Page 55 of Never Fall for a Highlander

“He broke my heart.”

“’Tis no’ an easy thing to forgive.”She did the normal mam thing, rocking back and forth and kissed the bairn on his curly-haired head.

“The worse part?He ne’er told me he had signed the betrothal agreement to marry Lady Lenora of the Gunn clan.Before he left to go to a competition there, he assured me he would no’ agree to the betrothal and that I belonged to him.

“Then he returned, kissed me briefly and disappeared.I heard from the maids speaking that he had signed the agreement.I waited for hours for him to find me and explain.”

She swallowed a few times to hold back the tears she knew were coming.“He dinna return by the time I retired for the night.With Blair, Jena’s husband, I received an escort to return here which I did the first thing the next morning.And now he is here telling me he loves me and wants us to marry.”

Helena wiped the tear that slid down her cheek.“I am so confused.”

Just then one of the guardsmen walked up to them.“Good day, my lady, Miss Ross.The laird has requested Miss Ross’s presence in his solar.”

Ainslee looked at Helena with raised eyebrows.

* * * *

Robin ran his fingers through his hair no less than ten times since he’d been granted a meeting with the laird.He’d explained to The Sutherland what had happened and how he wanted to marry Helena, but she wouldn’t even speak with him.

“Ye got yerself into a real mess here, Robin.Even though ye hold back on how ye plan to get out of the betrothal, ye still want my permission to marry Helena?”

“Aye.I learned my lesson.I must speak to Helena first about what happened with the agreement.But be certain that the betrothal agreement between me and Lady Lenora is no more.”

Haydon looked up as Helena entered the room.Robin stood and reached out for her.She swept her skirts aside and ignored his hand.Settling in a chair, she faced Haydon “Ye wished to speak with me, my laird?”

“Aye.”He sat back in his chair and tapped his lips with his index fingers.“Mackay has told me what the trouble is, and that he wants my approval to allow marriage between ye.”

“That is what he said.”She picked at her skirt, studying the garment as if she’d ne’er seen it before.“Among other things he told me.”

Haydon grinned at her whispered words.“Mackay assures me ye still retain yer virtue, although there was some inappropriate contact that might have been witnessed by others.However, I willna force ye to marry the mon, Helena.That remains yer decision, but ken this.If ye decide to accept his offer of marriage, ye have my blessing.”

Robin jumped as she turned to him with vengeance.“Why dinna ye speak with me when ye returned from Clyth Castle?Why did I have to hear from others that ye were to marry Lady Lenora in two weeks?And why aren’t ye on yer way there now?”

He took a deep breath.“I can assure ye that I am free of the betrothal.”

“Are ye preparing for war, then?Isna that what happens when someone breaks a betrothal?”

“Nay.I am no’ preparing for war.”He turned and took Helena’s hand from her lap.“I want to marry ye, Helena.I found a solution to the problem of the betrothal and received a consent from both The Gunn and Lady Lenora.”

She narrowed her eyes and tugged her hand back just as Haydon stood.“I believe ye both need time alone together to get this matter resolved.I will see what my bairns are doing and what soothing I need to do to my wife.”

Robin nodded and Haydon left the room.Without the laird’s presence, Robin grew nervous.He had to convince Helena that he wanted her, needed her, and would not ever hurt her again.But first he had to regain her trust.

She glanced sideways at him just as the door closed.

He sat up straight and took her hand back into his.“I am an arse.”

She narrowed her eyes.“Aye.”

“I ken I hurt ye.”

Helena’s eyes filled with tears.“Aye.”

“I should have told you first thing when I arrived back from Clyth Castle.”

She nodded.“Aye.”

He stood and paced in front of her.“I was angry.Verra, verra angry.I saw no way out of the agreement I had been forced to sign.”