Chapter 12

Evander woke with May in his arms, and a growing pressure in his groin. He was still trying to decide what to do about it when he felt May stir toward wakefulness. He pressed a light kiss to one of the scars on her shoulder. “Good morning.”

He was surprised when she pulled away, her expression unhappy.

“What’s wrong?”

Her eyes were downcast as she pulled the blanket up around her shoulders. “Ye’re... I just... I understand if ye regret this. If ye want tae just forget last night happened…”

“I’ll nae be forgetting, and I hope ye’ll nae be doing so either.” He reached up to trace a thumb over the small mark he’d left on her shoulder. A mark of his loving, and his claim on her. “And I wouldnae want tae forget.”

“But ye’re a man tae be married in a month. There’s naething that can come o’ this.” She started to get up, and he took her hand and kissed it. He saw the surprise on her face as he pressed his lips to her soft skin.

“I ken the difficulties, but I willnae pretend this didnae happen. I’ll nae leave it here and bury the memory.”

He saw the fragile hope in her eyes, along with uncertainty. “What dae ye plan tae dae then?”

“I dinnae ken just yet, but I’ll nae be forgetting ye.”

He knew what he wanted to do. The only question was whether or not everyone else involved would agree to what he wanted. But first things first.

He rose from the bed. “We can worry about what’s between us later. Fer now, ‘tis best I get ye safely home tae yer kinfolk. They’ll be worrying about ye.” May nodded, and the two of them moved to dress.

The healer was waiting in the front room when they emerged, a knowing look on her face. Evander blushed, remembering how he’d acted the night before. Then he reached into his belt pouch and withdrew a handful of coins. “Fer the trouble and the room, good healer.”

“’Twas nae much trouble, me boy, and ye’re welcome, though I thank ye fer yer courtesy.” She took the coins. “I have breakfast cooking, if ye like.”

They wound up having porridge, lightly sweetened with honey, and an herbal tisane that woke Evander up wonderfully. Within half a candle-mark, they were saddling their horses – Evander blushed again to remember that he hadn’t unsaddled them, and the healer must have done so – and rode out of the village.

Evander kept a watchful eye out, but either they’d lost their pursuers, or they’d been too hurt to follow, because there was no sign of anyone threatening. Even so, he kept his attention on the landscape, instead of letting it slip to May as it wanted to do.

He still couldn’t believe the events of the last evening. It seemed impossible that in only one day, he’d gone from believing May disdained him to knowing she loved him. His heart, which he’d long thought dead and withered, felt full near to bursting.

There were two sour notes to his joy. The first was the one May had mentioned earlier. He was a man engaged to be married within the month. If he truly wished to be with May – and he couldn’t imagine wanting anything else – then he needed to find a way to end his engagement with Enna. Preferably without damaging the alliance between his kinfolk and hers.

The other, and more pressing concern was May’s father. He didn’t know why Laird MacPherson would have lied to him about the letter. Did the man not think he was good enough to be his son-by-marriage? Did he think Evander might come into conflict with Killian over the lairdship? Or was there some other reason he’d kept them apart?

The thoughts occupied his mind for most of the ride, and the rest of his attention was taken by watching for any dangers. Beside him, May seemed similarly pensive, and the ride passed in an uncertain silence.

May breathed a sigh of relief as the walls of MacPherson Keep came into sight. Her emotions had been confused since she had awoken, and she was glad to see the familiar stone of her home. It was a bulwark in a world that had become much more confusing over the past day.

She was glad that Evander didn’t truly hate her, but at the same time, it saddened her. She already knew they had no future, and yet she couldn’t deny the joy she’d felt last night, or how right it had felt to be in his arms, being loved by him.

Her brother Killian and her sister-by-marriage Lillias were waiting at the doors to the keep proper when she and Evander rode through the gate. Killian raised an eyebrow at her escort, and her clothing, but he helped her off the horse and enveloped her in a hug. “’Tis good tae see ye safe and well. Faither, Lillias and I were fair worried when we heard ye’d been taken.”

He frowned at the bandage on her arm. “Did Scot MacDonell hurt ye then?”

May blushed. “Nay. ‘Twas an accident, and me own foolishness.”

“But Scot MacDonell does ken that she’s here. His men ambushed us in the night.” Evander stepped forward. “We stopped in a cave tae wait out the storm, and they found us afore we could leave.”

“Och, and I was wondering about me sister’s clothing, but that explains the matter, I suppose.” Killian sighed. “Well, I cannae say I’m surprised. The man’s a crafty bastard, whatever else he is.”

May’s eyes drifted to the doors behind her brother. “Faither didnae come with ye?”

Killian’s eyes softened with sympathy. “Och, Faither would be here tae greet ye, but he’s stuck in a council meeting. He’ll likely want tae see ye as soon as he can get free.”

Killian turned to Evander. “Ye’re welcome tae stay and rest here fer a day or two if ye wish. We’ve plenty o’ room for ye, and ‘tis the least we can dae fer ye.”

Evander nodded. “I’m pleased tae be able tae aid ye, and ye have me gratitude fer the hospitality.”

“May.” The familiar, deep voice made her turn.

Her father was hurrying down the hall, his eyes wide and his expression warm. May turned to greet him, her cheeks hot. She was still wearing the clothing she’d borrowed from Evander, and she felt embarrassed that she’d not had a chance to change clothing to something more appropriate. “Faither.”

She started to dip into a clumsy curtsy, but to her shock, her father swept her into his arms. “May. ‘Tis good tae see you home. I’m so glad ye’re safe.”

She couldn’t recall that her father had ever embraced her, not since she’d been a very small child. May stood frozen for a long moment, before she tentatively returned the embrace. “I’m home Faither. I’m sorry if I gave ye concern.”

“Ye did. And I’m grateful that Mackintosh took ye in and gave ye shelter.” He released her. “Ye should rest, ye and yer escort. We’ll talk more after dinner.” He pressed a quick kiss to her brow, then turned and hurried away.

Completely confused by the unexpected behavior, May missed Killian leading Evander away. It wasn’t until Lillias touched her arm that she managed to shake off her surprise at her father’s actions. Lillias smiled sympathetically. “I’ll have the servants draw ye a bath and bring up something fer ye tae eat.”

May gave her sister-by-marriage a grateful smile, and turned to seek out her chambers, intent on getting a change of clothing, and perhaps a bit of sleep. Maybe if she managed to sleep a little more, her father’s strange behavior would make sense.