Page 27 of The Return of the Heir

The days before all of this happened seemed like a lifetime ago to him. It must seem an eternity to her. Voice gentle, he said, “I am so very sorry for all that you have suffered at Garrick’s hand. He will pay for all that he’s done. Before I determine his punishment, would you tell me what happened and about your imprisonment?”

She looked away, focusing on something on the opposite side of the chamber as she spoke. “He kidnapped me right outside the chapel while I was waiting for your father to lead me to your side. He wanted to stage my death, so he sliced through my dress, cut a length of my hair and soiled both with a bladder of animal blood he’d brought with him.” Her glaze flicked to him then around the chamber once more. “He tossed the soiled garments over the courtyard wall and onto the rocks below.”

“But that wasn’t the end of his abuse of you that day, was it?”

She stiffened. “Nay. He forced me to steal the Fairy Flag.”

Alastair bit off a curse. “He forced you to choose between the lives of your siblings or the Fairy Flag, didn’t he?”

She nodded. “He knew only I could get past the guard in the drawing room without raising the alarm. I’m so sorry, Alastair. I had no choice.”

“I can see that you didn’t.” He swallowed roughly as she told him things he’d considered for years. “Garrick handed the flag over to his clan?”

“I assumed so since it was never in the Fairy Tower with us.” She studied his face and he wondered if she saw only a stranger looking back.

“I must find the Fairy Flag. It is imperative to my success in gathering the clans.”

“You mean to use the flag to help unite the clans?”

He nodded. “They all know about and respect the Fairy Flag’s origins. It is the one advantage I have to stop the clans from fighting each other and to unite them against the English instead.”

“If only there’d been another option,” she said bleakly. “I never would have—”

“I will find a way to get it back.” The years they’d been apart had been hard on her. He could see the strain of her suffering around her eyes and in the frailness of her body, and yet she had never looked more lovely. She held the beauty and grace of experience and wisdom. It was a deeper beauty than she’d had as a young girl and far more interesting. He scooted closer to her on the settee.

She stood. “I appreciate your understanding. I must check on my sister. Once she is recovered, we will go.”

“Go?” He stood beside her. He fisted his hands to keep from reaching for her.

Her expression hardened. “I do not intend to stay, not for long. Why would you want me here anyway? It is obvious you have moved on with your life.”

Until that moment, he’d thought he had. But staring at her now, he wasn’t so certain. He was about to marry a beautiful and biddable young woman who wanted him and suited him perfectly. Yet he couldn’t seem to pull his gaze away from Gwendolyn’s lips. He forced his gaze back to her eyes.

“We were betrothed once.”

“Aye, we were betrothed. Time has moved on, as must both of us. I might not have a clan anymore, but my family name is not without some status in the Highlands. We will find someone to help us move forward.” She turned to leave the chamber.

Anger flared inside Alastair, and something else far more primitive. Before she could step away, he grabbed her hand, turned her towards him, and jerked her hard against his body. Before she could so much as gasp, he covered her lips with his.