He looked at her, arching a questioning brow. “And…?”
“And… I don’t want to leave you,” she blurted. “Is that what you wished me to say?”
He seized her arms in his two hands, smiling now. He studied her, every line of his face taut with hope. “D’ye mean it?”
She looked up and their eyes met. What she saw there took away any shred of doubt she may have held, yet she still needed to hear him say it. “And you? What is your opinion?”
He twirled her in his arms. “Selene, yer words fill me with joy. I wish for nothing more than ye should stay by me side at Duntulm.” He sobered. “Yet, dae ye understand? If ye stay, it changes everything between us. Are you certain ye wish tae live the rest of yer life here?”
“Yes.” Her answer came instantly. “I want to stay with you.”
His gaze darkened, softening with something deeper than desire. “Nae as a guest,” he murmured. “But as me precious wife.”
She inhaled sharply – not with the shock of his words, but with recognition. She had known, the moment she thought of losing him.
“Yes,” she whispered, her heart beating fast. “I want that.”
“Ye could contemplate life as the wife of the Brute of Sleat?”
She laughed, reaching a hand to stroke the hair from his forehead. “Aye. That is my most fervent wish.”
Holding her tight Kenneth gulped in another deep breath exhaling slowly, his eyes bright, as though the world finally made sense. Then he gave his head a little shake.
“I willnae wed without yer family’s blessing Selene. I will travel with ye tae Raasay. I’ll speak tae Halvard face-tae-face. Ye will become me wife with honor and the blessings of yer kin.”
Selene’s eyes softened with pride. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
He took her hands, cradling them in his. Their quiet promise settled between them. Fragile, hopeful, and infinitely precious. Whatever storms might come, they would face them together.
The day passed in a whirl of preparation.
It was no small thing for the Laird to be leaving the Castle, especially when there was danger and the potential for another attack from Aidan.
While Kenneth was meeting with Callum and his captains, Selene left her trunk half-packed and went in search of Maureen.
She found her in the kitchen giving instructions to the cook concerning the week’s meals. After one glance at Selene’s face, she wiped floury hands on her pinafore and brushed a lock of hair from her face.
“What is it?”
“Can we talk in the solar?”
Selene waited until they were settled comfortably by the fire in the solar before she launched herself into the news.
“As you know, Laird Halvard’s men are here now, waiting to escort me to Raasay.”
Maureen’s mouth turned down. “And ye’ll be leaving?”
“We will sail at first light, but…” She hesitated as Maureen took a sharp breath. “I will be returning tae Duntulm.”
Maureen’s face lit up. “Och, that is such good news. When, how…?
“I’m not sure when I may return. But…” she was suddenly shy. “There will be a wedding.”
“Ye? Tae wed… Kenneth?”
Beaming, Selene nodded.
Maureen clapped her hands and jumped to her feet. “I kent from the way he looked at ye that Kenneth’s heart was yers. I was afraid ye might nae feel the same.”
