Page 86 of Highlander’s Forbidden Fruit

Deathly silence followed these words. Lord Winchester paled, then grew red so fast Aleck was surprised he didn’t pass out.

“I have told you never to say that infernal woman’s name in my presence!” Lord Winchester screamed in apoplectic rage.

“I shall say more than her name, father, I will provide for her and John’s children.”

“Children?” Laird MacLeod said. “What children?”

Lord Winchester was so mad his eyes bugged out of their sockets, and nary a word escaped his white lips.

“My dear Laird,” Ashton bowed his head in supplication. “I’m afraid we have not been honest with you. John was already married. He met Malti in India. They have two children together.”

“I do not accept that marriage!”

“Whether you accept it or not is beside the point. My dying brother asked me to care for them, and I will.”

“With what money, you fool?” Lord Winchester snapped. “We have none to our name!”

“Nae money?” The Laird bristled. “Is that why ye were after me daughter and her dowry? Ye English snake! My daughter has fled to a convent consumed with guilt over John’s death, and here ye are like a bunch of vultures picking at the rotting bones for a morsel? Out!”

For a moment Aleck did not register what the Laird had said. The men continued fighting but their voices had drowned out as Aleck’s mind registered and acknowledged the ramifications of what the Laird had said.

Evanna had fled to a convent. She would take the vow. She would never leave, and he would never see her again.

“My Laird,” he said, his voice choked. “My Laird!” he took hold of Laird MacLeod’s arm. “What did ye say? Evanna’s gone to a convent?”

“Aye.”

“When?”

“This morning. She asked me nae to tell anyone.”

“But why?”

“Ye cannae expect her to live in a place where people question her character? They blame her for John’s death and the worst is, she believes them.”

Aleck knew instinctively that wasn’t the whole truth. Evanna felt guilty about being unfaithful to John; she felt guilty because she hadn’t wanted to marry him and when someone had died, she had inadvertently wished it wasn’t Aleck.

The fool was running away from her own demons, not knowing they would follow her wherever she went.

“She does nae ken the truth,” he said to Ashton. “She cannae take the vows without hearing the truth first.”

“Yes. We must bring her back.”

“Where has she gone?”

“She’s headed to Ireland by the main road. Do ye think ye can stop her?” Laird MacLeod asked in earnest.

“I will. She cannae punish herself for something that is nae her fault.”

Laird MacLeod looked at him intently. Aleck felt a little uncomfortable under his intense gaze.

“Ye love her, do you nae?”

Aleck licked his lips. It was the moment of truth. Would he hide back in his heart of hearts, or would he declare with pride that, indeed, he did love Evanna.

“Aye.”

“Ye fool!” the Laird thundered. “Why didnae ye say so before? We wouldnae be in this mess.”