Page 65 of Highlander’s Sweet Poison

Relief swept over Tearloch’s face. “Wonderful. Then go and enjoy yerself, and if Alexina is feeling better, she will join ye later.”

It seemed as though the poor guard could not get away from her fast enough. Feeling a little dejected, she walked slowly toward the square. There were already gobs of people out and milling around. Determined not to let the change dampen her mood, she tightened her cloak and headed toward the square.

Although it had been years, it was just as she remembered it. Doors to the covered carts were open to display items on hooks. Tables placed in the front were overflowing with baubles. Some of the items were a necessity. Christy was outgrowing her dresses, and she would need new ones. Davy was old enough now to have his satchel, and they could both use a new book.

Stopping at one table, she gazed wistfully as a lovely green pendant. She certainly didn’t need any new jewelry. Or rather, any jewelry. In a fit of anger, Alan had sold all of the pendants that she’d lovingly collected over the years. One included a necklace that had belonged to her mother. She’d cried for weeks afterward, but she didn’t dare allow Alan to see. If he knew her weaknesses, he exploited them.

No, now was not the time to think about Alan. He was dead and gone, and while she was sad that her children were without a father, she was smart enough to admit that he was not the father they deserved.

“It would look beautiful with yer eyes.”

Oh, that voice. It curled around her like heat from a fire on a cold night. Just the thought that he might be near made her hands shake, and she closed her eyes. She would not give in now.

“I am afraid that I am past the age where I am concerned with beautiful things,” she said as she turned. The blacksmith was as handsome as ever, of course, but he always kept his distance. He never allowed himself to be alone with her or to touch her. She missed the days when he would playfully take her hand and dreamed of the moments when he used to embrace her.

“A woman should never turn her back on something that makes her smile.” He hesitated before reaching for the pendant and draping it over her neck. She shivered as his fingers brushed alongside her skin. “Perhaps ye will let me purchase this for ye? A gesture for an old friendship.”

The thought was a chilly reminder for what they used to have. Instantly, she pulled the necklace off. “It is not necessary. ‘Tis enough that every time I see ye, ‘tis a reminder of our old friendship.” Her voice hardened just a little as she returned the necklace to its spot. “Now if ye will excuse me, I have some things I would like to buy for my children.”

Instead of leaving, he fell into step next to her. “I have been meaning to see how ye are doing.”

“After the death of my traitorous husband?”

At least he had enough shame to cringe. “I suppose ‘tis not a subject ye would like to speak on.”

It was a subject that she very much wanted to speak on, but none would listen. Her family didn’t need to know what Alan was really like, and she was only just now forming friends. They didn’t need to hear the horror of her life.

It was over now, and she was free. It was best if she moved on. “Nay, ‘tis not something I wish to speak to ye about. Now if ye will excuse me, Clyde.”

“Annella.” Suddenly, he grabbed her hand. “I came here looking for ye today. The truth is that I have been meaning to get ye something, and it never seemed like the right time. Jillian mentioned that ye would be here today.”

Jillian. Alexina was in on it too. Annella clenched her teeth. Her friends would pay for this. “There is nothing that I want from ye, Clyde.”

Drawing his eyebrows together, he stared down at her. “Are ye angry with me, Annella?”

“Angry? Angry doesnae even begin to cover what I feel for ye, Clyde. I know it has been over a decade, but every time I look at ye, I am reminded of what a liar ye were. I thought ye had feelings for me, and I waited for ye to come to rescue me after what Alan did, but I didnae even see ye until my wedding day! I cried for ye almost every day until my Davy was born, and then I realized that there was nothing I wouldnae sacrifice for my son. So no, I have no wish to speak of my dead husband or of the friendship that we shared, and I have no wish for ye to buy anything for me!”

She expected him to let go of her hand and stalk off, but he just tightened his hold on her hands and stared at her. “Graeme was telling the truth,” he said softly. “Ye didnae choose Alan over me.”

“Choose?” she scoffed. “Nay, I had no choice when it came to wedding him. Certainly, none after I married him.”

With a tender expression, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. He seemed oblivious to the people who were casting curious looks their way. “I cannae go back and change what happened between us, my love, and I wilnae ask ye to consider me now. I realize that ye are just now getting yer independence, and I wouldnae ruin that for ye. I am a patient man. I have waited twelve years for ye, and I will wait for twelve more if that is what it takes. Just know that I have loved ye near all my life, Annella, and if I had known that Alan wasnae yer choice, I would have stolen ye away in the middle of the night and made ye mine.”

Astounded, she stared up at him as he held out his hand and dropped something in it. “Ye never took this off, and I recognized it the moment I saw it on another lass. I bought it from her near five years ago. I should have given it to ye then. I hope ye will forgive me, but sometimes it felt like it was all I had of ye.”

Then he was gone. Annella trembled as his words echoed in her mind.

Clyde had loved her all along.

Tears gathered in her eyes. She looked down at the item he’d placed in her hand, and she nearly fell to her knees.

It was her mother’s necklace.

Clyde worked late that night, the pounding of the iron fueled by the hatred he’d seen in Annella’s eyes. All those years wasted because he’d harbored a horrendous misconception. All those years that Annella had suffered.

But then, she had both Davy and Christy, so some good had come from the marriage. Although Clyde had been careful to never let Alan see, Clyde had great affection for the children. He always suspected that Alan knew what had almost happened between Annella and Clyde and taken a perverse joy in taking that away from them.

And for what? Fulton was dead and Graeme had hated him by the time he’d become laird. So all Alan had succeeded in doing was nearly breaking a great woman.