Page 77 of The Highland Heir

“Aye. As I said, it was long ago. I fell inlove with him when he was but a lanky boy sparring with Teague andWilliam. He asked me to marry him before he left, and I said yes.But then he met Muriel when he returned home. He wrote to tell mehis heart was otherwise engaged and we were not to be.”

Kieran hoped Ella would know what to say, forhe did not. He shouldn’t have doubted.

“Are you certain you wish to return toCaithness now? Will it be too painful for you? I know you havenever moved on from this, and I don’t wish for my wedding to causeyou any pain.”

“I’m ready to face it,” she said. “Besides,I’ll not miss getting to watch you marry your best friend.”

“If you need to leave, you’ll let me know,and I’ll see you escorted home right away,” Kieran promised.

As someone who had also been harmed by RolfeSinclair, Kieran would protect Jenny as much as was possible.

“Thank ye, Kieran. But it is time. If nothingelse, I will tell him how very angry I am with him, and if he ishonorable enough to apologize, I will forgive him. I believe I needto forgive him. And then mayhap I can finally let go of my hurt andfind happiness. Seeing Ella following in my path made me see it isno way to live. I didn’t want it for her, and now I see I don’twant it for myself either.”

Kieran thought he understood. His father hadexpressed his regrets for how he’d treated Kieran, and it hadlifted a weight from his shoulders. He would hope the same forElla’s aunt.

It was Brody who rode out to meet them whenthey were close enough to Castle Girnigoe to alert the guards.

“Ella, Jenny, may I introduce ye to mybrother, Br—Aiden.”

Brody laughed. “It is fine. I am learning toanswer to both names.”

Jenny stared and then said, “My, but ye lookexactly like your father at that age.”

“That is not the first time I have heard so.In fact, it’s not the first time today,” Brody joked. “But surely,the first time today by one as lovely as ye, Lady Jenny.”

Brody turned to Ella. “I am hopeful you arehere because you plan to become my sister?”

“Aye.”

“Good. That means he arrived in time tosnatch you up for himself.”

They laughed and turned for the castle.

The laird was waiting for them when they rodeinto the bailey. It was still a surprise to see the man smiling.But he was fairly beaming when they dismounted.

Isla was there as well, and while hissister-in-law was bonny, Kieran was beyond glad he didn’t have tomarry her. He smiled at his betrothed, happier than he could everremember being.

Helping Ella down, he noticed his fatherstepped closer to help Jenny from her horse. Kieran couldn’t helpbut notice the way Ella’s aunt smiled at his father in a ratherdazed way.

“Jenny, it’s been some time,” Kieran’s fathersaid.

“Aye. Ye seem happy,” she replied.

“There is much to be happy for. Both of mysons have returned to the castle with their women. And a lovelyguest as well. We have a great deal of celebrating to do.”

Kieran and Ella shared a look, and, as wascommon for them, he understood what she was thinking, or ratherwhat she was baffled about. It seemed his father and her aunt wereflirting with one another, and Rolfe had only barely looked awayfrom Jenny since she’d arrived in the bailey.

Mayhap there was some more happiness to behad in the Sinclair keep today.

Glancing over to his lost brother, Brodysmiled with his wife beside him. It was strange to think of howmany times he had cursed his faceless brother for leaving him witha grief-stricken father and shoes too big for Kieran to everfill.

But they were a family now. Despite how orwhere they’d been raised, this would be their home and theirchildren’s home.

When Teague came up to claim his sister in ahug, Rolfe turned to Kieran to ask, “When do ye plan to marry?”

“Today,” Ella answered quickly, then pressedher lips together as if realizing the question hadn’t been directedto her.

Kieran laughed at her excitement andnodded.