But she was more than willing to find out.
“Emma?”
At the sound of Maggie’s voice echoing down the corridor toward them, Emma and Finn stumbled apart as though burnt. For a long second, they stared at one another as the magic of the previous moment faded away and reality caught up with them. Neither one of them knew what to say, and before Emma’s mind could form a clear thought, Finn stepped away toward the door.
“Emma? Where are ye?”
Finn’s eyes were full of things unsaid, and although Emma wished he would stay, she knew that the moment they had shared with each other had not settled things. In fact, Emma felt as unbalanced as never before, and she could see the same confusion on Finn’s face as he stepped through the door and into the cold.
Chapter Seven
Subtle Signs of Love
Carrying yet another armload of freshly-cut evergreen branches, Emma was lost in thought as she walked back to the great hall with Maggie by her side. Her lips still tingled from Finn’s kiss, and rather begrudgingly, she had to admit that it had felt utterly overwhelming, a far cry from the soft peck she had given Finn all those years ago.
Was that why he had thought her unfeeling? Because she had lacked the ability to kiss him with such finesse? Was that why he had doubted her? Had his kiss today changed anything between them? Did he have any intentions towards her? After all, he had been relieved to hear that Vaughn had never kissed her. And had he not said he needed to know if she intended to marry Vaughn?
Had he not looked utterly jealous?
Emma’s heart skipped a beat as hope once more surged forward, tickling the corners of her mouth and willing a smile onto her face that felt all the more overwhelming as it had been absent these past few years.
“Something happened,” Maggie observed, her eyes narrowed as she watched Emma. “Tell me.”
Swallowing, Emma turned to look at her friend. “I dunno know what ye mean,” she mumbled, uncertain how to put into words the many contradicting emotions that lived in her heart.
Maggie chuckled, “’Tis Finn, isn’t it?” Her eyes narrowed even further as though she could truly read Emma’s thoughts. “What happened? Did he…did he kiss ye?” She glanced over her shoulder, back down the way they had come. “Just now? Was that why ye were gone for so long?”
Gritting her teeth, Emma felt heat rise to her cheeks, and mortified, she closed her eyes.
Maggie laughed, putting a gentle hand on Emma’s shoulder. “Don’t be embarrassed. I’m so happy for ye.” Eagerness stood on her face. “How did it happen? Tell me everything.”
Setting down the branches, Emma shook her head, her thoughts still running rampant as though she had no control over them. “How did ye know?” she asked in return, trying to distract Maggie from asking more questions Emma did not know how to answer.
A deep sigh full of longing and…remembrance left Maggie’s lips. “Love is impossible to hide,” she whispered, “at least from those not affected by it.” Gently, she squeezed Emma’s hand. “I can see it in ye and Finn because my heart isna burdened by doubt and fear. Ye may try to hide how ye feel, but those attempts make the truth even more obvious.”
Emma nodded, wondering how she could ever have thought that Finn did not care for her. Now, it seemed only too obvious that there was something between them, that there had always been something between them. Why else would he have been so angry with her for so long? Still, a small part of Emma did not dare believe her own conclusions to be true. Maggie was right. Fear could be utterly blinding. “He did kiss me,” she whispered, a shy smile on her face as she confided in her friend. “He seemed so different. I’ve never seen him like that. I dunno know what to believe. I mean, I know what I wish to be true, but…”
Again, Maggie squeezed her hand in reassurance. “Believe it for ‘tis true. I promise ye.” Nodding her head in affirmation, Maggie glanced around the hall until her eyes fell on Garrett as he stood by the far wall, speaking to Cormag. “Dunno tell me,” Maggie said, a grin coming to her face, “that ye dunno know who Garrett is speaking about.”
Emma smiled. “His wife.”
“Aye,” Maggie agreed. “’Tis in the way his eyes sparkle, the way his face lights up at the mere mention of her, the way his voice grows heavy with emotion when he speaks of her. ‘Tis easy to see, is it not?”
Sighing, Emma nodded, her eyes on Garrett as he spoke to Cormag, his green eyes alight with longing−the same longing she had seen in Finn’s eyes only moments ago? Oh, if only she could be certain.
“Ye can see it in Cormag as well,” Maggie threw in, her eyes narrowing as she watched their laird. “His signs are more subtle, but they’re there.”
“Cormag?” Emma frowned as her gaze drifted to the stoic leader of their clan. Although his eyes always seemed wide open, watchful, aware of everything that went on around him, he never seemed affected by any of it. Never had Emma seen him agitated or angry, thrown off balance or even confused or hesitant. Was he even capable of love?
“If ye dunno believe me,” Maggie said, once again guessing Emma’s thoughts correctly, “then watch him carefully and ye’ll see. He canna help himself any more than ye and Finn.” With a sigh, Maggie turned back to her branches, her nimble fingers arranging them beautifully as her gaze drifted to her sleeping children near the fire.
Too distracted by her encounter with Finn as well as Maggie’s words,
