Page 37 of Tempting the Highland Captive

“I will be here,” Lucas reminded him. “She has never been, nor will she ever be, alone.”

Ron nodded. “I ken that well enough, but if ye alone were enough, she would nae have had tae wed me.”

“True,” Lucas admitted.

“Will the clan turn on her when I am gone, or will they support her?”

“I dinnae ken. The elders are the greatest difficulty where that is concerned. Being unmarried will cause her tae be considered greater prey to men such as Rossell.”

“Is there a man that she would wed, could wed, that would protect her?”

Lucas shook his head. “If there were, she would nae have had tae wed ye.”

Sighing, Ron turned his gaze back toward the castle. “And if I were tae stay, do ye think that she would accept me?”

Lucas thought about it for several moments before answering. “It is clear that she cares for ye, as ye care for her, but it would take a great deal tae make her give up her notions of freedom. She feels that she has much tae prove and is nae going tae surrender herself easily. I ken that she can lead, but the elders and her faither did nae. ‘Tis the ghost o’ her faither’s disapproval that haunts her still.”

“She offered herself tae me last night and I refused her,” Ron admitted. He would not usually have shared such a private thing with another person, but he was beginning to feel the desperate emotions of a man in love and did not know what to do about it.

Lucas’ brows shot up in surprise. “Ye refused her? Why?”

“Because she wants an annulment.”

Lucas sighed, nodding. “I see. In that case, ye did the right thing, lad. I ken it would nae have been easy for ye tae do.”

“It was nae,” Ron confirmed, rubbing his face with his hand in frustration. “She is everything that a man could ever want in a lass.”

“Then stay.”

Lucas’ words caught Ron completely off guard. “What?”

“Ye ken that I did nae like ye or approve of ye at first.”

“Aye.” Ron nodded. The red giant had made that quite clear.

“But ye have grown on me over time.”

Ron smiled. “And ye,” he admitted.

Lucas grunted, but a small smile played at the corner of his lips. “I would nae wish tae have any man as laird when my allegiance belongs tae My Lady, but I would nae mind havin’ another warrior who loves her here tae help me protect her.”

“Why did ye nae wed her and become laird yerself?” Ron asked, the idea having occurred to him more than once since his arrival.

“I am wed already,” Lucas confessed.

“Oh,” Ron answered in surprise. He had never met Lucas’ wife or heard him speak of her since his arrival.

“She had verra different ideas about the life o’ a warrior’s wife and it did nae suit her. She does nae live with me here but resides in Edinburgh with her aging widowed mother.”

“I am sorry for yer pain,” Ron murmured, feeling guilty for having inquired.

Lucas shook his head. “I have my duty and that is enough for me. Aside from that, I am more an uncle tae the lass in my heart than anything else and I could ne’er wed her.”

Ron nodded in understanding. “Aye, and a good uncle ye would make her.”

Lucas grunted but was clearly pleased. “Ye are her husband, lad. Whether ye remain or ye leave, yer heart will always be hers.”

“Aye.” Ron nodded. “I am beginnin’ tae ken that all tae well.”