Page 311 of The Defiant Curse

“We were right. Duncan wasn’t the father. He wasn’t the one who got Ceit pregnant. She came here with a child, and Duncan had to have known. It also explains why she wrote in the journal that she wanted his lover removed from the castle. That’s likely what was the last straw for Duncan. If she said that to him, it would have pushed him to make her leave.”

Yeah, that absolutely would do it. He’d been giving her a safe place, and she was turning against that safety. Everyone there would have told her to leave.

Ethan considered it.

“That would likely be why Duncan sent her home. Too many people knew at that point from her running her mouth. Catherine knew, and you mentioned that she likely pointed Oison at his daughter. Plus, add to that, Duncan’s lover was OFF limits. That was his soulmate.”

She nodded.

“That’s sad. All of their lives were tied together, but none of them were connected.”

There were sobs all around them.

Sarah was to the point.

“You need to bring her home. She needs to be where he is. She’s saying Duncan is with his true love, and she won’t rest until she is.”

Well, that is doable.

“Gabby, get me the location of the cemetery.”

The woman nodded, but Elizabeth didn’t miss that she looked sad.

“I know you’re disappointed,” Elizabeth stated. “Not all stories have a happy ending, Gabs. Putting her back with the love of her life is just going to have to do it. We can’t go back in time and change things. Back then, life wasn’t as cut and dry.”

She was aware.

“You’re going to have to tell Ian all of these things. He’s going to be sad when he finds out the letters were fake, and basically everyone, but Ciarán, was scheming. Duncan wanted to steal her child, so he didn’t have to sleep with a woman. Catherine knew all of this and likely pointed their father at Ceit so she could be given the cushy life here. Oh, and Ceit was going to betray their kindness by wanting Ciarán gone.”

Elizabeth was aware.

“Oison killed his own child and stole away her happiness. Ciarán was the ONLY one not doing sneaky things. He died protecting love.”

Elizabeth understood what she was saying.

“Ian will understand. Duncan had to do what he had to do. He at least gave Callum a chance. I have to believe that he loved the boy, or he wouldn’t have bothered to care for him after Ceit’s murder.”

She shrugged.

“I guess,” she said.

Finn hugged her.

“My sweet optimist. I love how you believe in love and want everyone to have that happily ever after. Sometimes, people don’t get that. That’s why love is so special. Those who find it are lucky.”

Ethan patted her on the back.

“We’ll put her back with him. Get us that location,” he said. “I promise.”

She hoped so.

Gabby couldn’t imagine wandering through the afterlife and not being with Finn. He was her whole world, and the fact that Ceit had to give birth, and Callum never got to know the truth.

Elizabeth hugged her.

“I know what you’re thinking, and I am too.”

She doubted that.