Page 75 of The Highland Heir

“Do ye think this is what happens with allmarriages? Is it just one long line of people marrying people theycan have to ease the suffering? On and on.”

“I am beginning to wonder,” she said, and hislips pulled up just a hint on one side.

“It seemed like it might work, didn’t it?” heasked. For the first time, she saw the pain in his eyes. Sheimagined it had been there all that time if she had onlylooked.

“Aye. I so badly wish it would work.” Shewatched the flames for a minute or two before speaking again.“Perhaps if we were to give ourselves time to heal from our painand then try again with a different purpose?”

He nodded. “Aye. That sounds quitereasonable.”

“And how long do you think it will take? Toheal, I mean?”

He shook his head. “I do not know, but I amin my second year of trying to mend my broken heart. I reallythought I was ready.”

Good God, if she would bear this pain for twoyears, she didn’t think she would survive it. Then she thought ofJenny and how long she had been trying to heal.

“I can say,” he went on with a heartiersmile, “it has begun to get easier. I don’t recommend drinking orfighting. It only adds to your misery. But talking with a friendhelps. So I thank you, Ella. For being such a friend to me.”

She nodded. “Thank you, Arran.”

She left his room feeling she had done theright thing, but she was no closer to happiness for it.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Jenny was waiting with a warm blanket and acup of hot tea.

“Ye called it off?”

“Aye. It wasn’t fair to either of us,” Ellaexplained.

“What will you do?”

It was a good question. For once, Ella wasnot sure of her next step. Kieran always teased her about makingsuch quick decisions and acting on them without thought. It wastrue enough she didn’t often find herself in a situation where shecouldn’t determine the next step.

But for maybe the first time, she faltered.She’d thought marrying Arran would be the next step, but with thatoption removed, she was lost.

“I will stay here with you, auntie.”

Jenny frowned.

“You are always welcome in my home, but thereis danger in hiding away from the struggles of life, Ella.”

“I don’t wish to hide away all my life. Justuntil it doesn’t hurt quite so bad.”

Jenny shook her head.

“Ye should be prepared, lass. It may alwayshurt.”

She was about to ask her aunt what pained herwhen someone banged on the door.

Ella got up to answer it. Before she gotthere, another round of knocking shook the heavy wood.

Opening it, she stared at the man toweringabove her. Rain streamed over his black hair, dripping from thetips onto his shoulders. He blinked his green eyes at her.

“Please tell me you aren’t wed,” Kieran saidas a greeting.

She might have lectured him, but she hadnever seen him so serious.

“Nay. I’m not.”