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“I want a wife who will challenge me with her own ideas, her own opinions. Ye could be that woman,” he coaxed.
“Nay.”
“Lileas adores ye. She told me how she fell when ye were gathering Christmas greenery. She said that ye saved her.”
“Hardly.” Davina blushed. “James was the one who made sure we were both safe. But I am glad that Lileas told ye what happened. She knew that she was wrong to run off and feared the repercussions if ye were told of her bad behavior.”
“Well, I admit that I did yell. Rather loudly, according to Lileas.” Malcolm shook his head. “’Tis clear that ye are exactly what my motherless daughter needs.”
Davina felt a tug at her heart at the mention of the child. Though the little lass was spoiled and willful, Davina had developed a genuine affection for her. Gaining a husband and a child to mother and love—the combination held strong appeal. But it was the wrong man.
“Shame on ye, Malcolm McKenna, dangling yer daughter as bait to entice me,” Davina said.
“Most women would hardly find Lileas a benefit to marrying me.” He smiled, his teeth white and even in the scant bit of moonlight. “’Tis but another reason why I know you are the right woman.”
“I’m honored. Truly. But I must decline.”
“Why?”
“James.”
She had whispered his name under her breath, but Malcolm heard. His jaw tightened. “Ye’ve already accepted his proposal? He’s said several times he has no interest in marrying ye.”
“There’s been no proposal,” Davina clarified, reminding herself that Malcolm was unaware of the true nature of her past relationship with James.
“My brother has said that he willnae court ye, yet every time I’m near ye, he interferes. Tell me true, do ye favor him over me?”
“James and I share a past.” She swallowed. “A romantic past.”
Malcolm’s shoulders stiffened. “Has it been rekindled?”
“Not exactly. But it stands firmly in the way of a future fer the two of us.”
A shadow touched Malcolm’s face. “My brother is more times a fool if he doesn’t realize what a treasure he has within his grasp.”
“We are a pair of fools, yer brother and I,” she said quietly, thankful that Malcolm did not press the matter further.
Malcolm stared at the wall for a long moment. “I would speak with James on yer behalf, but I fear he willnae listen to me. So, instead I will tell ye, Davina. Dinnae be so quick to abandon something so hard to capture and hold.”
“It has already been lost,” she said, emotion catching in her throat.
“If that were true, then ye would have accepted my proposal.” Malcolm turned and peered around the side of the tapestry. “The music is about to start again. Shall we join in on the next dance?”
“I’d like a moment to compose myself,” she replied.
He nodded. Relief surged through Davina when he left, followed by a stab of guilt. She held her lovely flowers close to her heart, wondering how her life had gotten so complicated. Wondered, too, how she could set it to rights.
Lost in thought, she was startled by the sound of approaching feet. Fearing that Malcolm had returned, Davina turned, and instead found herself looking into Colleen’s disapproving face.
“I assume from the scowl on Sir Malcolm’s brow that he proposed and ye rejected him,” the widow said.
“I did.” Davina sighed. “Ye of all people should know the reason why.”
“I know that ye came here to reclaim the life ye lost and ye’ve done well so far.” The widow pointed a finger at her. “But ye have yet to settle the past with Sir James.”
Davina lowered her head. “I know.”
She had come to McKenna Castle in desperate need of finding an inner strength and somehow, miraculously she had found it. But there was something else she needed and James truly was the only one who could give it to her.
