Page 59 of Highland Flame

“Things? What things?”

“I was sure it is what I wanted. Now I am havin’ my doubts, since I heard from Gavin that ye are bairned and ye never told me.”

“I said I was sorry.”

“Yvaine, I poured my heart and soul out to ye, tellin’ ye my secrets. Still, ye kept somethin’ so important as this from me. Dinna ye realize how much that hurt me? It makes me wonder now if I can ever trust ye again.”

“I see.” Now it was her turn to look the other way. “For yer information, I think I want to keep my baby, too, Cam.”

“Think?”

She turned to face him. “I ken I do,” she answered. “I realize now that it was only bein’ selfish of me to even consider findin’ my bairn another family once it’s born. I was wrong, and I admit it.”

“It is a wise decision to keep it.”

“I’m sorry I didna tell ye about bein’ bairned, but there are a lot of things hauntin’ me right now, and I’m confused.”

“Hauntin’ ye?” He looked at her quizzically, wondering just what she meant. “That is an odd word to use. It makes it sound like there is somethin’ else ye arena tellin’ me. Is there?”

It took a moment before she answered and, honestly, he didn’t think she would. “Aye,” she said in a soft whisper. “There is somethin’ else, Cam.”

“Well? What is it?” he asked, giving her every opportunity to tell him.

“Before I answer, I want ye to ken that I would love to be yer wife.”

“Ye would?” Mixed emotions ran through him. Cam felt elated, but cautious and confused. Hell, he wasn’t sure how to feel right now. He needed to hear more.

“Aye. I think we could give Avianca as well as my bairn a guid home together.” She put her hand on her belly as she spoke, taking a step closer to him. “However, I canna marry ye without first bein’ totally honest with ye. I dinna want to start our marriage when I still have a secret I’ve kept from ye. From just about everyone, really.”

“Go on,” he said, coaxing her, needing to know exactly what she meant.

“Cam, I’m afraid once ye hear what I have to say, ye’ll no longer want me as yer wife. Ye may no’ even want to admit that ye ken me at all.”

“What does that mean? Of course, I will,” he said. Her words made him wonder what else the woman could possibly be keeping from him. “Yvaine, no matter what it is, ye can tell me. Please. Dinna be afraid.”

“I am afraid,” she whispered, looking at the ground. Her body trembled. “I’m scared of no’ only what will happen to me, but also that ye’ll despise me if ye ken the truth of what I’ve done.”

“Nay, lass. I could never despise ye. Ye are sweet and carin’ and it touches me deeply the way ye’ve taken care of my daughter. Ye have nothin’ but love in yer heart.”

“I’m glad ye think so, but I’m afraid that is far from the truth.”

“Please, Yvaine. Tell me what it is that’s troublin’ ye so much that it makes yer body quake.”

“We’re just about packed and ready to leave,” said Gavin, appearing at the door at the worst moment possible. Cam was finally going to find out what was haunting Yvaine, but now she’d never do it with Gavin there, he was sure. “Brathair Gillies sent me up here to help ye carry down the last of the boxes that are goin’ to Naward,” Gavin continued, not even knowing he was interrupting an important conversation. “Davita is already waitin’ in the wagon.”

“Aye, thank ye,” said Yvaine, quickly turning back to the candles that were part of the shipment. “These boxes are all goin’ to Naward,” said Yvaine, turning and pointing to them. Cam knew she was trying to hide the tears she was holding back. His window of opportunity had just closed. He’d been so close, but now he’d never find out what Yvaine was hiding from him.

“I’ll load them at once.” Gavin took the boxes, and stopped for a second to talk to Cam before leaving the room. “Egads, Cam, ye’re never goin’ to get Yvaine to like ye, smellin’ like that. Go take a jump in the pond and wash off that wretched stench.”

“Thanks for yer suggestion, but I dinna need it,” said Cam. He had hoped to get back to his conversation with Yvaine, but right when Gavin left, Brother Gillies walked in, making matters worse.

“Yvaine, I have just heard something from the child that I can’t believe,” he said to her.

“That Cam refused to let her go to Naward Castle?” asked Yvaine.

“Nay,” said the monk. “Avianca said you are having a baby.”

“Oh, that.” Yvaine let out a deep sigh. “Aye, it’s true. I am pregnant with Dun’s child,” she said, turning to face her brother.