Page 68 of The Laird's Secret Bairn

“Grandmaither says I get it from ye.”

“Yer grandmaither says a great many things.”

“She also says ye’re stubborn as an old goat.” Lily tipped her head back to grin up at him. “Worse, even.”

“Does she now?” He pressed a kiss to the crown of her head, the tightness in his chest finally easing for the first time since Angus had ridden through the gates. “Remind me to have a word with her.”

“I willnae. I like it when ye two argue. It’s funny.”

He shook his head, unable to keep from smiling, and stayed there with her a while longer before duty called him elsewhere.

Dougal found Skye later that night curled up by the fire in the sitting room, the pages forgotten in her lap. He knocked softly on the doorframe before entering.

She had made sure her sleeve was covering the bruise. If he caught sight of it again, it might set him off for the third time that day. She wanted to do what she could to prevent that from happening.

“Skye. Are ye all right?”

“I’m fine.” She set the pages aside as he crossed the room.

He stopped before her and tilted her chin gently toward the firelight, checking for some mark.

“Ye’re certain the guard didnae hurt ye?”

“Aye. I’m unharmed as I told ye before.” She drew in a slow breath. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For everything I said to ye about Lily. About nae keeping her locked away.” Her voice wavered. “Ye were right to protect her the way ye did. I understand now, after what happened.”

“’Tis all right.” He sank into the chair across from her, some of the day’s tension finally leaving his shoulders. “Angus was always bound to find out and come to us, regardless of what either of us did to stop it.”

She nodded, watching the fire.

“Go to bed when ye’re ready,” he said. “Take a hot bath first, if it’ll help ye sleep. I’ll see to everything else tonight.”

“And if I—” She broke off.

She wasn’t sure she should say anything, but she had already spoken out loud, and Dougal wasn’t the type to let things remain unsaid.

“If ye what?” he prompted gently.

“Nothing.”

“Skye.”

Her resolve shattered. Dougal had barely pushed back, and here she was, ready to voice her innermost thoughts to him.

What had he done to her? Sometimes, she didn’t recognize herself. She had changed so much since coming here, and it hadn’t even been a full month yet.

She rose from her seat but didn’t move toward the door just yet, lingering there with her hands twisted in her skirts. “Dougal…”

“Aye?”

“Thank ye. For pulling that guard off me. For nae hesitating.” She swallowed. “I daenae think I’ve thanked ye properly for that.”

“Ye neednae thank me for that, lass. Nae ever.” He stood as well, closing some of the distance between them before stopping, as though he’d remembered some line he’d drawn for his own sake and meant to keep to it. “I’d do it again without a moment’s thought. Ye ken that, dae ye nae?”

“I do.” Her voice was soft. “That’s the problem.”