Astounded, she clutched at his wrist. “In truth?”
Merriment sparkled in his eyes. “Aye, as word of Tavish’s imprisonment spreads, I am confident more shall return to rejoin the clan.” He swept her in a firm embrace. “The path may be long and winding, but I feel as though we’ve succeeded, Nora.”
Contented with his enthusiasm, she pulled away to meet his bright gaze. “We never failed. Remember that, Brother.”
“You’re right,” he agreed with a nod. As he released her, the smile slid from his lips. “Are you going to tell me what’s amiss or do I have to pull it from you?”
“I’ve said ’tis naught.” Nora glanced away from his probing eyes and bent to retrieve the bucket at her feet. Starting for the courtyard, she glanced over her shoulder. “I’ll see you back at the keep.”
“Liam and his kin plan to leave soon.”
The words catching her off guard, Nora managed a few paces before her steps faltered. Striving to wipe the shock from her features, she pivoted toward him. “I thought he might. He has a clan of his own to look after, you know.” She tried to maintain an unaffected air, though the thought of Liam leaving lanced straight to her heart. “When?”
Perceptive as ever, Will watched her through narrowed eyes, gauging her reaction. “On the morrow.”
So soon?
Nora’s mind scrambled to process the truth. He was truly leaving? Without her?
“Oh.” ’Twas all she could manage to spit out in her present frame of mind.
Will latched on to her fumble. “Is that all you’re going to say?”
A tide of anger, borne from days of Liam’s silence, washed over Nora, mounting her agitation to a breaking point.
“What would you have me say?” Frustration yanked the words from her in a near shout. “If he wishes to leave, then so be it. He has a life of his own.”
A life that did not include her, it would seem. Uncaring of her foolishness, she reeled in her own wretched self-pity.
Moving closer, Will’s unyielding stare never wavered from her features. “Tell me what’s amiss, Nora.”
Air pushed from her deflated lungs while unruly thoughts clamored in her head, eliciting a pounding throb in her temples. Emotion burned in the back of her throat as she tried in vain to banish the hurt welling inside her. Despite her best efforts to remain impassive, she failed miserably.
When she met her brother’s gaze, a stray tear ran unchecked down her cheek. “We’ve hardly spoken a handful of words in a sennight. I did not even know he planned to leave so soon.”
Will lifted an arm to reach for her, but she raised a hand to ward him off. Saints, if he embraced her in that moment, she’d bawl like a bairn.
Brow tucked low with a frown, he searched her gaze. “Have you considered he might’ve given you space to understand your own feelings?”
“Why the devil would he do that?” Nora hissed. “He never has before.”
’Twas a part of his character she’d grown accustomed to—his dogged relentlessness. Many times when she would’ve withdrawn to her solitude, he remained firm, drawing a steady stream of speech from her and, at times, even a smile. ’Twas truth his absence stung.
Shifting awkwardly, Will grimaced. “I’m sure he must’ve had good intentions.”
“His intentions are glaringly clear.” She shook her head. “He’s changed his mind and no longer wishes to wed me.”
Her brother’s features twisted with confusion. “How the devil did you arrive at that notion?”
“What else am I think?” She pressed her balled hands into her sides.
“And what of him? I do not recall you going to him one time in these last few days.” Will let out a derisive snort. “Hell, have you even bothered to tell the man you love him?”
The question hurtled through Nora, swiping the legs from beneath her affronted indignation. Her mouth flapped open and closed as she floundered for a response, but she could not muster an acceptable excuse.
She scanned her memory, searching for the moment she’d confessed her love to Liam. The night of the spring harvest feast, surely, she must’ve spoken the words. ’Twas the night he’d asked her to wed him, but she’d begged a reprieve, one of the many he’d kindly offered her. With a jolt of startling clarity, she realized she’d never uttered a sound of her true feelings for Liam. What little she might’ve admitted, he’d practically had to pull from her.
Closing her eyes, she released a harsh breath. “Saints, I am a fool.”
What was Liam to think? She could’ve kicked herself for not being clearer.
Will gripped her shoulders, giving her a slight shake. “Look at me.” Nora did as he bid, meeting his piercing stare. “I understand your reticence. ’Tis the life you’ve had to lead, biting your tongue and keeping your emotions under lock and key, but there’s no longer a need to hide yourself away, Nora. I pray to God you shall no longer sacrifice your own happiness for my sake, as I know you’ve done for years. You said so earlier—we’ve succeeded.”
Biting her bottom lip, she absorbed his words. Mayhap, she had sacrificed a portion of herself for the sheer sake of his protection, but she never blamed Will. ’Twas not his fault or hers their uncle was a vile fiend who deserved to languish away in the MacNab dungeons for the rest of his days.
She mumbled, “I understand.”
“Do you truly?” Will searched her gaze. “I’ve never desired anything more in my life than for you to seek your own happiness. Do not let this opportunity pass you by. You’ve upheld your vow to protect me a thousand times over. Now, ’tis time for me uphold my vow to you. We both know if you remain here, you will never truly live for yourself.”
Nora could deny his words all she wished. The fact remained, her clever brother was right. Once Liam departed, she would throw herself into mindless work, keeping her head down, while life swept her by without so much as a nod farewell. ’Tis what she’d done the last five years. Though, she’d always had Will around to ground her to the present.
She lifted a hand to brush away the lock of dark hair that had fallen in his eyes. “Do not let this swell that big head of yours, but you’re right.”
“Good of you to notice.” Snorting, he settled his palms flat on her shoulders. “Speak to Liam. Tell him how you feel. When he leaves on the morrow, I hope you will leave with him. ’Tis time for you to find your own happiness with Liam, Nora.”
Struck by what she would leave behind, she wrapped her arms around his middle. “I shall miss you.”
His arms enfolded her in a tight wring. “And I you.” He placed a kiss on the top of her head. “It shall be an adjustment for the two of us, but we are MacNabs. Our resilience is boundless. What’s more, ’tis not as if we’re a great distance from each other. If you chuck a stone my way, I’m sure I shall hear it land from here.”
Despite the tears gathered in her eyes, she laughed at his ridiculous comment. Stepping free of his embrace, she lifted her work apron to dash away her tears.
Saints, lately she’d been naught but a blubbering mess which she blamed solely on Liam. The man had awakened a slew of dormant feelings in her, drawing them closer to the surface.
“I suppose I should visit Mother and Father’s graves.”
Will nodded his approval. “Would you like me to join you?”
“Nay.” She shook her head. “I think I could do with a bit of privacy.”
A playful grin teased at his mouth. “Take in as much as you can. For once you wed Liam, I suspect the man shall not spare you a moment alone.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Liam found his lass standing atop a wee knoll overlooking the churchyard near the ruins of a small kirk on the edge of the settlement. When Will sought him out earlier in the village while he and some of the men worked to repair the old grain mill, the lad had gasped for breath. Flustered, the young man pressed him to speak to Nora without delay.
As if Liam might’ve argued with the lad’s request.
For a sen
night, he’d taken Will’s advice and distanced himself from Nora. Though, each torturous day had been a sheer testament of his strength. Despite his best intentions to give her space, he’d often furtively sought her out, eager to see for himself that his lass was safe and sound.
For long moments, he merely lingered in the meadow, watching her in silence, while he soaked in the comely sight of her, committing every slight detail of the woman to memory.
The faint spring breeze stirred her dark, unbound tresses and ruffled the hem of the drab, gray gown she’d donned to work the land. Sunlight framed her slim, delicate figure in golden hues, giving her an almost angelic aura which suited her pure, caring heart. With her arms crossed tightly over her chest, she stared down at a set of moss-covered graves jutting up from the knoll where she stood.
Careful not to startle her, Liam cleared his throat to announce his approach as he strode across the churchyard to join her. Craving her touch, he reached out to clasp her cold, fine-boned hand. Rather than tug free of his hold, as he halfway expected, she twined their fingers together with a firm grasp.
For an immeasurable span of time, the two of them stood side by side, hand in hand, neither of them uttering a sound, and that was quite all right with Liam. Regardless of the silence, Nora’s strong presence spoke volumes, suffusing Liam with a level of peace and comfort he’d never experienced in another’s company. Mayhap, not even with his kin. This depth of tranquility reached to his very soul.
He inspected the four mossy stone markers and lifted a brow at the two graves on either side of her parents. Nora and her brother’s names had been crudely carved into the rock. He cast her a quick, questioning glance.
Without removing her gaze from the headstones, she explained, “Tavish had them placed alongside my mother and father to convince the clan we’d perished with them.”
What a right, foul bastard Tavish MacNab was.
The arse deserved an exceedingly long, miserable life whiling away his days alongside his son in the MacNab dungeons. Fraser had taken a great deal of pleasure imprisoning the pair before he departed for home, eager to return to Liam’s mother.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Nora’s shoulders tremble. Disentangling his hand, he removed his mantle and swept the woolen fabric over her arms, tucking the collar close beneath her chin.
The breeze stirred traces of herbs that clung to her skin. The sweet scent drifted up his nose, rousing his awareness of the woman standing before him. From the creased lines of her furrowed brow to the straight point of her little nose, he loved everything about the woman.
Her dark, solemn gaze met his for an instant before flickering away. “Thank you.”
Her dejected tone clawed at his chest.
Saints alive, he regretted ever listening to Will’s foolish instruction. The lad may understand his sister to a degree, but so did Liam. Leaving her in solitude had been a horrid notion. Nora had not required distance in the least. What she needed was a strong set of shoulders to ease some of her burden.
For a blasted sennight, the woman had toiled hard planting vegetables and grain in the fields, wearing herself to the bone. And he’d done naught but stand idly by and let her slip further into loneliness.
Unable to hold his tongue any longer, he breached the silence. “Nora…” His pulse quickened with an uneven thrum. “Calum must return to his wife and clan. And since Fraser’s adamant I should lead his for some foolish reason, I must return as well.”
Releasing a deep breath, he paused long enough to collect his thoughts. In truth, his thoughts scrambled on the slight wind swirling around them.
“I understand.” Melancholy lingered in her voice.
Did she truly? Because he surely did not.
How the devil could the woman remain so unruffled when he felt as if he might rip apart at the seams? One negative word from her would gut him where he stood. He searched her downcast features, striving to string together some fashion of coherent speech.
“My cousin and I shall leave at dawn on the morrow. Alas, there’s much to do that requires our attentions. With a day’s journey ahead of us, we hope to reach home by nightfall.”
For Christ’s sake, why the hell was he babbling like an old woman?
“Nora…” He slammed his mouth shut before he prattled out more nonsense.
As a hush stretched between them, she raised her head to peer at him. Her beguiling, brown gaze captured him, holding him as her willing captive.
“Aye?” she urged him with a lift of her delicate brows.
Caught in the snare of her gaze, his usual, charming tongue deserted him. The organ in his chest pounded a frantic drum, while that odd flapping in his stomach started up again. The thought of leaving Nora ignited a possessive flare in him. She was his Nora. Nor would he bear the rest of his life without the woman by his side.
“Are you all right, Liam?” Her frown deepened into concern.
Was he all right?
“Saints, nay, I’m not all right.” He growled in frustration. “I’ve not been all right in a sennight.”
Struck by a devouring need to hold her in his arms, he snagged her round the middle and hauled her against his frame. The slight weight of her body molded to his and he closed his eyes for a brief moment as he savored the feel. Like a man starved, he tucked her close, obliterating any space between them, and enfolded her in a crushing embrace.
The profundity of their connection extended farther than the simple mechanics of lust ever would. Not to say he did not desire Nora in his bed for the rest of their days, but this degree of familiarity struck a more profound note in Liam. This immersive craving to surround himself in the comfort of her embrace and overwhelming goodness was love—plain and simple. A love he had no intention of forfeiting.
Pulling away, he clasped her shoulders and peered down at her. “Your brother’s a fool.”
The lass’ brows climbed to her hairline in surprise. “Erm…”
He rushed to explain, “He suggested I give you time to sort through your feelings. ’Tis why I’ve been scarce the past sennight. Believe me, ’twas not because I wished to leave you alone. I cannot profess how many damned times I nearly said to hell with everything and swept you away, so that I could have you all to myself.” He sighed deep enough to ruffle the hair atop her head. “I’m leaving on the morrow, and I’d hoped…I wish…” Saints, he fumbled for the perfect words. “What I mean to say—”
“Aye, Liam.” A pretty smile blossomed on her full lips, causing his heart to stutter over several beats.
Thoroughly caught off guard, he blinked at the lass, unsure of her meaning.
Nora tossed her head back and released a hearty laugh that spanned to the valley below. “Your face.” She managed to speak between giggles. “’Tis a rare sight to render you speechless, Liam MacGregor.”
His mouth hung open but sound failed to come out. His mind blanked while he grappled to comprehend her shift in mood.
Grinning, she clutched his hand between both of hers, lifting his clasped hand to her chest. “To clear up your confusion, allow me to explain.” Closing her eyes briefly, she shook her head before snaring him with her rich gaze yet again. “It took my foolish brother stating a rather obvious fact earlier on for me to realize how remiss I’ve been with you.”
He frowned at her words, his apprehension growing the longer he waited.
“You see, you’ve never shied away from your feelings for me. From the beginning, you’ve been forthright, honest, and steadfast, while I’ve never muttered a word of how I felt for you. I hope you can forgive me for failing to speak sooner.” Sincerity shone in her dark eyes. “’Tis truth, I had no intention of falling for you. I vow I struggled in vain to fight my attraction to you, but ’twas useless. Each time you aimed one of your silly grins at me, my heart softened more and more, until too late. Before I could grasp what was happening between us, I’d fallen wholly in love with you.”
Elation burst forth in L
iam’s chest, the words searing in his mind forever. He might’ve dropped to his weakened knees if his lass had not clutched his hand. As he searched her smiling features, his breathing grew labored. Anticipation hastened the furious thump of his heart.
“I love you, Liam MacGregor.” Nora raised a hand to cup his cheek. “And aye, I will marry you, if you will still have me.”
A loud, resounding shout of triumph gushed from his throat before he could recall it.
“You’ve made me the happiest of men, my lass,” he exclaimed. “I love you, Venora MacNab.”
Overwhelmed with happiness, he grabbed Nora and lifted her in his arms, spinning her around. With her arms around his neck, his usual solemn lass squealed and laughed in delight, the joyful sound music to his ears. He dropped her on her feet and captured her mouth in a deep, consuming kiss that left them both breathless.
Releasing her lips, he grinned down at her. “If I’d known a clout to the eye would bring us together, I might’ve urged you to strike me sooner.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Three months later…
The warm summer sun heated Liam’s back as he craned his neck, searching amid the throngs of beaming faces gathered around the stream outside the village. Men, women and children had assembled to witness the newly-constructed grain mill and attached water wheel in motion for the first time since Domnall and several of the clan’s men erected the structure a fortnight before.
The carpenter stepped outside of the mill and waved his arm high in the air, capturing Liam’s attention. With a nod and lift of his meaty thumb, Domnall signaled the mill’s readiness.
Liam raised a finger in return, urging the ox of a man to wait a moment longer. He weaved through the crowd and approached his mother and Fraser, who stood hand in hand as usual.
He placed a quick kiss on his mother’s cheek and tipped his head at Fraser. “Have you two seen Nora anywhere?”
The older couple shared a quick look before shaking their heads. The pair could barely contain their foolish grins which immediately drew Liam’s suspicions.
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