Page 53 of Never Fall for a Highlander

He walked up to her and stood no more than a few inches away.“Ye dinna say goodbye.”

* * * *

Robin stopped in front of Helena with his heart in his throat.Would she reject him?Tell him to be on his way?She looked so bluidy good.Her dark brown hair fell in small curls around her face.Her deep green eyes studied him with puzzlement.The light freckles over her nose seemed to stand out on her milky skin.

Helena’s eyes narrowed.“I thought we said our goodbyes when ye kissed me in the great hall after yer return from the competition.”

He shook his head, his throat dry, his stomach clenching.‘Twas easier to ride into battle than face Helena.Everything he ever wanted in his life stood in front of him.He loved this woman with his whole heart and he would do anything to make things right between them.“Nay.”

“Did ye come all this way to say goodbye then?”

“Nay.I came all this way to ask ye to forgive me and to accept my hand in marriage.”

She stood very still for a moment.“Are ye to have two wives, then?”

“Only ye, Helena.I love ye and I want to make ye mine.Forever and always.”

‘Twas easy to see that she didn’t believe him.He didn’t blame her.With his actions he’d made her suffer.

After a minute of his heart wanting to jump out of his chest, it appeared she had gained control of herself.Her shoulders stiffened and she raised her chin.“ And what of yer duty to yer clan?”

He looked around the great hall.“Is there no’ somewhere we can speak in private?”

Grateful that she hadn’t called a couple of guardsmen to toss him out on his head, he followed her as she led him up the stairs to a bedchamber that was obviously hers.

The room was bright and cheerful.Small bowls of herbs had been placed around the room to give off a light scent that smelled like Helena.Everywhere he looked he saw Helena’s touch.

She poked him in the chest.He knew many warriors who would never have the nerve to do such.“Just because this is my bedchamber, doona get any ideas.Ye are to keep yer hands—and yer lips—to yerself.”

Robin nodded.He reached for her hand, and she put both hands behind her back.“State what ye came for.To my way of thinking ye have about another two days to show up at Clyth Castle for yer wedding.”

He shook his head.“Nay.The only wedding I will be attending will be ours.”

She sat on the edge of her bed, almost as if her legs had collapsed under her.“I doona ken what ye’re up to, but ye dinna even say anything to me that night.I waited until I fell asleep for ye to seek me out and explain what I had been hearing around the keep.”

He sat alongside her and she slid over.No matter how difficult she made this, he would straighten things out.If he had to camp outside the gates until she gave in, he would do it.

She sighed.“Robin, I need ye to do more than say ye love me and that ye intend to marry me.When I left Dun Ugadale ye had signed the betrothal agreement and word around the brooch was ye were marrying Lady Lenora in two weeks.”

“That agreement no longer holds true.”

She hopped up, apparently not wishing to get too close to him.He stayed where he was.“How is that possible?Breaking a betrothal agreement has caused wars in the past.What did the clan council say?”

“What they say is no longer important.I will take advice from them, but I willna allow them to control me.Important decisions, especially affecting my personal life will remain mine.”

Helena blew out a deep breath and shook her head.“We canno’ stay here, my reputation will be ruined.”She headed to the door.“’Tis almost time for the evening meal.I have work to do.”With those words she left him there in her bedchamber.

He followed, but instead of going directly into the great hall, he stopped one of the maids and asked her to find The Sutherland to see if he could speak with him.

“Who are ye?”She asked with a slight manner of suspicion.

“Laird Robin Mackay.

The young lass blushed and did a quick dip.“I am sorry, Laird.”She waved toward the great hall.“Please have a seat, and I will have ale brought out to ye while I find the my laird.”

He made his way to the great hall hoping that The Sutherland would be sympathetic to the muddle that had become Robin’s life.

Chapter twenty-three