Page 74 of Bride of the Sinful Laird
She shook her head. “But the meeting?”
“It went well. MacDonald lied brazenly about his whereabouts during the raid and earned himself nay favors in doing so.”
“But what of ye? Did ye speak wi’ Tormod.”
He laughed a little at her eagerness. “Aye. I’ll meet wi’ the Elders in the morning and give them me decision.” His stomach lurched as the realization came home to him that his entire life was about to change.
She sighed and put down her comb. “Dare I ask ye what that decision is?”
He took her hand and pressed it to his lips. “Och. I am ready tae take up what me faither wished fer me. I have come tae care fer this land and its people. When I look out from the battlements it ismelands I see. When I walk among the villagers I see them asmepeople. I’ve come tae see Scorrybreac as me home, far more than I ever felt me home was Dùn Ara.”
She let out a delighted squeal. “I am so happy fer ye Edmund, I ken this is where ye belong.”
Still holding her hand, he looked gravely into her eyes. “I must tell them everything, I cannae continue tae lie about ye being me wife.”
“And ye must fulfill yer promise tae place me far from me faither’s reach.”
He got to his feet and turned his gaze to the blazing logs in the fireplace. “I dinnae wish tae…” He rested his hand on the mantel, not yet ready to turn his face to her.
She sucked in a breath. “But ye gave yer word…” She left her statement hanging between them.
I was a different man those two short weeks ago.
At last, he turned to her. “Annora, I ken what I promised. And me promise still stands if that is what ye wish.”
His eyes beseeched her. He understood that what had started as a ruse had now become his reality. Everything had been brought home to him in those moments when he’d learned she was inside the burning building.
“I dinnae wish tae lose ye, lass. Ye’ve come tae mean the world tae me.”
Her face lit with a smile, she reached a hand to brush a lock of dark hair behind his ear. “And ye’ve become most dear tae me, Edmund.” She spoke so softly he had to strain to catch every word. His heart bounced as he heard the love and joy in her words.
She looked up and he saw her eyes were glazed with unshed tears.
“Yet I fear me faither’s wrath, Edmund. I wish tae be safe from it.”
He looked at her, his features downcast. “Ye’d be safe from him if ye were wed wi’ me.” His voice was little more than a low, tortured growl.
She shook her head, one small tear trickling on her cheek. “The law and the church willnae marry us while I am betrothed tae Radcliffe.”
He knelt beside her chair, taking her hands in his, his eyes pleading. “Yet a dispensation from King Robert would put an end tae the betrothal and the church would be forced tae accept it.”
“While we await the King’s pleasure, I’d nae be safe from the Laird Graham Munro.”
He his belly churned with despair. She’d come to mean everything to him and the thought of her leaving drove daggersinto his heart. Yet, if it was to keep her safe, he would take her wherever she wished.
She sighed again and leaned in to him. Her lips joined with his in a tender, sorrowful, kiss.
“Whatever comes tomorrow, we are here together now, Edmund, and I wish ye tae dae what ye did last night tae banish all me fears.”
He gave a soft laugh and drifted his hand to her breast, cupping it over the fabric of her kirtle, his shaft rigid with wanting her.
“If we’re tae fly tae the moon and back, we must dae so wi’out these cumbersome clothes.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
She laughed, reaching to unlace his shirt with quick fingers.
He scrambled to his feet, and seized her in his arms. He could hardly wait to wrench off his shirt so that she was soft and warm against his bare chest. While she toyed with the scattering of coarse hair growing there, he took up her kirtle and tugged it over her head. Then he applied himself to the lacings on her shirt and slipped it over her shoulders.
