And she felt sorry for Siusan, falling to such a fate at the hands of her own brother. And all because she wanted to protect Lorna and give her the home she deserved. Lorna also had space in her heart to think about what her poor mother was like and what she’d experienced. Had Athol loved her? Or had she also been a mere victim to his lust?
That was what stilled her heart as she watched him sleep. He was saved from death, while so many others weren’t. At least Kyla was still alive. If she had also been killed, Lorna knew that she wouldn’t have even been able to look upon him. It was incredible that her grandfather could, and that he’d helped to try and save him, holding the wound as they hurried back from the hunting croft.
Lorna turned when she heard a soft throat clearing from the doorway. “Och,” she said, “Kyla, ye are awake! But ye shouldnae be wandering about.”
Kyla looked a little tired and weak, but she gave Lorna a smile. “The healer told me what happened, and I had tae come and see ye. This room is nae far from mine, ye ken. It was nae big effort.”
But Kyla’s wince as she walked to the chair beside Lorna gave her away. Lorna stood and helped Kyla sit down, offering her some wine.
“Aye. Warm wine will do me well, I think.” Lorna noticed that Kyla’s eyes didn’t drift to the bed. She couldn’t blame her.
Lorna poured her a cup and handed it to her. “I am so glad tae see that ye have recovered.” There were tears in her eyes.
“And I am glad that ye are saved from his clutches. I am partially glad that I was asleep for a lot of it. I wouldnae have been able tae bear yer absence, kenning what I did.”
Lorna frowned. “Why did ye nae tell me about Athol? That he was attempting tae push his advances on ye for so long?”
Kyla looked down into her cup. “I didnae want tae tarnish the idea of yer brother in yer mind. I thought he’d forgotten about me too, because he didnae always try. And I kenned that he cared about yer opinion. But the day he hurt me; I could see it in his eyes. He was going mad. I donnae think he had been with a woman in a long while, and he was so offended that I didnae fall at his feet, eager tae be with him.”
Lorna patted Kyla’s hand. “I am amazed that ye didnae. Ye impress me always, Kyla, with yer strength. But I am sorry that ye had tae remain here with us, with such discomfort lurking around every corner.”
“It will all be better now,” Kyla replied. “And ye? Will ye tell me what happened? The healer only knew some of the details.”
Lorna told the story, and it sounded strange on her lips. At the end, Kyla shook her head. “Incredible. Yer father.” For the first time, she turned to look at Athol’s sleeping form. “And Bryce almost killed him. For ye.”
“I donnae blame, Bryce. Athol nearly stabbed him, and I would have been lost without Bryce in the world.”
Kyla smiled. “Then something good has come out of all this, after all. If there had been no trouble, then Bryce would never have stayed after bringing us home from the wedding. He would have quickly returned home, and you would still have been stuck in the mindset that ye were in love with dull Watt.”
“Dull?” Lorna asked, chuckling a little. “Do ye think him dull?”
“Utterly so! That was why I couldnae fathom why ye should think anything of him.” Kyla bit her lip after her outburst. “Forgive me. I donnae mean tae be insulting, but I thought that ye would prefer someone else. Someone more interesting.”
“And now I do. Yet ye thought him dangerous at first.” Lorna lifted a brow, still smiling.
“I ken. But at least he is far more interesting than his brother. Ye shall have an interesting life together. Are things all settled between ye?”
“Nae quite.” She blushed. “We have spoken of our mutual feelings, though. And I hope that Fa-Grandfather will approve of him.”
“What a strange thing tae have tae call Laird Fergus yer grandfather. But I can assure ye that he will give his blessing. The man has proved himself and his love for and loyalty to you time and time again. He has fought against the man’s treacherous son as well.”
“Aye.” Lorna shrugged. “But Grandfather was never one tae show reason, and I am certain that he is humiliated about it all.”
“Well, we will just have tae see. Let us say that ye do marry Bryce. Where will ye go and live?” She took a long sip of wine.
“I donnae ken. But ye will come with us, I hope? I need me companion.”
“Of course! I most certainly will, if ye wish it. But ye donnae have tae take me with ye. I can find employment elsewhere.” Kyla said with a nod.
“Employment?!” Lorna said with a laugh. “But ye are like family. Ye have helped me through so much in all these years, and I want tae take care of ye for the rest of yer life, Kyla. I want tae help ye find yer own life too, if ye should wish it.”
Kyla blushed with happiness. “Ye are too kind, lass. I can see that future marriage suits ye well.”
“Well,” Lorna continued, folding her hands tightly around her cup. “There is only one person’s opinion that I care about on the matter of me marriage tae Bryce. And this is yers. What do ye say? Do ye give yer blessing?”
“Lorna, ye donnae need it, I swear tae ye. I am nae saint and have nae claim on ye.” She smiled. “But aye, I do think it a good match, and like I said, the man has proven himself tae ye over and over again. Ye will be very happy.”
“Thank ye, Kyla. That means the world tae me.” Lorna leaned over and kissed Kyla on the cheek. “Now, all we must do is see if Bryce will ask Grandfather as soon as possible.”
