Page 82 of Conquer the Highlander

Esme poured him the remainder of the watered ale she had, putting it in front of him as he silently ate. He was pouting and she let him, sitting down across from him but not making any attempt to change the focus off of her. She’d let him get it out of his system and then they would move on. As she’d come to discover, his fits of anger didn’t last long. He was quick to temper, but quick to forget.

She’d simply let him forget.

As Titus finished his meal in silence, Esme tended to her bee by moving him over near the hearth so he would have some warmth. The little bee was slowing down, nearing the end of his life cycle, and it saddened her to know he’d soon be gone. She planned to bury him beside the cottage, among the flowers that he had loved. As she stood by the hearth, she put her hand into the bowl and the little bee slowly climbed into her palm where it was warm.

“My little friend will soon be gone,” she said, peering at the wee beastie. “He is the first thing that ever really belonged to me, the first thing that ever needed me. Mayhap that seems strange to say that about a bee, but I will always remember him with fondness. He was the first thing that ever made me feel needed.”

Titus looked over at her. “I need ye.”

“You were the second thing.”

She looked up from the bee and grinned at him, a jest to lighten his mood. Titus fought off a smile as he finished the rest of his ale.

“I was the first and only,” he said. Then, he softened a little. “Ye know I’m not angry with ye, sweetheart. But knowing ye left the cottage… that frightened me.”

Esme put the bee gently into the bowl. “I know,” she said. “Believe me when I say I would not have done it had there been any other way. But I could not let the baby run off.”

He held up a hand to stop her from explaining again. “I know,” he said. “Ye’re compassionate and responsible. I see that every time ye take care of the bee, or teach Aurelius how tae write in Spanish, or chase after Niko because Isadora is too tired tae do it. But if I lost ye… I wouldna know how tae go on.”

She set the bowl down near the warm stones of the hearth and went to him, wrapping her arms around his head, avoiding his tender jaw.

“You’ll not lose me,” she whispered. “I’ll be with you forever, querido. You and I are meant to be together, for always.”

He put his arms around her torso, his head against her chest, hearing her heartbeat steadily in his ear.

“Ye’ll sleep with me tonight,” he said. “I promise I willna try tae seduce ye, but I want ye in the same room with me. I dunna want ye out of my sight.”

Esme understood. In fact, she was grateful for his sense of caution. “Of course, Titus,” she said. “I would not feel safe away from you tonight.”

He looked up at her, kissing her torso when she smiled down at him. Then, he stood up, taking her by the hand and leading her towards the back chamber where the comfortable bed awaited.

A knock on the cottage door stopped him in his tracks.

“Quickly,” he muttered. “Intae the chamber.”

As Esme dashed inside, Titus shut the door behind her. Over near the hearth was a heavy iron fire poker and he silently picked it up, wielding it in one hand as he made his way over to the door.

“Who comes?” he demanded.

“It is Clegg, Titus.”

Titus threw the bolt and opened the door to reveal Clegg standing there in a glorious robe. The rain had mostly stopped and Titus invited the man in, out of the damp and the cold.

“What’s amiss, m’laird?” Titus asked with some apprehension.

Clegg turned to him, his robes swishing. “I have just ordered Ayr and his son away from the Ludus Caledonia,” he said. “But I fear they will not stay away. Titus, they saw Esme. They want her returned to them.”

As Titus’ eyes widened, the door to the smaller chamber flew open and Esme appeared. Her face was taut with shock.

“It was an accident,” she said, already in tears. “I was tending Isadora’s little boy and he ran away from me. I had to chase him, but I was not out of the cottage more than a minute, I swear it.”

She started weeping and Titus put his arms around her, comforting her. “Dunna worry,” he said, kissing her forehead, but the truth was that he was very worried. He looked at Clegg. “She was only ever next tae the cottage. If they saw her, it meant they were in the warrior’s village where they shouldna have been.”

Clegg was looking between Titus and Esme. “I know,” he said. “I would not be surprised to know that they had been prowling this entire encampment, but they seemed quite outraged that Esme was here. They have threatened to bring the church to force me to return Conan’s betrothed and if that happens, I cannot protect her, Titus. She will have to go back.”

Titus knew that. He looked at Esme, who was terribly upset. The worst had happened, what they had all feared, and she was to blame. But, then again, no one was. It was an accident. Gently, Titus touched her face before returning his attention to Clegg.

“Not if I marry her first,” he said. “She has agreed tae marry me. We’ll simply do it as soon as possible.”