though it were about to explode. “Well, I… I dropped in very early, just to see how she was doin’, and I… I asked her some… some medical questions…”
“What questions?”
“Uh…”
Callum let out a snort of laughter and clapped Lucas on the shoulder.
“Never mind that, lad. “I’m pleased for ye, really I am. She is a wonderful woman, and ye deserve happiness. I’m glad ye have found it.”
Lucas nodded, grinning like a fool. “Thank ye, Callum. And for what it’s worth, I hope to say the same to ye one day.”
22
“It’s my head,” Melody confessed. “It’s pounding. I can scarcely see straight.”
Kat tilted up Melody’s chin, peering into her eyes. She grunted and nodded, as if seeing something she’d intended to see.
