Page 26 of Her Forbidden Highlander Husband

“Dis one.” She held it out to the boy, who smiled tentatively and took it. “Thank you,” they both said when Evelyn cleared her throat.

“Would you care to sit with us?”

He hesitated a moment, wanting to put off the news that she planned to leave Dunardry. He took his seat on the other side where the children were busy playing with their rabbits.

“I wanted you to know I’ve decided to stay.”

He nodded. He’d expected to feel relief with this answer, but oddly he didn’t. Things hadn’t changed between them. He was no closer to having what he’d wanted with her decision. In fact, further from it. If she’d annulled the marriage and left him, he would have been free to start over.

Now he would be trapped in this hell for the rest of his life. Having a family, but unable to reach them. He’d drifted for a moment and then noticed Evelyn was speaking.

“Unless you wish me to go. My father threatened the clan if I didn’t return. If you think it too great a risk, I’ll return.” She swallowed and looked up at him. “If you wish me to go because I’m not the wife you expected, I’d understand.”

He let out a breath and shook his head. “The laird would never turn you out of the clan. He’s said as much to me. You are a MacKinlay now and as worthy of protection as anyone else.”

“And you?”

“I took a vow to stay with you through sickness and health and good times and bad. I do not break a vow.” Even if it meant never having what he truly wanted.

“Might we take our evening meals together each day?”

He blinked in surprise. His wife had offered him an invitation to be with her and Gwennie each day. He looked up at the dais where Lachlan sat next to Kenna, and their boys took up the places by their sides chatting excitedly about their day.

“Yes,” Liam said, grasping at this chance to be with Evelyn and their daughter. “I’d like that very much.”

…

Evelyn hadn’t known she was going to suggest they dine together each night until she opened her mouth and the words came out. But by the next week they’d fallen into a pleasant arrangement.

Evelyn had sent off a response to her father telling him she planned to stay with her husband. She found she looked forward to each evening meal when Liam met her and Gwennie at the same table to dine and talk about their day. Liam always had a new rabbit for Gwendolyn.

After dinner, he’d escort them back to their cottage and tuck Gwennie in with a story of a leaf that carried a small bunny to the sea where they’d meet the seals. Anytime he attempted to deviate from the story to make it more exciting, he was strictly corrected.

Occasionally, he would help with a household chore like bringing in wood so she’d have it to cook in the morning or carrying in water. Then Liam would leave with a simple, “Good night to you both. I look forward to seeing you in the hall tomorrow.”

The following week, Sheamus and his mother returned to the cottage across the way and he and Gwennie were good friends, often playing with the growing army of rabbits in the yard next to their cottage.

Hearing the rumble of thunder in the distance, Evelyn stepped out to bring the children inside. When they weren’t in the side yard, Evelyn walked across the lane to Sheamus and Madra’s home.

Sheamus opened the door with a smile. Since his father hadn’t returned, the boy had more smiles to spare these days. “I came to bring Gwennie home before the storm.” But as Evelyn glanced around the cottage not much bigger than hers, she didn’t see her daughter.

“She’s not here,” Madra said turning to the boy. “Where is she, Sheamus?”

“Gwennie went with the tinker. He said he had a giant bunny to show her.” The boy’s smile faded to a pout. “I wasn’t allowed to go along.”

Evelyn’s vision grew distorted at the edges. She remembered losing consciousness and knew the peace it brought, but she couldn’t allow it this time.

She needed to find her daughter.

…

Liam tossed another spade of dirt onto the growing hill and wiped the sweat from his brow. He and a few of his men had come to Cam’s to help him with one of his new buildings. The man was always designing a structure. This would be a small house for the dowager duchess who came to visit often.

With the sun high in the sky, Liam ordered the men to take a break, and they headed to the wagon that had arrived with their meals.

In the quiet as the men ate, Liam heard the clanking of another wagon. The tinker had left the village and was heading away from them.

“Doesn’t the tinker go to Baehaven when he leaves us?” Liam asked Cam.