Directed into the hall, he found his aunt and uncle-by-marriage about to eat supper. The servants placed trays and bowls of food on the tables as he walked up to them. Climbing the steps up to their table.

  ‘Iain?’ The Mackintosh called out. ‘Come, join us for supper.’ From the height of their dais, Iain could look out over the whole of the hall and see those seated below. Studying those at tables and those walking about, he could not see Glynnis.

  ‘My thanks, Uncle, but I must find Glynnis.’ He stood behind them now and leaned over towards his aunt. ‘Just tell me where she is, Aunt.’ When she remained silent, Brodie whispered something to her. Letting out a sigh, she looked up at him.

  ‘I will not have her upset or bullied, Iain. Not by her father or even you.’

  ‘Is that what you think I will do? I have only just learned that she carries my child. I need to speak to her.’

  ‘Who told you?’

  ‘Not one of those who should have. But my betrothed thought I kenned of Glynnis’s condition and spoke about raising the child in our household.’

  Brodie groaned aloud and his aunt had the sense to look ill at ease.

  ‘In the cottage at the end of Margaret’s path,’ she said. ‘She will be alone, so I pray you approach her cautiously.’

  ‘No matter what has been told to you or should have been, the lady is under my protection, lad. See to it you respect that.’

  ‘I love her, Uncle. I would do nothing to harm her.’

  He knew where the healer lived. Rather than riding, he made his way there on foot. The sun was setting earlier now that autumn had arrived, so he did not dawdle along the way. Passing Margaret and Magnus’s cottage, he walked along the path to the last one, a small cottage sitting by itself, and stopped before it.

  His thoughts and what words to say jumbled in his head now that he was here. He knew he could never marry anyone but Glynnis. It truly had not taken the news of a bairn to make him realise the truth, but it had given him the kick he needed to do what he must do. As he’d thought on his responsibilities to his clan and to her, he understood he was not above using their child to make her see the path forward—together. She was his and would be only his.

  What he did not know was why she would keep such news from him? Had she meant to have his child and not tell him? That did not feel like something she would do—not when she knew his own heritage and beginnings. But fear made people do unexpected things and that would explain much.

  Well, he would never find out if all he did was stand and stare. Iain walked up to the door and knocked, not too hard nor too lightly.

  ‘Glynnis?’ he said. ‘I need to speak with you.’ He knocked once more. ‘I pray you to open the door.’

  Silence met his request. If she was asleep, would she hear him there? Tempted to lift the latch and enter, he was stopped by footsteps behind him. Turning, he found Glynnis watching him.

  ‘All is well?’ a man’s voice asked from behind her.

  ‘Aye, Magnus,’ she called out. Margaret’s husband must have walked her back to the cottage.

  ‘Goodnight to ye.’ The man walked off, leaving them alone.

  ‘Glynnis.’ And no other words came to mind as he stared at her. ‘You look well.’ She did. From what he could see in the shadows.

  ‘Iain,’ she said, walking past him to go inside. She stood with the door open, waiting for him to enter. He stepped within. Before she could close the door, a voice called out to her.

  ‘Lady, is all well?’ Robbie Mackintosh, the chieftain’s cousin and commander of his warriors, stood there with his arms crossed over his chest. He must have passed his brother-by-marriage on the path here. Clearly, Brodie Mackintosh wanted Iain to understand the lengths he would go to in order to keep his order of protection. Glynnis stepped into the man’s view and nodded.

  ‘I am, Robbie.’

  ‘I will be up the lane speaking with Magnus if you have need, Lady.’

  The man walked away.

  He waited to see if anyone else would happen along before following her inside. The cottage was a nice size, and from its appearance, it seemed that his aunt had assigned servants to see to Glynnis’s needs. A fire lay ready to be lit in the hearth. The place was tidy. Iain watched her in silence as she began to light a few candles around the cottage.

  Nothing in her shape or movement gave any indication of her condition. But she was only a few months along and mayhap it would take longer?

  ‘Who told you?’ she asked in a voice filled with a wearied tone. As though someone had broken a confidence. Which would explain the sense of disappointment even while it gave him a good idea of which women were involved.

  ‘Can we sit?’ he asked.

  She chose a cushioned chair by the hearth, leaving him the bench next to the small table. She waited on his explanation while all he wanted was to take her in his arms and kiss the breath out of her.

  ‘I am not certain if it will surprise you or not—’

  ‘Elen?’ He nodded. ‘Your betrothed?’ He shook his head. No matter what it took, that would end.

  ‘Well, she was when she told me. Apparently, through her observations, overhearing of conversations not meant for her ears and her own best guesses, she realised that you were, are, carrying a child. She even offered to raise the child in our household when she thought I kenned your condition and was saddened that you would be raising the child on your own.’ He moved over in front of her and crouched down before her. ‘My child. Our child.’

  ‘She is surprising and candid and...correct,’ Glynnis said. ‘For now.’

  ‘What do you mean? You are pregnant?’ He held his breath.

  ‘You do not ken the whole of it, Iain,’ she said, releasing a sad sigh. ‘’Tis most likely that I will lose this as I lost two more before the most recent one.’

  The words were stated very calmly, but he heard the anguish in her voice and saw it in the way her shoulders began to droop and her body tucked itself down, preparing for the pain.

  ‘Did you think I lied to you when you heard this?’ she asked.

  He shook his head. ‘I thought only that it was a miracle. Unexpected. Unlikely. Tell me the rest of it, Glynnis. There were other losses?’

  Over the next pain-filled minutes, she revealed the other bairns lost and the extent of the most recent damage that had made the midwives and healers and her believe she could not get or remain pregnant. But what he did not understand was why she thought she could keep it from him?

  ‘Why did you not tell me? Did you think I would allow you to bear my child alone?’

  ‘I do not think I will bear your child, Iain. This will end the way the others did and I cannot ask you to give up all you have worked for and dreamed of, what your mother struggled to give you the chance to earn when I ken—’ She stopped and took in a breath. ‘Any day now it will seep away and my failure will destroy your dreams and I could not bear to see the disappointment in your eyes. When I fail you.’

  ‘Glynnis, you will not fail me. I want you, I want to marry you, regardless of whether you can bear children or not.’

  ‘You say that now—’

  ‘And I mean what I say!’

  She reached out and covered his mouth with her fingers. ‘You mean it now. But in a few months, when it ends as it will—’

  ‘As it might,’ he corrected, whispering around her fingers.

  ‘As it will,’ she said. ‘If you believe my warning and reject what you have accepted as your destiny, you will tell yourself that you do not mind that you gave it up for me. But when I lose this bairn and the empty years stretch out before us, you will grow bitter. You will name me as the cause of your failure to be tanist and to lead your father’s clan.’ She began to cry, silent tears trickling down her cheeks. He knelt and tried to wipe them away.

  ‘The worst part is that I ken the truth. And I would rather walk away from you now than watch our love decay from the banked resentment you will feel.’

  From the desolation in her gaze, he could see it would be hard to convince her of his love for her, no matter if they had children or not. But he knew that if his father had had the chance to claim his mother’s love, he would have given up titles or power for her. Malcolm Cameron had given her his most prized possession as a pledge of their love, intending to claim her. And he died never knowing of his son’s existence.

  He would not do the same. He would not give her up, come what may or may not. But he would have to convince her of that somehow.

  He needed to show her that he loved her, not the bairn she carried. Right now, though, he’d surprised her and their conversation had exhausted her. Continuing would not convince her, so he would have to come up with a way to do that.

  ‘I think I should go,’ he said, standing and pulling her to her feet before him.

  Leaning down, he kissed her. Not the way he wished to, but just to taste her and feel her in his arms. He nearly yelled when she opened to him and even more when she leaned her body against his. Sliding his hands along her arms, he held her tightly to him. The kiss changed and she took control of it. His body reacted to her touch, her taste, her nearness. He stepped away, holding on to her shoulders until she gained her balance.

  ‘Tell me just one thing, Glynnis.’ He walked to the door and turned back to her. ‘Tell me the truth—do you still love me?’

  ‘Iain,’ she moaned out his name in protest.

  ‘Elen told me you do. But I want to hear it from you. Do you love me?’

  She did not speak for several long moments before nodding. ‘Aye, Iain. Always.’

  Iain held in the joy that filled him at her declaration. But he tempered it because that was just the first step in a longer process to convince her.

  ‘I ken you were seeking a safe place here while you waited and I have disturbed you. I will be staying in the keep if you have need of me.’

  He left her before he did anything foolish and walked down to the healer’s cottage. After asking her to check in on Glynnis, he walked back to the keep with Robbie. He needed help if he was going to succeed and he knew the exact people who could help him.

  His meddling Aunt Arabella and her powerful husband.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Margaret arrived just after Iain left, bearing a calming tisane to help her sleep. The healer checked her without saying much other than that Iain had asked her to see to her.

  In truth, once Glynnis had realised who stood there before the cottage, she’d had to fight off the urge to run to him and beg him to stay with her. Not seeing him would have made this easier, but now that she had, she admitted to herself that she would crave and accept every encounter she had with him.

  * * *

  If he had listened to her, he would soon be on his way back to Achnacarry to finalise his marriage arrangements with Lady Elen. As she rose this morning, the news that Elen had revealed her secret made her smile. She truly liked the woman—they could be friends if not for Iain. Intelligent. Candid. Funny. Kind. All traits she’d found in the Welsh noblewoman.

  Glynnis had risen for the day, without illness, so she planned to walk to the well and bring fresh water back here. The servants Arabella had sent to her would, but Margaret had told her she would be away this morn for their usual walk and Glynnis liked to feel useful each day. Getting the smaller bucket, she opened her door...and found most of the villagers standing there.

  Confused as to the reason, she watched as Iain, Brodie, Arabella and others walked up to her. Margaret and Magnus were there, too. And Robbie and his wife, Eva. Iain approached and held out his hand to her. It felt like more than a simple gesture and Glynnis hesitated. When she met his gaze, the love shining back at her almost brought her to her knees.

  She took his hand.

  ‘My lord, would you tell Glynnis what you did for me this morn?’

  ‘Iain, what is this? Why is everyone here?’ she whispered to him.

  ‘I want no secrets between us now, Glynnis. I want my intentions known before witnesses.’ He nodded at Brodie and waited.

  ‘I sent a messenger as you requested to The Cameron to inform him that you have ended your betrothal to Lady Elen verch Pwyll,’ The Mackintosh said on Iain’s behalf.

  ‘Iain! You cannot.’

  ‘I have, Glynnis. ’Tis done. I had already told Robert before I came here so he kenned my intentions.’

  ‘Why? Why give it up? Give her up and all she brings to your marriage?’ Why could he not see the mistake he was making? She would be his downfall.

  ‘Because, in spite of missteps and terrible timing and changes we could not control, I have never stopped loving you. All I tried to accomplish was because I could not have you. But given the choice, I would take you over all the rest. As I have come to realise that my father would have made the same choice all those years ago,’ he said. His aunt stepped closer when he paused.

  ‘Losing Iain’s mother broke Malcolm’s heart,’ Lady Arabella said softly. ‘I did not understand the cause until later in talking to his friend, but he loved her, as Iain loves you. I hope you will not make the same mistake and not take love when it is within your reach.’

  Having others stand for him would not convince her that it could work for them. She knew it would not. Nothing would work out and she would be left empty and grieving again and Iain would be angry and bitter.

  ‘I cannot, Iain. I cannot take the chance of such a loss again.’

  ‘I will be at your side, no matter what happens, Glynnis. You will not be alone.’

  ‘We will be here, too,’ Margaret called out.

  ‘Glynnis,’ The Mackintosh said. ‘I pledged my protection to you when you arrived at my wife’s behest. And that stands. If you accept Iain’s offer, you are both welcome here. If you naysay it, you still have a place here. You need never go back to your father’s control.’

  ‘How? How can you do that?’ In spite of it being a serious question, a titter of laughter echoed through the crowd watching this all happen.

  ‘I have allies and friends in high places,’ he said. ‘And a bit of experience in hiding people who wish to escape their situations.’ Glynnis did not understand his meaning, but his kith and kin did and nodded in agreement. Vague memories of an heiress hiding from her father, who thought her dead, rose in her mind.

  ‘Do you love me, Glynnis?’

  She hesitated. Saying it to him last night when only the two of them heard it was different from declaring it here.

  ‘I love you, Glynnis MacLachlan. Do you love me?’

  ‘Aye,’ she whispered.

  ‘Weel, any fool could see ’tis the true,’ someone called out and those observing this strange proposal laughed.

  ‘Be my wife, Glynnis? As soon as The Mackintosh and my aunt can arrange it?’ She heard his aunt’s reaction and knew that instead of everything being set against them, in truth, everything was set up for them. ‘Trust me, love. We will sort this out and be together always.’

  When he said it like that, with so many offering their help and dozens more awaiting her answer, how could it be anything but...aye? Fear raced through her and panic controlled her for a brief moment as she wondered if it could possibly work out for her, for them.

  ‘Steady on, lass,’ he said. She smiled, remembering the last time he’d spoken those words to her. The workroom, right before they had their one night together. He rubbed the inside of her wrist, a soothing movement that calmed her racing heart.

  ‘Steady on, Iain,’ she whispered back. ‘Aye, I will be your wife.’

  The cheer went up and she was snatched away from Iain’s grasp to be hugged by so many others. It took a while before Iain claimed her back and they went inside her cottage with a promise to come to the keep later to discuss matters and what must be done. When they did not leave fast enough to suit him, he actually closed the door in his uncle-by-marriage’s very shocked face. Inside, he walked Glynnis to the bed.

  ‘Come, I want to hold you,’ he said, tugging the bedcovers down and climbing in fully clothed.

  She stood and watched as he made himself comfortable and held out his hand to her, patting the bed next to him. Unsure what he planned, she waited.

  ‘I spoke to Margaret and she said we should not risk consummating our marriage yet. So, I just want to hold you now. ’Tis been too long since that night.’

  ‘Three months, three weeks, two days and about four hours.’

  He looked at her and laughed. ‘If anyone is counting.’ Iain rolled to his side and pulled her close, their bodies touching. ‘All will be well,’ he whispered. Kissing her, she felt his love and believed him.

  For the first time in so long, she felt hope spark in her heart.

  Epilogue

  Achnacarry Keep—five months, three weeks and a few days later...

  Her back hurt.

  Her belly hurt.

  She wanted food.

  She did not want food.

  She wanted it over.

  She wanted the pains to stop, but not yet.

  She wanted the baby.

  After trying desperately not to do anything that would make the bairn come, now everything was focused on bringing the bairn forth.

  ‘Be ye ready, my lady?’ Lorna asked. ‘’Tis time to push again.’ The midwife was far too cheery for this situation, Glynnis thought.

  ‘I was ready this morn,’ she said, sharply. She remembered almost nothing about giving birth the last time, but she would remember every second this time. Anna and Margaret, who had travelled to Achnacarry to help, recommended not taking concoctions to help her bear the pains that might make her sleepy and her body less effective. Glynnis wished she’d not agreed with that now.

 

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