She smiled sadly. “You were always so certain of us, Lachlan. Even when we were children. I used to believe that that certainty meant we were supposed to be together–”
“We are,” he cut in roughly.
“–but people who belong together don’t hurt each other as we did. As we might again, if given the opportunity. Which is why I am asking you, once again, to let me go. To let us go. I don’twantto start over. Not if there’s the chance we might end up exactly where we are.”
“When ye build something magnificent, there’s always the chance it will fall apart.” He crossed the gazebo. Took her hands. Cocooned them in his. “But if it does, ye build it again.”
How simple he made it sound!
And for him, maybe it was.
But not for her.
“I have made my decision, Lachlan.”
His eyes flashed. “Well it’s a bluidy stupid one!”
When annoyance stirred, she slipped her hands free of his embrace and put them on her hips. “Why? BecauseIam the one who made it? For as long as I can remember, people have made decisions for me. What I ate, what I wore, what I did, where I went–even you, Lachlan. When you proposed marriage, it wasn’t so much a question as it was a forgone conclusion. You assumed what my answer would be before you even asked the question.”
“Ye said yes, didna ye?” he snapped.
“I did. And now I am saying no.”
“Bry–”
“My mind is made up. You cannot change it. I…” When tears unexpectedly threatened, she pressed her lips together until she was able to gain control of her emotions. “I am sorry. I know this isn’t what you wanted to hear. The decision you wanted me to make. But itismy decision, and I’d like you to honor it.”
He went to the edge of the gazebo. Braced his arms on the railing and stared out across the lawn. Gray clouds were beginning to roll in, a preemptive warning of an afternoon storm. But the warning was too late. The storm was already here.
“A judicial separation,” her husband said bitterly.
“That’s right.”
A long, heavy sigh. And then…“What do I have tae do?”
“Sign the papers when they’re given to you. My solicitor has told me that we won’t be required to present ourselves to the court.”Thank goodness for small favors,she thought silently. This was terrible enough. If she had to end her marriage in front of a room filled with solemn-faced strangers in wigs… “It shouldn’t take long. A month or two, at the most.”
“Nearly ten years tae make something, and a month tae destroy it.” The wisp of a smile captured his mouth as he looked at her over his shoulder. “This isna where I thought we’d end up, little bird.”
Without anger to dull it, the pain of loss sliced through her with all the force of a Scottish claymore. When her knees wobbled and her breath stabbed, she curled her fingers inward so tightly that her nails left crescent furrows on the palms of her hands.This is what you wanted,she reminded herself sternly.It will get easier once he’s gone, and everything can return to normal.
It would have been easier if he’d never come at all, but–for once–she was grateful for his stubbornness. They’d needed to have this time together. To rip bandages off old wounds. To heal old hurts. Now they’d be able to move forward without resentment or regret. Lachlan could return to Campbell Castle to pursue his dreams, and she’d go to London to ensure her brother had his. Then someday, when she had a clearer picture of what she wanted, she would go after her own.
It wasn’t happily-ever-after.
But it was close enough.
“If you see the children, please give them my best,” she said softly.
“Ye could see them yerself, if ye wanted.”
Her hands squeezed tighter. “I’ve kept in correspondence with Lady Heather. She says they are well, and have enjoyed the presents I sent them for their birthdays and Christmas.”
“And there it is.” He canted his head. “I never saw it before. Maybe because I didna want tae. But it’s as clear as a day now.”
“What is?” she asked, self-consciously unfurling her hand to brush her thumb across her cheek.
“Yer father, Bry. Ye’re the spitting image of him.” With that, Lachlan left.
