“Selfish? Since when is it selfish tae fall in love? Since when is it selfish tae want tae be happy?” Lyla said, her voice suddenly loud. It had been some time since she had heard her sister speak so loudly. It urged her to whip her head around and look at her sister, the flames basking on her face so that one side was fiery red. “Dae ye think I blame ye fer falling in love with Kai, Ava?”
“Ye should dae!” Ava said fiercely. “If I marry Laird Grant, all will be well.”
“Oh, aye, so instead of me being miserable, ye choose tae make yerself miserable instead.”
“It’s a sacrifice I’m willing tae make.”
“It’s nae what I want ye tae dae!” Lyla stood suddenly, the fur dropping from her shoulder.
Lyla so often stood in the shadows, hanging her head. It was a reminder to Ava now that Lyla had strength. It was made all the more impactful by the fact that she didn’t always reveal it.
“Ye never asked me if I was happy fer ye tae swap yer happiness fer mine.” She dropped down to her knees in front of Ava. “Idinnae want ye tae. Ye want tae be happy with Kai? Ye wish tae marry him? Then I give ye me blessing. In the name of the wee man above, Ava, I’ll walk ye up the aisle meself if our faither willnae.”
“Ye would dae that?” Ava said, a smile growing across her face in disbelief.
“Of course, I would. Ye arenae the only obstinate one in this family, ye ken.” Her words brought smiles to both of their faces. “Ava, dae ye think I could ever be truly happy kenning that ye had chosen duty over love?”
When it was summed up so simply, Ava’s shoulders slumped. Yes, that’s what she was doing.
“I’m trying tae protect ye,” Ava whispered.
“And I’m telling ye,” Lyla paused long enough to reach out and take her hand, “ye dinnae have tae. Ye and I both ken that our maither, God rest her soul, chose duty in her marriage, did she nae?”
Ava blinked and looked at the flames. Their mother had been a good woman, though she was now a distant memory. The marriage between her and Finley had been an arrangement, one done for duty.
“Dae ye nae remember her once talking about love?”
“Aye, I remember it.” Ava couldn’t lift her gaze from the flames as she recalled that night. “We were in this chamber, were we nae?”
“Aye, we were. On a snowy night like this. Ma had had a little too much wine and recalled a man she had once loved.”
They both smiled sadly at the fire.
“Dae ye think our maither would want ye tae give that up? I certainly dinnae want ye tae give it up. Ye may be older than me but ye arenae me maither, Ava. As much as I deserve tae be happy, ye deserve to as well. Ye shouldnae sacrifice yer happiness fer me, it isnae yer responsibility.”
“Oh, Lyla.” Ava held her sister’s hand tightly. “What can I possibly dae? Our faither has given his word already. He has made it quite plain today that he has nae intention tae rescind his blessing. And I have given me word too. We are betrothed.”
“But nae married. Ye are nae married yet.” Lyla shook her head. “In the eyes of the lord, ye’ve nae had a handfast. Ye can escape him yet. There is a line in the ceremony which asks those in the church if anyone objects tae the match. If it comes tae it, ye and Kai can fight till the end nae tae be separated from each other.”
“Ye are too good, Lyla.” Ava reached out and embraced her sister, pulling her toward her. “Yer kindness is too much. How could I possibly go tae Kai kenning ye will be forced tae marry…that man.”She couldn’t bring herself to say the name. Shehad learned some time ago that if that man’s name was ever mentioned in front of Lyla, it was soul crushing for her.
“There are other ways tae avoid him,” Lyla said simply, pulling back a little from their embrace. “Ye think I have nae noticed that after our maither passed, ye have protected me from everything, much as she had done? Well, I am capable of protecting meself as well. Just because ye dinnae marry Laird Grant, it isnae me death sentence, Ava.Believe that.”
Ava inhaled sharply. For so long she had connected the two things. They had become natural, with her and her father talking around the subject so much, it was assumed the only way to escape that man was with the money Laird Grant could bring with him.
“Enough of this now,” Lyla said with finality, sitting tall and reaching for the poker, making the flames dance higher in the grate, so they were both warm. “I willnae be the reason ye and Kai are miserable. I absolve ye of all responsibility, Ava.”
“Ye are too kind,” Ava whispered again.
“Nay. Only honest. Come, ye are cold. I’ll ask the steward tae bring us something warm tae eat and drink.” Lyla stood and bustled out of the room, leaving Ava to stare into the flames.
Is it possible for Kai and I tae be together? He said he loved me… but did he mention marriage?
“Ava, Ava!” Lyla came running back a few minutes later. Ava barely felt as if she had been left alone for a minute. Lyla’s words were still running around her head as her sister presented a sealed parchment into her hands.
“What’s this?”
“A guard just brought it up now, saying a gentleman in a hood left it for ye. Look at the seal, Ava.”
