Page 38 of Highlander’s Forbidden Fruit

“Bah!” he growled. “That William Spencer was a villain if there ever was one.”

“Ma must have been worried sick.”

“Aye.” Laird MacLeod had a soft light in his eyes. “She called me a foolish man who cared more for honor and reputation when she could do well without those but nae without me.”

“She begged ye nae to go?”

“Aye. Cried she did. Told me she’d naught forgive me if I went. But I’d given my word. And I couldnae have William Spencer bandying about town that I’d chickened out of a duel. I’m a Scot, lass!”

“I’m assuming she forgave you well enough.” She smiled at her father. It was hard to imagine anyone staying mad at him too long.

“Aye, after a week of refusing to see me.” Laird MacLeod chuckled. “Gave me quite a tongue lashing after as well.”

“You deserved no less.”

“Tis true.” He smiled, the corners of his mouth lifting but his gaze full of sadness. “Ye remind me of her, ye ken. Ye have the same passionate nature, and ye suffer nae fools, even if it be the men ye choose to love.”

“I had very little choice with ye,” she teased. “A lass is bound to love her Da, nae matter what.”

“Aye, but ye have a choice in the man ye marry.” He seemed anxious about something. She got the sense that he wanted to say something to her but didn’t want to say it out right. It could possibly be because she had displayed the habit of revolting against any direct suggestions, advice, or orders in the past. Did Laird MacLeod know more about her plans then he was letting on. “I just want ye to choose someone for love, nae because ye have to get married.”

“I ken there’s nae rush.” Evanna assured him. “And I willnae marry without yer blessing. Ye will have a say in the matter.”

Her words seemed to have a miraculous effect on Laird MacLeod. The weary look in his eyes vanished, and he looked much younger. The grip on her waist relaxed and she felt his shoulders ease down beneath her hand.

“Ye cannae ken how much that means to me.”

Evanna could make an accurate guess by his reaction how much his inclusion in the decision meant to him, which made her plan more painful. All things considered, Laird Julius MacLeod had been a great father. Rearing a motherless child in a house with no female relatives was hard enough, but he had lavished her with more love to compensate for the loss of a mother.

When Laird MacLeod finally found out who she intended to marry, he would be heartbroken. Evanna was torn between the love she felt for her father, and the choices that had led her to choose John as her future husband. Continuing the dance, she decided to think further on it later with Aleck. Maybe he’d be able to help her find a middle path.

The song ended, and the dancers applauded the band. The man with the bagpipes winked at her. Evanna blinked in shock. She was glad that Laird MacLeod hadn’t caught the roguish behavior, otherwise the feast would have ended with the man’s head on a platter with an apple in his mouth, instead of a ham.

Chapter Fourteen

The morning found Aleck in the church. Father Gilmore wasn’t surprised to see him. Aleck was a regular fixture. They had both lost count of the amount of times Father Gilmore had found him at the altar seeking forgiveness for the Devil’s dreams that plagued him.

This morning was different. Evanna had arisen earlier than expected and had requested an audience with Father Gilmore. The priest, not used to such formality from the Lady Evanna, was pacing about the church wondering what the reason for such a request could be?

“Do ye suppose she wants to confess something?” he asked.

“I cannae say I’m privy to the lady’s mind.” Aleck was revealed to have another topic of conversation with the priest.

“She did travel for the best part of her stay with the Ashby’s. Could it be a sin of the heart? Envy?”

“What I saw of Lady Clara and Lady Evanna, they are as close as sisters and there was nae room for petty jealousy among the two. Their suitors were well divided and none too extraordinary to develop envy.”

“Hmm.” Father Gilmore rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I wonder if she has found a suitor.”

Aleck didn’t say anything, but he shifted in his seat.

“Perhaps she has chosen a Protestant suitor?”

“Perhaps.” Aleck shrugged. “I dinnae ken. But I do ken one thing for sure.”

“And what’s that?”

“Ye’ll naught ken anything but speculation till the lady comes and tells ye herself. So, stop chasing yer own shadow and sit down.”