Page 44 of Her Forbidden Highlander Husband

For when the time came—if a war became unavoidable—she’d have no choice but to leave.

For now, Liam and the laird thought her father was a tyrant who didn’t want to be defied, and for that they had bound to protect her. But what would they do if they found out another clan was involved? That she had been promised to another? Would they honor the arrangement and send her away? And what would become of Gwennie?

Liam sat across from her to scratch out his own correspondence, though he’d not spoken or allowed her to read it. She worried what trouble he might have instigated in his missive but was too exhausted to push the matter.

For her own letter, Evelyn had no choice but to keep hers simple. She settled on a stern and determined message.

Father,

I am Liam MacKinlay’s wife and that I will stay. We are returning your horses, as I’m afraid your man is unable. If you have ever loved me, please leave us in peace.

Evelyn Grace Stewart MacKinlay

She didn’t sign it as daughter for she was abandoning that privilege along with the duty. It seemed a mockery of what she’d once wanted that now she could only hope he would disown her.

There was no chance now for them to have anything more.

Liam agreed, reluctantly, to keep the situation between them and not tell the laird unless her father refused to give up. He left to have one of his younger warriors dispatched to deliver her message along with the horses.

She knew it would be weeks for her father to receive her missive and weeks longer for him to respond, but she did know a response would come. And she knew it wouldn’t be pleasant.

She lay in the darkness waiting for Liam to return.

But he didn’t come back to their chamber. Or her bed.

Chapter Seventeen

Liam was certain the matter with the Stewart laird was over this time.

After he’d seen to the slain Stewart’s body, Liam had returned to the hall and found Ev struggling over a piece of blank parchment, Liam decided he had something to say as well.

He’d been direct with her father in his letter, stating that he and Ev were married before God and he wouldn’t give her up. He also mentioned his disgust for the way the man had treated his only child.

To think he’d once felt inferior to Hugh Stewart as he’d begged the man for his daughter’s hand. The laird was a disgrace and not worthy of the title.

If the man had written about missing Evelyn or how he wanted better things for her than a war chief, it might have struck a chord with Liam, but the man’s hatefulness served only to make Liam more certain of his protection.

He’d never treat Gwennie that way. Liam understood children of lairds were often married in alliances to gain something, but Ev had been home for years and he’d not made such a match for her.

Liam couldn’t help but think that making her live alone without a husband or her daughter was his way of punishing Ev for what happened with the McCurdy bastards. She’d more than paid the price for leaving the castle unprotected; she wasn’t at fault for what happened after.

Liam might have written more, but there was the chance, given Liam’s poor penmanship, that the man wouldn’t be able to read it anyway.

After sending both letters and the horses on their way with one of his guards, he returned to the hall to sleep. He’d thought he’d covered ground with his wife and that she was beginning to welcome him as her husband. He tossed and turned on the floor as thoughts and visions tumbled through his mind, seeing that man grab Evelyn’s arm. What would have happened if she’d gone with him to talk to her father?

When the sun had risen high enough, he knew he couldn’t allow Gwennie to wake without a rabbit waiting for her. He also needed to speak to Evelyn.

“I’ll ask that ye not leave the castle,” Liam said quietly when Gwennie had gone to gather her bunnies. He was ready to put the matter behind them, but her safety was still an issue.

“If you think I would try to leave again—”

“No. I know you’ll not leave Gwennie,” he said, making it clear he understood Gwennie was the main reason she’d stayed.

“I’d not leave either of you,” she said, surprising him.

He thought she considered him nothing more than a way to have what she wanted. They’d kissed and he’d given her pleasure, he’d thought she’d grown to care for him. But then she’d said marrying him had been a mistake.

“Last night you said you shouldn’t have married me.”