Page 99 of The Laird's Secret Bairn

“I daenae care to read whatever’s in there, Stephen.”

But his fingers were itching to grab the pages and read whatever they contained. He knew whatever was in there would hurt him. Skye had been furious with him about how he had ended things. She wasn’t going to leave something behind that he would want to read.

It was going to devastate him, of that he was sure.

“Aye, ye do. Ye care more than ye’ve cared about anything in seven years, which is precisely why ye’re sitting alone in the dark refusing to touch it.” Stephen’s voice gentled, just slightly, the teasing edge finally dropping.

“I said I daenae care to read it.”

“At least consider it.”

“I said nay. What part of nay dae ye nae understand?” Dougal pointed at the door. “Leave, Stephen.”

“All right, I will leave ye alone to wallow in yer self-pity, but consider reading it, Dougal. I promise ye willnae regret it.”

“Are ye implying that ye read it?”

Stephen chuckled. “Oh, I am nae implying it, me friend. I am telling ye that I did read it and the contents of those papers are something ye need to read. But again, that decision is up to ye.”

He turned toward the door, but paused with his hand on the frame, glancing back one last time.

“I mean it, Dougal. Whatever ye think ye ken, ye daenae have the full picture.”

Dougal said nothing, staring at the pages on the desk without truly seeing them.

“I’ll nae bother ye again tonight,” Stephen added quietly. “But daenae let yer pride cost ye something ye cannae get back.”

The door clicked shut behind him, leaving Dougal alone with nothing but the fire’s low crackle and the weight of his own stubbornness.

He stared at the pages for a long while, his arms crossed, telling himself he wouldn’t touch them. But curiosity, or something closer to hope, gnawed at him until he finally crossed the room, sat down, and reached for the topmost page.

36

Skye had thought being home would bring her some happiness, but all it did was make her wish that she was back at Castle MacKinnon.

Of course she missed Dougal, but thinking about him evoked conflicted feelings inside her. He had broken her heart, and she was still trying to put the pieces together. It was starting to feel impossible.

Freya tended to her, fussing over her in a way she hadn’t done in years. It made Skye weep harder that her sister was spending time worrying and comforting her. Freya had done so much for her. It wasn’t fair that she had to tend to her now.

Then there was Emily, who fussed over Skye as much as she was able. She and Freya took turns watching over her, making sure that she was faring better than she had been when she arrived.

She had only been at Castle MacKinnon for a month, but it felt as if she had been there foryears.She had built a life there, spending time with Lily and showing her that there was a world outside the walls. Kenna had been like a second mother to her, and the two of them had enjoyed many thought-provoking conversations. Then there was Dougal, a subject her mind consideredtaboo.

She rolled over in bed when a soft knock sounded at the door.

“Skye, it’s Freya. Dinner is ready.”

“I shall eat later if that is all right, Freya.”

Skye did not have to see her sister’s face to know she had that familiar look of disappointment. Freya was trying her best to get her to eat properly, but it already took so much effort to get out of bed every morning and get dressed.

Kaden was worried about her, too. He was furious with Dougal for hurting her and blamed himself for allowing her to go with him in the first place.

She had told him that he was not to blame. When it came down to it, he had only wanted to make sure she was happy, and thus had agreed to her engagement to Dougal.

None of them were to blame. Even Dougal wasn’t. He had done what he thought was best, no matter who it hurt.

That was why Skye did not blame him, not really. She loved him more than anything, but now she would never have a chance to tell him how she truly felt.