She let out a snort, taking a step toward him. “Really Ian? Are ye really shouldering all the blame for wot happened?”
How could he not? He hadn’t completed his mission. He had only made things worse between the two clans. “But.”
Ida shook her head, reaching up to press her finger against his lips. “Nay Ian. Tis nothing more than a minor setback in yer grand plans. Ye canna lose hope, not now.”
It was the very same thing his sister had said to him. He must keep the hope that he could fix this still. That and he was acutely aware of her finger pressed against his lips. She must have realized it as well because she dropped her hand, but not before he grabbed it and pulled her closer to him. “Tell mah, Ida,” he said softly. “How can ye have so much faith in mah?”
Her eyes shined with some unnamed emotion as she looked at him. “Because ye are a good Scot Ian. I could care naught aboot yer last name. Yer actions have shown yer true self.”
She saw him. Ian felt the blood rush to his ears at her declaration. She didn’t see him as a Wallace. She saw him as Ian.
Perhaps he should extend his proposal to her now, take her away with him to what had to be a better life for her.
Ida cocked her head to the side as the thoughts raged within him. “Wot is it Ian?”
All he had to do was say the words, but in that moment, all he really wanted to do was kiss her. He wanted to feel her lips against his, hear her sighs as he pleasured her with his mouth. He dipped his head and Ida’s lips parted in anticipation, waiting for him to do what he had been thinking.
“Ian?”
Ian broke apart from Ida as Remy’s voice filled the air, a scant second before his friend entered the stables. “Wot are ye doing?”
“I was saying goodbye tae Ida,” he forced out, his voice a bit rushed. Remy arched a brow, clearly wanting to know what he had interrupted but when Ian turned back, Ida was already leading their horses out of their stalls, avoiding his eyes. “Here ye are mah laird,” she said softly.
Ian reached out and took the reins from her, their fingers brushing just a hair and her breath hitched just slightly, making him wish he had kissed her after all. “Thank ye, Ida.”
She bobbed her head and moved to get the remainder of the horses, the silence awkward and painful. When all the horses were out of their stalls, Ian cast one more look at the lass who would no doubt occupy his thoughts for some time to come. She opened her mouth to say something to him, but then shut it and Ian realized that there was nothing more to say.
He had to leave.
Ian dipped his head and headed outside, where his men were climbing into their saddles, murmuring amongst themselves. Ian did the same, glancing back at the stable one more time. Ida was standing in the doorway, her eyes on him and she lifted her hand in farewell.
His heart clenched in his chest, leaving Ian yearning o go back to her, to not leave. She had touched him in more ways than he had thought and now he felt like he was leaving a part of himself behind.
“Are ye ready mah laird?” Remy asked, breaking their connection.
Ian tore his gaze away from Ida and clenched his jaw. “Aye. Let’s ride for home.”
“She would come if ye asked her,” Remy said softly where only Ian could hear. “Ye can give her a better life.”
Ian shook his head. “Not now.” He couldn’t just take a member of the MacGregor clan with him, especially not the niece of the laird. That would be a death sentence for his clan and he had to put them first.
“So we will be back?” Remy pressed as Ian straightened in his saddle, gathering the reins.
“Aye,” Ian replied before setting his horse into motion. He didn’t once look back at Ida, knowing that if he did, he wouldn’t be able to leave. She understood why he had to leave, but it didn’t mean that he wouldn’t be back for her, for this hope that she had told him not to lose.
It would be her words that he would cling to during their time apart and when he came back to the MacGregor keep, he would seek her out for more than just a conversation or words of encouragement.
11
Ida hadn’t thought it would be that hard to watch Ian ride away but the moment he disappeared out of her view, her heart clenched tightly in her chest. She had been so disappointed in him a few short hours ago, but now, she didn’t feel the same.
She had feelings for the laird.
Turning back to the stables, Ida tried to push the thought aside. He was gone and she didn’t know if she would ever see him again. It would be prudent for her to forget him and their time together.
What she couldn’t forget was the way he made her feel. For the first time in her life, Ida was seen by someone other than the drunk Scot’s niece or the stable hand. He saw her as the lass she was, the lass who had wants and needs just like the others.
It was hard not to have feelings for Ian, Ida surmised as she moved to the now empty stalls, picking up her shovel. He was a good Scot, one that took all the blame for everything when it wasn’t his fault, to begin with. She had seen the disappointment in his eyes earlier, the way that he had taken the laird’s rejection personally. It wasn’t his fault. The laird, he was being stubbornas he was known to be and missed out on an alliance that would serve their people well.
