Chapter 26

Daemon waited for the door to close behind Lyla before he turned back to Laird MacDougall. He knew very well what the older laird was feeling, and hoped his words would help.

The laird stood waiting for him to speak. Daemon took a moment to organize his thoughts. "Ye're worried fer yer daughter's heart, mayhap that I'm seeing her as another Rowan, and looking tae recreate what I had with me first wife."

"The thought had occurred tae me."

"I understand, fer I feared it as well, when I realized what it was I was feeling fer Lyla. But I promise ye, what I feel fer her is as different from what I felt fer Rowan as night is tae day."

He hesitated a moment, feeling awkward and uncertain in the face of speaking of things that he would normally never reveal to another. Still, if any man deserved to hear what he was about to say, it was Kaelin MacDougall. He took a deep breath and continued.

"I loved Rowan, and I'll never deny it. I loved yer eldest daughter deeply, and I'll cherish the memory o' our time taegether fer all me days. But with Lyla…" He paused a moment. "...Lyla… what I feel fer Lyla... 'tis like she's the air that fills me lungs, like losing her would kill me surer than a sword tae the heart. I cannae seem tae think o' a life without her. I'd sooner give up me title and lands and live as a beggar among the English, save that such actions would take me from her side."

"'Tis like that, is it?" Kaelin's voice was soft, considering, and no longer held the bite of anger it had possessed when he first entered the study.

"Aye. Nay disrespect tae Rowan's memory, but me love fer Lyla isnae something I can control. I'd sooner be able tae stop a river with me own two hands." He took a deep breath. "It took me longer than I'd like tae admit tae realize the truth, and I'll own that I've hurt her more than once these past weeks." It was hard not to wince as he remembered the discussion in the library days ago. "But now, I'll dae whatever I must tae convince ye o' me sincerity and prove how much I love Lyla. Ye've but tae name yer conditions, and I'll fulfill them, even if they'd normally be considered impossible."

"Ye're saying ye'd move heaven and earth, tae be with me daughter?"

Daemon locked eyes with the older laird. "Aye."

Kaelin sighed, his shoulders slumping as he took a deep breath. "Nay faither wants tae hear his daughter has a lover, much less a tangled situation like this. But I can tell ye're speaking the truth, and ye care fer Lyla greatly." He heaved another sigh. "I cannae say I'm comfortable with the idea, but if me daughter loves ye as deeply as ye love her, then I'd be a fool tae stand between ye."

"She says she loves me true, and she's an honest lass." It was more than Lyla's words that had proved that to him, but he saw no reason to enlighten her father about just how far their relationship had gone.

"She is at that." Kaelin looked away. "I'll keep yer words in mind, but fer now I'd like tae speak more with me daughter, and rest from me travels."

"I understand. If ye need aught, then ye've only tae ask me, or one o' the servants." Daemon nodded.

"Thank ye, Daemon. I'll take me leave fer now." Kaelin dipped his head in acknowledgment, then turned and walked away. Daemon watched him leave, then exhaled a deep breath and dropped into a chair by the fire.

He'd known he would have to approach Kaelin at some point, if he wished to take Lyla as his wife, but he hadn't expected it to be so sudden, or so difficult. Still, at least he'd secured at least a sort of provisional approval. At the very least, Kaelin hadn't immediately rejected him as a suitor for his daughter.

Now he just had to convince the man that the match was a good one and that he and Lyla loved each other, while finishing the preparations to ride for MacLean Keep, and dealing with Clan Ranald.

He also had his regular duties to attend to, including some of the paperwork and reports that he'd been putting off reading for the past few days.

Daemon took a deep breath, then pulled the first sheet from the stack toward him, and began to read.

* * *

Lyla was in the kitchens when her father came to the door and beckoned her over. She hastened to his side, looking at his face as she approached. He appeared calmer, but she couldn't tell if Daemon had convinced him to permit their courtship or not. She paused. "Faither?"

"I want ye tae come tae the garden and talk with me. Tell me how ye've spent yer days here. I ken ye stopped because o' the storms, but what else happened? I'd like tae ken everything."

Lyla felt heat rise to her cheeks as she recalled the book that was still in a drawer beside her bed. She was lucky her father hadn't seen it, or he probably would have dragged her from the castle that very minute. She certainly wasn't going to tell him about that – or about what she and Daemon had done together.

Still, there was no harm in telling him about her self-defense lessons, or how she'd helped with preparations for the feast. She thought he might even laugh at the story of their game of hide-and-seek, though perhaps she was better off not telling him of how they'd been stuck in a closet together.

She paused to wipe her hands on a towel the head cook handed her, then linked arms with her father. "Aye. There's a lovely patch in the gardens, close by the family wing."

"Where the laird has his study?" Kaelin shook his head. "I'd rather take a walk around the walls."

Lyla frowned, but nodded. Arm in arm, the two of them strolled along the base of the walls while Lyla regaled her father with stories of the various happenings, both at MacMillan Keep and before she'd left MacLean. Her father chuckled over the stories of poker games, and making ribbons.

When she told him about playing hide-and-seek, he chuckled. "Ye always were fond o' that game. Erin was too impatient tae hide, but ye'd wait from dawn till dusk, if ye were o' a mind."

"Aye. That's why I won." Lyla smiled. She glanced up at the sky. Time had passed while they talked, and her stomach was growling. "'Tis about time fer the noon meal. Shall we go tae the Great Hall?"

Her father's expression darkened slightly. "I think I'd rather eat in me rooms. But I'd welcome yer company fer the meal." He offered her a strained smile. "Ye've talked so long about yer doings, I should tell ye what's been happening at home."

Lyla felt a small spark of unhappiness, but she nodded. "That sounds like a grand idea Faither."

Laird MacDougall told her all about the various happenings, from the spring planting to some of the first gatherings of wild harvests, and the births of two children to the maids and their paramours among the guards.

Lyla listened, but talk of lovers among the members of their clan only brought her mind back to Daemon. She hadn't seen him all morning, and she missed his presence. She also wanted a chance to ask him what he'd told her father, and if they'd come to any understandings.

Once the meal was over, Lyla rose from her seat. "I'll take the tray back tae the kitchens."

Kaelin shook his head. "The servants can dae that. There's still much tae talk about."

Lyla stared at her father, a suspicion forming in her mind. "Faither, are ye trying tae keep me away from Daemon?"

His silence, and the stubborn expression on his face confirmed her suspicions. Lyla folded her arms across her chest. "Ye cannae keep acting like this. If ye dinnae want us tae be taegether, then say so. Dinnae play games with me."

For a long moment, his eyes met hers, then her father sighed and looked away. "Och, ye ken me too well, lass. ‘Tis true, I've misgivings about ye and Laird MacMillan."

Kaelin sighed again, the rose and took her hands in his own. "I'll admit, ‘tis difficult o' me tae think o' ye with the man who first married yer sister. But when it comes down tae it, I want fer ye what I wanted fer yer sisters – fer ye tae find happiness. And if ‘tis with Daemon MacMillan, then that's how it is, and I'll find a way tae come tae terms with it."

"Ye ken that Rowan…"

"Rowan would want ye tae be happy, and Daemon too." Her father managed a rueful smile. "And were she here, she'd give me a fair scolding fer trying tae separate ye."

Lyla squeezed her father's hands. "Ye can trust Daemon, Faither."

"I ken." Her father tugged her into an embrace. "Ye and yer sisters have always been far wiser than me, just like yer maither."

Lyla hugged her father back. "Thank ye fer saying that." She leaned against his shoulder. "Will ye give me yer blessing?"

"Aye. Me blessing and me support, so long as ye promise me two things."

"What?"

"Ye'll wait tae wed until after the conflict with Clan Ranald is resolved. And…" He smiled softly, sadly as he stepped back. "Ye'll let me give ye away at the altar, just as I did yer sisters."

Lyla smiled, her heart singing in relief and joy. "That I can promise willingly, Faither."

"Then ye have me blessing and I'm happy fer ye, me little darling." Her father sighed. A small laugh escaped him. "Now, I ken yer missing yer lad. So why don't ye go and tell him that I've thought it over, and I give the two o' ye me support."

With a light heart and a smile on her face, Lyla hurried to tell Daemon the news.