Page 59 of My Highland Love

Elise stared. When had it happened? What had been the defining moment in history when womankind became convinced that if anything went awry in the lives of those they loved, they were somehow responsible? Had it begun with Eve? Had the beguiling serpent planted the seed that all mankind would suffer as a result of her misdeed? Elise fell to her knees beside Chloe's bed.

“No.” She took the shaking girl into her arms. “It isn't your fault. It's no one's fault.”

Chloe clung to her, her tears bathing Elise's neck.

It seemed hours later when Elise heard the creak of the door and looked up to see Winnie standing in the doorway. Winnie's gaze went to Chloe, who slept, then came back to Elise. Elise rose from the bed and tiptoed across the floor. Winnie stepped from the doorway and Elise followed, quietly closing the door behind her. The porch, not long ago filled with friends and neighbors joyously awaiting the arrival of the newest MacGregor, now held only silence.

“You told Daniel?” Elise asked.

“Aye.”

“Where is he?”

She nodded to the left of the cottage where the path led into the cover of the moonless night. Elise started down the steps.

“Perhaps ye had best leave him to his grief,” Winnie offered.

Elise paused, then disappeared into the darkness.

Daniel hadn't gone far. She saw him, arm outstretched on a tree, shoulders shaking with silent tears. She halted a few feet from him. “Daniel.” She heard his quick intake of breath and stepped closer in order to put a hand on his shoulder. “Daniel.”

His shoulder stiffened beneath her fingers. She turned him toward her. Without hesitation he fell into her arms and wept.

“A son,” he said between sobs.

“I know,” she replied, and his tears fell even more freely.

At last, he released her and stepped back. He straightened, again the proud warrior. Elise breathed a silent sigh of relief. He would recover. Now for Chloe. “Daniel, the loss of the child is terrible, but you have something else which must be dealt with now.”

“What?”

“Chloe.”

“Is something amiss? Winnie said she would live.” He looked as if he would race back to the cottage.

“No,” Elise quickly put in, “you misunderstand. She will live. However…” Elise hesitated. These Highland men weren't known for having a deep understanding of their women, and she, a stranger, stood before one of them, presuming to tell him how to better deal with one of his own.

“Out with it,” he growled. “If she is in danger—” His voice lowered. “Did Winnie lie?” He seized her shoulders.

Elise laid a hand on his arm. “The danger doesn't lie with her body, but her heart.”

“Her heart?”

“She blames herself. What's worse, she believes you blame her.”

His hands dropped away. “Of course I don't blame her.”

“She thinks otherwise.”

He gave a dismissive wave of his hand. “She'll think differently tomorrow.”

Anger shot through Elise. “You, sir, have no idea what a woman thinks.”

A silence drew out between them before he said, “What did she say?”

“She didn't tell me outright, but I… I understand how she feels.”

Daniel studied her. “You lost a child?”