Page 48 of At the Highlander's Mercy
‘Isla?’ Jocelyn asked.
‘Is recovering downstairs, Lady MacLerie,’ he said, walking in then.
They sat side by side on a long bench before one of the windows. Mother and daughter, holding hands, and leaning on each other as they talked. What had Lilidh told her about him? About them? Her gaze caught his as he walked towards them and it was unreadable. Did Jocelyn know?
‘Rob, I beg your pardon for slapping you,’ Jocelyn said, standing and letting go of Lilidh’s hand. ‘I beg you not to hold Lilidh accountable for my—’
‘Bad behaviour?’ he asked.
‘She hit you?’ Lilidh asked, as she stepped over closer and looked at his face.
‘Like daughter, like mother,’ he said
‘I have never struck you,’ Lilidh argued.
‘You tried, when you were brought here.’ Rob realised that Jocelyn was watching their actions closely—too closely. Did they wear their intimacy like a garment so that others could see it?
‘Your men wait for you in the yard, Lady MacLerie.’ Rob turned and motioned to the door. ‘Tomas will escort you down to them.’
Though she looked as if she wanted to fight with him, Jocelyn hugged and kissed Lilidh farewell and left with Tomas. When they’d gone, he closed the door, not certain of his welcome in his own chambers.
She’d been crying, that much he could see. But had it done her any good to see her mother for such a brief time?
‘I am surprised your father allowed her to journey here,’ he said. Though...
‘I doubt that my mother gave him a choice in the matter. I could not believe my eyes when Tomas opened the door and she stood there. I expected you to return, but never did I think I would see her.’
‘And?’ Rob asked.
‘I have not seen her since I married Iain, Rob.’
Jocelyn had no idea of the state of Lilidh’s marriage. Glancing past her, he realised the bed was yet unmade. Had Jocelyn noticed and understood?
‘She asked. I told her the truth—that I’ve been sharing your bed.’
Lilidh was looking at the bed, too. Sadness tinged her words, yet her eyes did not show it. Rob slid his fingers around hers, entwining them together and kissing her hand.
‘Regrets now?’ he asked. It would not surprise him if she was having them, especially now since her mother knew.
Their time-out-of-time was over now. Duty and family called both of them. The nights of acting as if they were meant to be together was done. The acts committed in this bed would now become memories and be the only part of her left to him when she departed here.
‘Nay, no regrets, Rob.’
But she let his hand drop and then went to straighten the bedcovers without saying more. He watched her perform such a menial, everyday task and the longing nearly took him down as the bolt had.
‘I will be meeting with your cousins later. Do you have any greetings to send them? Or have you already told your mother?’
‘No. You do what you must and they will do that as well,’ she said softly.
‘Lilidh—’ He stopped because he just did not know what he could say.
He could not promise to keep her—his clan depended on giving her back in order to survive. He could not offer her his love—for she and he would both be expected to marry elsewhere. He could not tell her the truth—for it would tear her world and her heart apart.
‘Just go and do what you must, Rob.’
He turned to go, but he did want to hear her opinion on one matter before he did.
‘Why do you think your father did not come to get you, Lilidh? Why is he not here, beating down my doors to get to you?’
