Guilt that he shouldn’t feel.
“He was. But whoe’er he became during the war,” she shook her head, “that person wasna my brother. I will fore’er cherish the memories we made when we were younger. But my memories stop when he left for the war. I refuse to think of him as the traitor I now ken he became.”
“Ye are verra strong, Lass.”
She laughed, twirling the stem of her wine glass. “I dinna ken about that. If I were strong, I would be able to deal with his betrayal. But I canna.”
“’Twill take time.”
“Mayhap. But what I do ken is ye.” She reached out to him and he grasped her hand, his fingers once again caressing her skin. “Ye were doing naught but your job. And from what I was told, ’twas a job ye excelled at. Your name is kenned amongst the highest rankings of officers.” She swore she could see a bit of pink color his cheeks at the compliment.
“I did what I had to do for my crown and country. I completed my missions as assigned. I am just so verra sorry that ’twas your brother. He was the last person I expected to catch that fateful night. Until then I had thought he was loyal to me and my unit.”
Malcolm’s eyes were so serious. She kenned he was speaking from his heart, and she appreciated the truth in his words.
“I can only hope that ye take such good care of me,” she said quietly, meeting his gaze with a seriousness of her own.
He searched her face. She watched the emotions play across his as he pondered her words, then watched as his eyes lit up as awareness dawned.
“Are ye saying…” He let the words trail off.
She wasn’t sure if it was because he was scared to voice them aloud, but she was sure of what she wanted. Placing her other hand on their clasped ones, she squeezed.
“What I am saying Malcolm Kennedy, Earl of Cassilis, is that I believe ye should marry me.”
