He took a long sip ofcuirm,his fingers squeezing the goblet so hard that his knuckles turned white. As casually as he could muster, he asked, “Isabel, do you remember the night after the gathering?”
She looked at him questioningly, her brows a perfect V above her tiny nose. “Of course.”
He held her gaze intently. “Have you had your flux since then?”
She tilted her head, considering. “No, I don’t think so. Why—” She broke off with a sharp intake of breath, and her hand flew over her mouth as understanding dawned. She looked at him, eyes wide with disbelief. “A babe?”
“’Tis possible,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.
Her hand dropped to cover her stomach. “Dear God, how could I not have guessed? I’ve been so worried about everything else, I never even considered…”
Rory could have put his face in his hands and wept. From joy, that something so precious could have been created from their love. And from regret.I sent her away. I could have lost them both. Never again.He stood up and pulled her into his arms, cradling her gently against him, overwhelmed by what he could have lost, but had now been returned to him.
“Oh, Rory, I’m sorry,” she sobbed.
He tilted her chin to his, peering deep into tumultuous seas of violet. “What foolishness is this? Why would you be sorry?”
“I know you did not want a child to complicate matters.”
Rory smiled. “A bairn will not complicate anything.” In truth, he could think of nothing more perfect.
“But what of the alliance?”
“There is no longer an alliance with Argyll. I’d decided some time ago that I could not let you go.”
She looked as though he’d handed her the moon. She realized what it could have cost him. “But what of Trotternish?”
Quickly, he explained about the letter he’d received from King James. Rory knew that James would be angry about the Mackenzie’s death, but the king would not fault him for killing a man who’d attacked him in his own bedchamber.
A huge smile spread across her face. “So my letter to Queen Anne helped?”
“Coming on the heels of my letter to the king, I’m sure it did not hurt. Although with what you’ve brought from your uncle, I think James would have been persuaded to our way of thinking in any event.” He looked deep into her eyes. “So you see, I knew before you’d arrived that you would not betray me.” He smiled. “Not that I’m not pleased with what you brought me. But I’d already made plans to come after you.”
“You did?”
“I wrote to your father. In fact, I think we can expect him soon.”
“My father, here?”
“I hoped to persuade him that a marriage, a real marriage this time, would be to his benefit. I believe I made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.”
Her eyebrows drew tight together. “What kind of offer?”
“I offered him my support against the Mackenzies in his defense of Castle Strome.”
She threw her arms around his neck. “You agreed to do that for me?”
Rory grinned. “In truth, ’twas not a very difficult decision. The Mackenzies are no friends of ours, especially today. And with your letter, I may have some influence with the king soon.”
“So by marrying me, you will be able to reclaim the land you’ve sought.”
He knew what she was thinking. “Aye, but that is not why I want to marry you.” He had to tell her how important she was to him. “You are a MacLeod, you are part of my family.”I was lost without you.
Her brows knit together across her nose. “I don’t understand. You repudiated the handfast.”
“Aye, love, I’m sorry for that.” More sorry than she would ever know. Those were dark days indeed. He pressed a soft kiss on her mouth. “But don’t you remember the bard’s tale? Only a MacLeod can touch the Fairy Flag.”
Isabel tossed back her head and laughed. “I wish you had thought of that before you sent me back to my uncle, it would have saved me quite a lot of heartache,” she said sternly, but the amused twinkling in her eyes ruined the effect.
