“You don’t know that,” Laura said, taking a shuddery breath.
“Ye’re right, I daenae ken that,” Lennox smiled again. “But I canfeelit! And that’s enough conviction for me. Come on. I’ll take ye down to the castle.”
Laura couldn’t help but smile as she turned and followed Lennox’s bouncing walk out of the house. At the door, Laura turned back to Magret and outstretched her hand toward her.
“Thank you,” she said simply. “For everything.”
Magret looked stunned as she held her hand. Her eyes flickered between their joint hands and Laura’s face.
“Ye’re welcome, lassie,” she said quickly, sharing a smile. “I am glad I could help ye. Now come on, off with ye!” She waved her out of the house. “I’ll be glad to have me house back.”
Laura and Lennox laughed as they hurried out. Despite Magret’s words, she kept waving at Laura as she meandered down the street, showing truly, just how much she was going to miss her.
“All will be well,” Lennox linked her arm through Laura’s.
“I hope you are right,” Laura sighed as she held tightly to Lennox’s arm. She was relieved Lennox was coming with her to show her the way, for, without her arm in hers, Laura was not sure she would have moved past her nerves enough to do the walk alone. “What makes you so certain everything will be well?” She turned her head toward Lennox, seeing the way the fair-haired woman was smiling as her eyes danced around the street.
“I have a new perspective on life at the moment,” Lennox admitted in a friendly whisper. “I have decided that whatever our woes, ye will find sooner or later, things come right.”
“Does this have something to do with Tam, by any chance?” Laura’s words brought a laugh from Lennox.
“It might do…can I tell ye a secret?”
“Yes please! You’ve known my secret for quite a while now,” Laura tightened her arm through Lennox’s, “it’s about time you returned the gesture.”
“Ha! That is true,” Lennox nodded. “Well, I’ll tell ye then,” she brought them to a brief stop in the street and held her eyes. “I have been in love with Tam since I was fifteen.”
“Fifteen!?” Laura repeated in amazement.
“Aye,” Lennox had tears in her eyes. “For years I thought there was nay hope, that he only ever looked at me as a friend, then I thought everythin’ was over when me faither said I had to marry…” she shook her head, sadness clearly in her expression. “I thought everythin’ I had been pinnin’ all me hopes on for the last seven years would never come to be.”
“Oh, Lennox,” Laura moved their arms so that they were holding hands.
“And yet, that’s all changed!” Lennox smiled and hurried to wipe away one tear that had escaped. “I was on the brink of acceptin’ the hand of a man me faither offered when Tam appeared at me door and told me he loved me.”
Laura smiled, thinking of how much Tam had denied the connection when they were on their journey.
“Perhaps all Tam needed was a shove to realize what he felt,” Laura laughed.
“I think so,” Lennox agreed. “So, even though now me faither hasnae yet given his blessin’, I am nae worried.”
“Really?” Laura asked with a frown.
“I waited seven years for this moment. If I have to wait a little longer for me faither to see what is right, then I’ll wait,” she led Laura forward again. “So, I am convinced that everythin’ will work out for the best for ye. In fact, I can picture it now,” she held up her hand dramatically. “Ye will walk into that great hall, and the Laird will welcome ye with open arms into his family.”
“Ha, I think ye are bein’ a little optimistic.”
“And I daenae see anythin’ wrong with that,” Lennox pointed at the castle in front of them. “We are here, ye ready?” Lennox drew her to the front door where a guard stood, carrying a flintlock pistol and a sword in his belt. “Laura?”
“Yes,” Laura breathed deeply, thinking of all that Lennox had just said.
I should hold onto my hope, just as Lennox does.
“I’m ready,” she lifted her eyes to the guard as Lennox nudged her. “My name is Miss Laura Hamilton. I am here to see Erskine MacCallum and Laird MacCallum.”
The guard nodded and turned to open the door.
“Good luck,” Lennox whispered to her and gave one last squeeze of her hand. Laura smiled before following the guard inside.
