Rowenna gave her a beaming smile. ‘There is no need, sister. He is good to me.’
‘But he took you in payment of a debt.’
‘And I am glad he did, for our father was going to sell me to Wymon Carruthers once you ran away, and he did not have you to bargain with. Jasper took a fancy to me, and so here I am.’
‘Damn father’s eyes. So father sold you to Jasper because of me.’
‘Aye, in a way, and it is the only good deed he has ever done in his miserable life. I am happy here. Jasper has given me a place in his heart and home. I truly love him, Cecily. I would die for him.’
Cecily frowned. ‘That cannot be.’
‘I love him to distraction, Cecily,’ said Rowenna, her eyes welling.
‘I feel the same about Peyton,’ sobbed Cecily. They fell together and hugged tightly.
Cecily pulled away first. ‘So does that make us rivals now - a Strachan and a Glendenning?’
‘No. Because we will always be MacCreadie’s at heart, sister, no matter what these men tell us.’
‘How I have missed your stubborn nature, Cecily.’
‘And I have missed your kindness and strength, Rowenna.’
A good while later, when Peyton returned to the hall, his face was grave. He took Cecily to one side. ‘I am leaving now, but you can stay if that is what you want. You don’t have to come back with me.’
‘You are not leaving without me,’ she hissed.
‘You have to be sure, Cecily. Kransmuir is grand and has every comfort.’
‘But it does not have you, Peyton.’
‘It might be safer for you here.’
‘I don’t care, and I will not let you leave me here. Is that why you were so serious on the way here, because you thought I might want to leave you?’
He frowned. ‘Aye, I was worried I might lose you. Are you sure you want to stay with me, Cecily?’
She nodded. ‘I have never been more sure of anything. Take me home, Peyton.’
‘We are leaving,’ shouted Peyton at Jasper. ‘And Cecily will be allowed to visit her sister whenever she wants. Are we agreed?’
Jasper scowled and nodded.
‘And you are welcome at Fellscarp, Rowenna,’ said Peyton with a smile, which she returned.
Jasper snorted a curse in the background. The two men glowered at each other, and then Peyton took Cecily’s hand and rushed her out of the hall. As they rode away, Peyton’s anger was clear in his clenched jaw, heavy silence, and the fire in his eyes.
‘Why did we have to leave so soon?’ Is it because of Jasper? Rowenna says he has been good to her and that she loves him. She is not held against her will.’
‘That is good.’
‘Is it the dispute over that land at Liddesdale then?’
‘Aye, that is part of it.’
It certainly wasn’t all of it, judging by the snarl in Peyton’s voice.
Cecily rolled her eyes. ‘And what is the other part?’ He did not answer, and then it was clear. ‘Honestly, Peyton, not this jealousy again. I do not like Jasper and never will, but I will tolerate him if he makes my sister happy.’
