“Over here,” Ali said as she walked to the water’s edge. She removed her slippers and dipped her toes into the foam that rol ed onto the pebble-lined shore. Lifting the hem of her gown, she trailed her foot through the froth in a circular pattern.
Rory embraced her from behind, pressing her back to his chest. “That’s how I’l remember you, Aileanna. Playin’ in the loch with moonbeams in yer hair. I’l no’ forget you, lass. Til the day I die, you’l hold a piece of my heart.”
Chapter 14
As they neared the edge of the clearing and Dunvegan loomed before them, Rory stopped. They could go no farther without being seen and he needed to touch her, look into her eyes one more time before he said good-bye. It had been the hardest thing he’d ever done, not to kiss her lips, to find a soft place to lay her down and love her like he wanted to. But he knew if he did, he’d never be able to let her go, and he would not dishonor Moira, or Aileanna, by lying with her He brought their entwined hands to his lips, and kissed her palm. She looked up at him, moisture gathered in her eyes, and he framed her face. “You promised.”
She attempted a smile, but her bottom lip quivered and she caught it between her perfect white teeth. “I didn’t . . . didn’t think it would be this hard.”
He groaned, and pul ed her against him, burying his face in her silky hair, breathing her in as though to keep some part of her with him. “Doona’ be angry, lass, but I pray Angus sends word soon. I canna’ bear to think you suffer because of what I must do.”
She tipped her head back and placed two fingers on his lips. “Don’t worry, Rory, I won’t be here much longer. And 166
if this is to be our good-bye, there’s something I have to ask you to do for me. I need you to make me a promise.”
“What is it, Aileanna? I would give you whatever you want, you must ken that.”
“There’s only one thing I want, but you and I both know it can’t happen. We weren’t meant to be.” She gave him a sad smile. “But there is something you can do for me that wil make it easier for me to leave.”
“What would that be?”
Her gaze was intent as she held his. “You have to prom
ise me, if anyone comes to you with a complaint against Moira, you’l listen. And that you won’t give her control over Dunvegan when you’re away from home. She—”
“I ken Mrs. Mac and Fergus have their reservations, but you doona’ ken her, Aileanna. She means wel . She but tries to please me.”
Her skepticism was evident in the look she gave him.
“Please, just give me your promise. You’re a man of your word, and al I ask is you give it to me on this.”
He sighed, shaking his head. “Aye . . . aye, I wil do as you ask.”
The sound of men’s voices in the courtyard drew his at
tention and he said, “’Tis time, mo chridhe.”
She reached up on the tips of her toes to brush her soft lips over his. “Good-bye, Rory. Be happy and stay wel ,”
she said against his mouth.
He threaded his fingers through her long hair to cradle her head and gaze into her beautiful blue eyes. Rory had never wanted anything as badly as he wanted Aileanna. He yearned to deepen the gentle kiss, ravage her mouth and mark her as his, but he couldn’t, not without causing both of them more heartache.
“Good-bye, mo chridhe.”
With difficulty he stepped away from her, and together they crossed the courtyard. The night was stil , the men’s LORD OF THE ISLES
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voices fading off into the distance, the only sound the clicking of Aileanna’s heels as they struck the stone. He reached out to assist her on the steps, but she shook her head without looking at him. As he pushed the doors open the ache in his chest grew, and he hoped al were abed. His hopes were dashed when Mrs. Mac, Fergus, and Iain rushed into the entranceway, fol owed by Cyril, Moira, and Aidan, who gave him a knowing look.
“Och, now, Lady Aileanna, you’ve been cryin’. What has that big oaf done to you?” Mrs. Mac cried, scowling at him. She drew Aileanna into her protective embrace. Fergus and Iain took a threatening step toward him.
“No more than she deserves, I’d imagine,” Moira said, smiling like a cat that’d swal owed a wee warbler. “And ye wil na’ speak to yer laird in that manner, Mrs. Macpherson.”
Rory was about to intervene, not wanting the tension to escalate, but Mrs. Mac didn’t give him a chance. “Och, and I’l speak to him any way I please. I’ve been doin’ so since he was in nappies, and you’l no’ be tel in’ me different.”
Moira’s incensed gaze shot to Mrs. Mac and Aileanna, and then back to Rory, as though she waited for him to ex plain, or at least intercede on her behalf, but it was Aileanna who took it upon herself to defuse the situation. Once she managed to extricate herself from Mrs. Mac, she said, “I was out for a walk and tripped. Lord MacLeod came to my rescue, nothing more. Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to go to bed.”
“Good sleep, Aileanna,” Rory said to her retreating back. He clenched his hands at his sides lest he reach out to her. Her eyes met his over her shoulder. “To you, too, Lord MacLeod. To you, too.” Her voice was low and husky. Mrs. Mac sniffed. “My apologies, Laird MacLeod, and my thanks fer yer assistin’
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