The silence that followed was absolute. Even the fire seemed to quiet, as if holding its breath.
Mhairi sat frozen, her face a careful blank. Then, slowly, she extended her hand. "May I see it?"
Alpin passed her the letter. She read it herself, her eyes moving across each word with painful deliberation. Her hands didn't shake. Her expression didn't change.
When she finished, she stood and walked to the fireplace.
She held the letter directly in the flames, watching as the edges blackened and curled. The paper caught quickly, bright orange eating through her father's words until nothing remained but ash.
"Mhairi—"
"I dinnae want tae speak about it." Her voice was flat, empty of all emotion. "Please. I just... I dinnae want tae speak about it."
Alpin rose, moving to stand beside her. He didn't touch her, sensing she needed space. "All right. We dinnae have tae talk about it now. But there's somethin’ ye should ken."
She turned to look at him, her grey eyes dull. "What?"
"I've already started gatherin’ information about yer sister. Callum's been makin’ quiet inquiries, nae alertin’ Graham or drawin’ attention. We're tryin’ tae find out where Isobel is, whether she's been sold yet, whether she's safe."
Something flickered in Mhairi's expression—a crack in the careful emptiness. "Ye have?"
"Aye. And once we find her, once we ken the situation, we'll take action. Whatever it takes tae help her."
"And if she's already been sold?" The words came out choked. "If she's already gone through what I went through, or worse?—"
"Then we'll get her back." Alpin reached out slowly, giving her time to pull away. When she didn't, he took her hand in his. "Ipromise ye, Mhairi. We'll find her, and we'll help her. Ye have me word."
Her fingers tightened around his, almost painfully. "Ye shouldnae make promises like that. Nae fer me."
"Why nae?"
"Because I'm too much trouble!" The words exploded out of her, breaking through the careful control. "Look at what's happenin’—Ashcombe camped at yer borders, me faither sendin’ threatenin’ letters, Graham demandin’ his money. All of this is because of me. All because ye decided tae help someone who wasnae worth the risk!"
"Dinnae say that.”
"It's true!" She yanked her hand away, backing up until she hit the wall. "Ye should send me away, Alpin. Find somewhere else fer me tae go, somewhere that willnae bring all this danger tae yer clan. Tae ye."
"I'm nae sendin’ ye anywhere." Alpin kept his voice steady, even as frustration and something deeper—fear—clawed at his chest. "And ye are worth every risk."
Mhairi was staring at him, her chest heaving, tears shining in her eyes but not falling.
"I ken," Alpin continued, his voice dropping lower, "that ye're the strongest person I've ever met. And I ken that losin’ ye would break something in me that I dinnae think could be fixed."
"Alpin..." Her voice was barely audible.
"Ye dinnae have tae say anythin’. I just need ye tae understand that ye're nae leavin’. Nae unless ye choose tae go. And eventhen, I'll make sure that ye have somewhere safe tae go, coin in yer purse, protection if ye need it. But I willnae send ye away because of yer faither's threats or Ashcombe's demands."
She was quiet for a long moment, her hands pressed flat against the wall behind her. "Why?" The question came out broken. "Why dae ye care so much?"
Because I'm really attracted tae ye… and I have feelin’s fer ye.
But it was too soon, too much say when she was still so fragile.
"Because it's the right thing tae dae," he said instead. "And because I gave ye me word that ye'd be safe here. I dinnae break me word."
Mhairi closed her eyes, a single tear finally escaping and tracking down her cheek. "I think... I think I need some time alone. Tae think about all of this."
It wasn't what Alpin wanted to hear, but he understood. "Aye. Of course." He stepped back, givin’ her space. "But Mhairi? The dance is taenight. Please still come."
