like her, ye’ve lightened my heart this night and I thank ye
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fer that. Ye canna’ blame an old man fer wantin’ to keep ye around, now ken ye?”
“If you and the MacLeods weren’t feuding, maybe we could visit one another.”
He quirked a brow. “I knew where ye were headed al along, lass. I just didna’ ken how long it would take ye to get there. In that yer like my wife. She hated the constant feudin’. ’Tis why I think she left me that night, takin’ my other daughter and runnin’ off. If Brianna wasna’ so sickly as a bairn, I’m certain she would’ve taken her as wel .”
“You never found them?”
“Nay. Searched for years until I realized ’twas hurtin’
Brianna.”
“I’m sorry.” She squeezed his hand.
“Sleep wel , my pet. On the morrow we’l talk.” He laughed when she gave him a hopeful smile.
“I’m no’ makin’ any promises.”
Chapter 22
Rory sagged with relief in his chair, handing the parch
ment across the desk to his brother. “He has Aileanna, says she’s wel , but he wil return her only when he’s satisfied she’s rested.” She was coming back to him. Rory didn’t know when he’d ever been happier. Without her it was like the light had gone from his life.
He had lain in her bed, breathing in her scent. Sleep had eluded him as he battled his demons. Torn by the needs of his clan, he had feared what demands the MacDonald would make of him for her safe return, only to find there were none. Rory was certain the reason the old goat backed off was that Aileanna reminded him of his daughter.
“Sounds like the MacDonald has taken a special inter
est in yer lady.” His cousin grinned. “Ye best be careful he doesna’ steal her away from ye. The ladies are al atwit ter when he’s at court. Consider him to be a handsome old bugger, they do.”
He scowled at Aidan. “She has the look of his daughter,
’tis al it is.”
“Do we hold off readyin’ the men?” Iain interrupted.
“Aye, we hold. I want to be here when Aileanna is re
turned.”
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“Fergus, Iain, are ye no’ surprised Himself wants to be here to greet his lady? Imagine, the great warrior would rather keep the home fires burnin’ and see to his woman than lead his men into battle. We’d best be certain the men doona’ get wind of this,” Aidan quipped. His laughter faded when he met Rory’s gaze. “I’m teasin’, cousin. I fer one would think yer daft if ye went ridin’ off without seein’ to her first.” Aidan shook his head. Placing his two hands on the desk, he leaned toward Rory. “Can ye no’ let it go, cousin? Yer no’ yer father. There’s no better laird than ye, but ye deserve a life and doona’ ye dare let that lass suffer because of yer foolish notions.” Aidan slammed his fist against the polished wood, then left the study.
“He’s right, Rory. I ken yer worries. Doona’ ferget, I lived them, too. I doona’ carry the weight of yer responsi bilities, but I do understand, and mayhap you wil let me shoulder some of the load. I may no’ be the man you are, but I am a man,” his brother said quietly, walking away before Rory could think of something to say.
“Bloody hel , what just happened here?” Rory grum
bled. Leaning back in his chair, he rubbed the stubble along his jaw.
“We al desire the same thing, lad. We want to see you happy, truly happy, and we ken Aileanna is the one to do that fer you. We doona’ want you to mess it up is al .”
Rory rol ed his eyes. “I canna’ mess it up. I love her. She kens that.”
Fergus grinned. “She does, does she? How are yer weddin’
plans comin’ along?”
“Go tel Mrs. Mac and Mari the good news,” he mut
tered, waving his friend from the study. Ali crawled from the tent and met a grinning Lord Mac Donald. He crouched at her side. “Are ye havin’ a bit of trouble, lass?”
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“I feel like I’ve been run over by a car . . . cart,” she quickly amended.
“Here, let me help ye.” He looped a strong arm around her waist and pul ed her to her feet. “I’l bring ye down to the loch and ye can clean up a bit.” He held up the bundle he carried in his other arm. “I have everythin’ ye need. I’m certain ye have no wish to get back into yer own things.”
