Page 82 of Her Reluctant Highlander Husband

“Of course not. I don’t know how you could think such a thing. You’ve been the perfect guest. Not a complaint. Even when your brothers and sisters pester you for hours.”

“They are lovely,” she said, wanting him to know how much she loved her siblings…terrors that they were at times.

“You’ve not hounded me for a single thing. No trinkets or dresses.”

“I don’t need anything, Papa. You’ve already given me so much. I couldn’t ask for more.” She truly didn’t know what was left to ask for. If he’d tell her, she’d demand it that moment if it took the sad look from his face.

“You didn’t even resist when I hired a dancing instructor, though the fellow seemed a snobbish wretch.”

The man had been unpleasant. He’d looked down his nose at her as if she were a clump of horse dung. But she’d been treated far worse by Wallace, so it was an easy thing to grit her teeth and bear it so she could please her father.

“I don’t understand, Papa. It seems that you wish I were more trouble, when I’ve striven to be the opposite. Why would you want me to complain and fuss?”

“Because,” he practically shouted as he paced and ran his hand through his hair. “If you were just a bit less perfect maybe I wouldn’t feel so horrible for what I’ve done.”

“But what have you done?” she asked as she watched him, his body tense. Whatever it was, she knew it was bad. No one would be this upset over nothing. Had he already accepted Reginald’s proposal before she’d had the chance to consider it? It seemed drastic for a man who had encouraged her to hold out for love.

After a few more laps of the room, her father came to sit next to her.

“I made sure Bryce would never come to London.” He rubbed his temples. “There, I’ve confessed. Why don’t I feel any better?”

Dorie gasped and nearly fell out of her chair. The dizziness only became worse as he told her what he’d done, sending an offer to Lachlan to provide men to take down the McCurdy in exchange for a promise from Bryce never to approach her again. And…requiring the annulment signed and returned.

“Why would you do this?” she asked, her voice not much louder than a whisper.

“I thought it would make it easier for you to heal. To move on with your life. I wanted to be certain he didn’t show up out of selfishness. Loneliness is not the same as love, and I’ll not have him keep you as his wife because he didn’t want to be alone. You deserve love, Dorie. You deserve to live your life with someone the way your mother and I should have lived ours.”

Dorie nodded and looked down at her hands, her fingers twisted. She took a few deep breaths and relaxed. She appreciated her father’s honesty, and no harm had really been done.

She cleared her throat and looked up at the man who obviously cared about her enough to go to so much trouble and expense to see her happy. What a difference from the horrible man she’d thought was her father.

“It’s fine, Papa. I know he wouldn’t have come even if you’d not forced him to stay away. It’s foolish of me to waste time hoping he will come when I know in my heart he won’t. Let’s go to the ball. I’ll give Lord Reginald a chance. As you’ve said, it’s time for me to press on.”

“I’m so sorry. If you’d rather, I can send a letter stating I’ll not support their cause unless he comes to London to see you.”

She laughed at his change of heart. He was willing to do anything for her, and that brought tears to her eyes. She was loved. She wasn’t loved by her husband. But she was loved by her family.

“Nay.” She leaned up to kiss her father on the cheek. “But thank you. I wouldn’t want him to come because he was forced to do so. I do have some pride.” She smiled.

“You are an amazing woman. The men will be lining up to ask me for your hand. I shall sharpen a stick and keep it at hand to fend them all off.”

She laughed and smacked his arm. “I’m afraid the dancing instructor was far too full of himself to teach me anything of value. You’ll be lucky if we make it through the night without having to replace someone’s shoes.”

They were still laughing when they entered the hall to find Harriet watching them. Dorie knew the worry on the woman’s face was for her. Even though this woman wasn’t related by blood, it was clear she cared.

She hugged the woman tightly. “All is well,” Dorie assured her.

“I’ve confessed my sins and my eldest has forgiven me,” her father said. “Let’s go tread on some shoes, shall we?” He held out his elbow and gave Harriet a smile. He offered his other elbow to Dorie and she took it, eager to get on with it.

Dorie stepped out of the house determined to find someone who could help mend her broken heart. Or at the very least survive a dance with her.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“You asked for me?” Bryce said when he entered the laird’s study. Lach was playing with his boys and there was happiness in his eyes when he looked up.

“Aye.” He stood and placed a hand on each of the bairns’ heads before coming closer. “It’s time for you to go to the Campbell and ask for men.”

Bryce understood and agreed. He had put it off long enough. It was time to face his father, as well as the memories of another woman he’d lost far too soon. His mother was buried on the Campbell lands. While his father might not still mourn her, Bryce did.