“Aye, and a relentless journey that no bride should have been made tae endure,” Conall said in a low voice as he met Lisette’s startled glance.“If anyone owes an apology, it’s me tae you.Will you forgive me, Lisette?”
She nodded, too astonished to speak as Aislinn added brightly, “Well then, off with you now and enjoy your walk while the sky is clear and the air warm.My husband believes a fierce storm is brewing to the west.”
“Aye, wife, as they do in midsummer—flaring up with little warning.Sorcha, grant Conall and Lisette some time tae visit alone, will you?”Cameron bade her with gruff affection in his voice.“After they’ve had a chance tae see your chickens, of course.”
With a wave of her hand, Sorcha was already racing toward the archway leading out into the bailey, her blue tunic fluttering around her legs and her blonde hair flying.
Cameron’s rich laughter echoed from the high ceiling as Lisette and Conall followed after her, but not at so rushed a pace.
“That used tae be a rare thing,” he murmured as they stepped outside into the sunshine.“My brother laughing…before Aislinn, I mean.He changed for the better because of her.”
Lisette said nothing for how her heartbeat quickened to have Conall so near, his arm still looped through hers, and speaking so easily to her.
His voice no longer edged with anger nor his blue eyes darkened to an ominous hue.She could but gaze up at him in wonder, wanting to pinch herself over his relaxed demeanor.
As they continued after Sorcha, who was skipping a good ways ahead of them, Conall pointed out to Lisette some of the outbuildings bordering the bailey—the blacksmith and the armory and the massive stable.Yet he could have been speaking an unknown language for all she heard him.
He changed for the better because of her.
Those were the only words that reverberated in her mind as she wondered if such a miracle might be possible with Conall—ah, God, she prayed that it would be so!A great love had been forged between Aislinn and Cameron from the trials and dangers they had faced, as well as the personal struggles they had overcome.
Cameron’s affliction of painful shyness.
Aislinn’s arduous quest to be recognized as a woman more than capable of making up her own mind about her future.
Was Conall beginning to look upon her as more than the unwanted bride that had been forced upon him?Mayhap a wife that could inspire him to loyalty and faithfulness?He stopped so abruptly and pulled her around to face him that Lisette gasped, his gaze burning into hers.
“Tell me you forgive me, lass, I must hear it if we’re tae start anew.I know you’re not tae blame for anything that’s happened—aye, especially our marriage.I would have done the same if I’d been in your place—”
“If you’d been born a woman,” Lisette could not help breaking in with a small smile, not sure why she’d found humor in so serious a moment, though she had.To her surprise, Conall nodded and chuckled, his expression lightening.
“Aye.”Yet no sooner had he begun to smile when he grew serious again.“Aislinn told me some of what you suffered in France…your half-sister and stepmother.I dinna fault you for claiming you were Isabeau—LisetteIsabeau.At least I knew your given name—och, do you remember I said it suited you better?”
“Oui, I remember.”Conall stared at her so intently that Lisette felt as if she could scarcely breathe…something blossoming between them, she could feel it.He clasped her fingers, her hands so small within his larger grasp, and squeezed them gently, his voice filled with apology.
“I wanted tae visit you these past days, but Aislinn wouldna hear of it.She wields a sword, you know, as well as many a man.She grabbed Cameron’s sword once like a wild hoyden and used it against him—aye, it’s best not tae cross her.”
Conall chuckled again at the remembering, which only made Lisette’s heart beat faster.
“You did come to my room that first day, though.I sensed you’d been there and I called out your name.”
“I didna hear it, wife, forgive me.If I had, I would have come back tae you.I swore at your bedside that I would do better by you, and I meant it.Aislinn told me that you feared mayhap I’d seek an annulment of our marriage and that I must hate you, but there will be no annulment and Idinnahate you.”
“No annulment?”Lisette echoed, even as Conall more tightly gripped her hands.
“Never.”
“A-and you don’t hate me?”
“Far from it, lass, these past few days have shown me as much.You’re brave and beautiful and as fine a bride as any man could hope for, however we came tae be wed.I will share with you all that I’ve been given by King Robert and protect you tae my dying breath, yet I willna promise you love—aye, that I canna do.”
His expression had grown so hard that Lisette felt like she’d been struck, her knees feeling weak beneath her.Yet Sorcha calling out to them allowed her no more time to absorb what he’d just said as Conall laced his fingers with hers and drew her with him across the last expanse of the bailey.
Sorcha stood beside a stone wall, waving for them to hurry, which Lisette found almost impossible to do when she felt simply like crumpling to the ground.
Tears clouded her eyes, but she swallowed them back, not wanting Sorcha to think that anything was amiss.
Yet what had Lisette expected?That Conall would declare his impassioned love for her and seal it with a kiss?Berating herself again for a fool, she lifted her chin and forced a smile as they reached Sorcha, who beckoned for them to follow her.
