Lost Bride Chapter 10

EIGHT

WHAT IF?

Another of Angus’s storms had blown over but not without the captain having to pay off his gambling debts. Angus stayed close to home for a while, although Lucy imagined it was more from lack of funds than by choice. She did her best to steer clear of the family controversy, but in the days that followed, she often heard muffled men’s voices behind the closed library doors. She took to reading in a small, seldom-used sitting room with tall windows that made for good reading light.

“There you are!” Lucy smiled and set down her book as Rory burst in and walked over to her.

“Would you mind if I joined you?” he asked.

“Of course not.”

His face had lost its cheer, replaced by a thoughtful look that led Lucy to guess that he hadn’t just happened upon her. He leaned against the wall by the window where Lucy sat and looked out at the barley that waved as the wind swept through the valley. A cloud darkened part of the field with its shadow as it slowly rolled by. Rory pulled a chair over and sat down beside her.

“Rory?” There was no point in trying to ignore how strangely he was behaving.

“Have you enjoyed your stay here?”

She wanted to laugh because he sounded as though he were checking her out of a hotel. “Yes! You’ve all made me feel welcome. I don’t know what I’d have done without you.”

He leaned closer. “I’m glad. I ken how this must have been for you. Coming to a strange place cannae be easy.”

With half a nod, she agreed.

“I wish I could have made it easier for you.”

“Easier?” She shook her head. There were times when he made her forget what had gone wrong in her life. Lately, all that it took was his gaze for everything to feel right. How much easier could he have made it?

He ran his finger along the carved grooves in the arm of the chair. “Have you thought about what you’ll do if you cannae go home?”

Lucy took in a sharp breath as the thought struck. Was he going to ask her to leave?

“What is it, lass?”

“Nothing.” It was anything but.

Rory looked far too grave. “My father has recovered, thanks to you.”

“I’m glad.” They shared a warm smile.

Rory continued. “And now with Angus being… well, Angus… the captain has grown quite busy, thinking and planning.”

“That’s good, isn’t it?”

“Aye, for the most part, it is.”

When the pause that followed had gone on long enough, Lucy said, “But…”

“He seems to think that what Angus needs is a wife.”

Lucy’s tension dissolved. She’d misread the whole thing. This was not about her. Rory just needed someone to talk to. She could relax, and they could just talk.

“Knowing Angus, getting him married off might be a hope that the captain will have to abandon.” Rory grinned, but it was only in passing.

“But as we discussed it, the thought came to me that I might marry as well.”

“No!” Lucy covered her mouth. Her response had come out before she’d thought better of it.

With a sharp turn, Rory looked at her, surprised by her reaction. “No?” He lowered his eyes.

Lucy looked about as though the right words could be found flitting about in the air. “What I meant was, ‘No way!’” She smacked her palms on her knees and smiled brightly.

It was his turn to stare blankly.

She shrugged. “It’s how we talk in my time. It’s a good thing. It means I’m happy for you.”

He peered at her with a confused frown.

The bright, confident face she’d perfected for client presentations was losing its gusto. “Of course you should marry. Is it someone I know?”

Shifting his weight, he leaned back in his chair and folded his arms as he scrutinized her. “She’s from away. I’ve always found her quite lovely.”

Lucy nodded, finding it harder and harder to keep her expression appropriately neutral.

“She’s smart, kind to animals.” His brow creased. “I’ve never seen her with children. That might be a problem.” His mouth twitched at the corner. “Och! I’m sure we can work through it.”

Lucy caught herself frowning and stopped. Maybe this was why women got Botox injections—for moments like this.

“In truth, I’ve enjoyed every moment I’ve ever spent with her,” Rory said. “So I’ve decided it’s time.”

“Time?”

“To ask her.”

Lucy’s eyebrows lifted a little too much as she smiled. “Well, thank you for, uh, sharing. I hope you’re both very happy.” She looked at her bare wrist, forgetting she wasn’t wearing a watch. “I’ve got a… thing. I completely forgot. Excuse me.” And that was all she could manage before she stood to make her escape.

He stood, blocking her way. “Lucy.”

Well, that was it. Trembling would not be the worst of it. Tears threatened to follow. “Please let me go.” She looked down, knowing that one more look at him would dissolve what was left of her composure.

Rory didn’t move a muscle, and with so many, that was quite an accomplishment.

She lifted her gaze as far as his shoulders. “Rory?”

When he didn’t answer, she looked up to find his eyes fixed on hers.

“Lucy, I was speaking of you.”

If her life hadn’t been such a mess, the love in his gaze would have melted her to a tartan-covered puddle.

He searched her eyes. “Is there a chance you could… love me?”

A chance?

The last thing she needed to say was the truth—that she couldn’t imagine a life without him, even though she knew that they couldn’t be together. The deeper her love grew, the more it would tear her apart to go home without him. “How can we talk about love or a future? I don’t even know if I’ll be here tomorrow. We’ve got to face facts. It just can’t be.” She went on as if she might convince herself. “How could I love you?”

“How could I not love you?”

Her knees were about to give way, but it was the soft touch of his hand on her cheek that did her in. She leaned against him to steady herself.

And to kiss him.

When he clutched her against him, she whispered, “I’ve tried so hard not to love you.”

A wistful smile teased his lips. “And how did you fare?”

She shook her head. “I suck at not loving you.”

“You what?”

Lucy grinned. “It means… Never mind. Kiss me now. I’ll explain later.”