Meg laughed from sheer relief and joy. “You thought I was a sea fairy—and I thought you were theeach-uisgeof Sgeir Caran.”
He blinked. “You thought that, not just your grandmothers?”
“I was not sure. But they were convinced that the kelpie came to Sgeir Caran that night.”
Dougal tipped his head in bewilderment. “Truly?”
“You have more than proven it lately.”
“How so?”
“You rose out of the sea the day we visited the rock. You were only diving, but Elga was certain. And she was alarmed one day on the beach when you wanted to take the children from her.You only wanted to help, but she thought you would steal them away. Stop laughing,” she said, smacking his arm lightly. “And then you rescued Sean and the shark did your bidding and went away.”
“My bidding! I wish I had that power.” He chuckled.
“And my grandmothers think—” She paused.
“Tell me. It could not be any less ridiculous than I have told you.”
“Because we spent the night on that rock…they think you are the kelpie and you became my husband,” she blurted.
He stilled. “Best explain that, my lass.”
“Mother Elga and Grandmother Thora sent me out to the rock that night,” she explained. “Norrie rowed me over at their insistence, though he was not keen on it. An old tradition says a maiden of Caransay must spend a night on the rock every hundred years, and wait for the great kelpie to arrive. If he is pleased, he will make her his bride. They told me to submit to his will, and gave me a potion to ease my fears. I said he would not appear. But he did.”
“Good lord,” he said.
“If the kelpie claims his bride, he will bestow good fortune on her and the people of Caransay. We needed good fortune then. We were growing desperate. The island leaseholder was planning to evict most everyone and bring in sheep farmers and English flocks. So I agreed to go out to the rock. I never thought anything would happen. But there you were,” she added simply.
“No kelpie, but a fortunate man to survive drowning—and lucky to be mistaken for a kelpie,” he drawled. She shoved at him, and he captured her hand and kissed it.
“I was fortunate too, in a way.” She spoke too soon, not ready to tell him about the child.
“Why was that?”
“I—I was in a haze from the herbal potion I took. I thought you were magical. You did not look like a shipwrecked sailor—you had almost no clothing. You were—magnificent, like a kelpie turned to a man. It was easy to believe.” She laid a hand on his chest.
“I wore a shirt, I think. My clothing was wet and heavy, pulling me down in the water, so I shook some things off. I’d rather wash up naked on a beach than die clothed and decent.”
“And I was glad to meet a half-naked man than a slimy, wretched sea monster.”
He chuckled. “We helped each other survive that night,” he said, and kissed her brow. “So, did the kelpie keep his word and bestow good fortune on you afterward?”
She grew quiet, trembling inside. The truth hovered on her lips, but there was too much to say, here and now. Wanting desperately to tell him, she chose to wait, and not spoil the magic that surrounded them now, and had surrounded them then.
She shrugged. “We were not evicted, as it turned out.”
“Lady Strathlin bought the island’s lease, I think. That was luck indeed. You had the blessing of the kelpie after all.”
Gulping, she could only nod.
He sighed. “My girl,” he murmured, “you are so good, so pure and honest in your character. I am very sorry you believed I was a wretched monster, whether it was to scheme you or frighten you. I would never do that.” He kissed the top of her head. “You are strong and beautiful. And I have been very lucky too.”
She felt torn by guilt. “I am not what you think.”
“Do not feel ashamed of what happened that night, or what happened just now, aye? Promise me.”
She nodded, unable to meet his eyes just then.
