“Just… thinkin'. But I am happy to have ye back.”
“About him?” Isla’s voice was gentle, knowing, ignoring the way Leona had tried to shift the conversation.
Leona’s throat tightened. She’d told her mother the basics about Murdock, about the fake betrothal, about Ragnall’s death. But she hadn’t told her the rest. Hadn’t explained that somewhere along the way, the fake had become achingly real. At least for her.
“It doesnae matter,” she said, forcing a smile. “It’s over. I’m home. That’s what matters.”
“Is it?” Isla moved to sit on the edge of the bed and patted the space beside her. “Come. Sit with me.”
Leona wanted to refuse. Wanted to maintain the careful control she’d been holding onto for the past week. But she was so tired of being strong. So tired of pretending her heart wasn’t breaking.
She crossed the room and sank onto the bed beside her mother, and Isla immediately wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“Tell me,” Isla said simply.
And just like that, the dam broke.
“I fell in love with him,” Leona whispered, the words tumbling out in a rush. “I ken I shouldnae have. I ken it was just an arrangement, just protection, nothin' real. But I fell in love with him anyway, and now I’m here, and he’s there, and I feel like I’ve left half of meself behind.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks, hot and unwelcome. She pressed her hands to her face, trying to hold them back, but they kept coming.
“Oh, sweetheart.” Isla pulled her closer, letting her sob against her shoulder like she was a child again. “I’m so sorry.”
“The worst part is that he never lied to me.” Leona’s voice was muffled by her mother’s dress. “He told me from the beginnin' that he couldnae give me what I wanted. That he didnae believe in love. I’m the fool who thought I could change his mind.”
“Love makes fools of us all,” Isla said softly, stroking her hair. “Yer faither certainly made a fool of me.”
Despite her tears, Leona managed a watery laugh. “How?”
“He proposed to me three times before I said aye. Three!” Isla shook her head at the memory. “Each time, I told him nay. Told him I had duties, responsibilities, that I couldnae just follow meheart like some silly girl in a romance novel. And each time, he just smiled and said he’d wait.”
“What changed yer mind?”
“The fourth time he asked, he didnae smile.” Isla’s voice softened with memory. “He looked me right in the eye and said, ‘Isla, I ken ye’re afraid. I ken ye think choosin' love over duty makes ye weak. But I’m here to tell ye that lovin' someone, truly lovin' them, is the bravest thing ye can do. And I’ll wait as long as it takes for ye to be brave enough to choose me'.”
Leona pulled back to look at her mother. “And then ye said aye?”
“Then I burst into tears and told him he was an insufferable romantic and aye, I’d marry him, but only if he promised to never make me feel guilty for being practical ever again.” Isla smiled through her own tears. “He agreed. Though he broke that promise regularly.”
“I miss him,” Leona whispered.
“I ken, darlin'. So do I. That’s why I left after his death.” Isla cupped Leona’s face in her hands. “But I have nay regrets. Every moment I had with yer faither, even the hard ones, was worth it. Because we chose each other. Every single day, we chose love.”
“Murdock didnae choose me, though. He chose duty.”
“Did he?” Isla tilted her head. “Or did ye choose for him by leavin' before he could say otherwise?”
The question hit Leona like a physical blow. She opened her mouth to protest, to explain that she’d seen the truth in his eyes, that she’d known he was only marrying her out of obligation.
But had she known? Or had she assumed?
Before she could respond, a knock sounded at the door.
“Come in,” Isla called.
Rufus entered, looking miserable. He took one look at Leona’s tear-stained face, and his expression crumpled.
“I’m makin' it worse, am I nae?” he said. “I keep trying to cheer ye up, but everything I say is wrong, and ye just look sadder.”
