Page 9 of The Return of the Heir

Chapter Three

Alastair knocked on Rowena’s door. “Rowena? May I come in?”

“Nay.” Her voice was tight. She had obviously been crying.

“Please? I’ve missed you, Sister.” Alastair leaned against the door. This was not how he wanted to renew his relationship with his sister. “I would very much like to talk with you.” The door opened so quickly, he stumbled forward before he caught himself.

“What if I have nothing to say to you?”

He offered a tentative smile. “Then listen, because there are many things I need to say to you. But first, I must apologise.”

She crossed her arms over her chest but moved aside so he could enter.

He moved to the chairs near the hearth and took a seat, patting the cushion beside him. “I am sorry I had to send Marcus away temporarily until I can understand the situation better.”

“Temporarily?” She took the seat beside him but her face remained impassive.

“How did you two meet?”

She pursed her lips, as if deciding whether to tell him or not. After a short pause, she sighed and said, “I was walking alone along the shore of the loch when he appeared. I did not know what to make of him at first. He looked like he’d just washed ashore from a shipwreck.”

Alastair wanted to ask why she was walking anywhere unescorted, but he held his tongue, hoping she would continue.

“It turns out, he had been out sailing in a small boat he’d built himself. The boat capsized and he’d swam ashore only moments before I found him.”

“Why was he out on the water?” Had he been trying to spy on the MacLeods for his clan? Alastair fisted his hands then forced himself to relax. He was here to mend fences with his sister, not create a deeper rift. She obviously cared for the lad.

“He was testing a new sealant he had created for sailing vessels that can fix breaches in the hull while the vessel is still in the water.”

“If his boat sank, then obviously the sealant didn’t work.”

Rowena smiled. “It did work, but by the time he got the sealant in place, the boat had taken on too much water. He couldn’t bail the water out fast enough by himself. He was able to recover the boat the next day, and the two of us tried to replicate the experiment. With the both of us to bail the water out, the boat stayed afloat.”

This time Alastair couldn’t fight his clenched fists. “Nay, Rowena. You cannot put yourself in such dangerous situations.”

Her expression tightened and he saw pain in her eyes. “You cannot come back here and tell me how to behave and who I can see after leaving me alone for so long. Besides, I was perfectly safe. In case you forgot, I know how to swim.”

He winced internally as he recognised how much pain lay under her words. “It wasn’t my intention to come back here and tell you how to live your life, but I hope you will give me the chance to be your brother again—someone who cares about you and your welfare.”

She looked away for a moment then returned her gaze to him. “I can agree to let you be my brother as long as you don’t tell me I cannot see Marcus anymore. I truly care about him.”

“Would you agree to supervised visits?”

“Perhaps.”

He knew his sister well enough to know that was all the commitment he would get from her until she got over her anger at him. “I brought you a gift from my travels. Two gifts actually.” He lifted the small parcel on his lap and handed it to her.

“You cannot buy your way back into my good graces.”

“One part is a gift. The other a request.”

With an arched brow, she accepted the package and untied the string. She set the package in her lap as she unfolded the muslin wrapping to reveal a length of yellow silk and a green box. At her questioning gaze, he prompted her to open the lid. From inside, she withdrew a small crystal vial with a gold cap. Instantly, a floral scent filled the room.

“You brought me perfume?”

“From France.”

She removed the cap and drew a deep breath. “I smell jasmine, roses, patchouli, oranges, and vanilla.” She replaced the lid and smiled. “All right. I forgive you for leaving me behind for five years.”