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Nash paused to take in the breathtaking sight. At his side, Ailie said, “’Tis as if we have been lifted into the air, suspended high above the sea.”
He took her hand. “Come, let’s find a building to explore.” He had in mind more than exploration of an ancient ruin but, for his purposes, they needed to be alone and more protected from the wind.
“The tower house?” she suggested, pointing to a multi-storied building, or at least the skeleton of one.
“Fine, let’s go there.” As they set out toward the looming keep, above them storm petrels took to flight, the small birds’ shrill cry echoing off the stone walls.
“Just think,” she said, as he tugged her along, “Mary Queen of Scots walked this same ground.”
He gave her a lopsided grin. “Considering what happened to her and many of the castle’s ‘guests’, I am none too eager to follow in their steps.”
They stepped inside the ancient tower house. Roofless, it provided no warmth, but its thick stone walls sheltered them from the wind. For the moment, they were alone and Nash planned to take full advantage. “Ailie, we must talk.” He’d rather kiss her but talking had to come first.
“Aye.” She dropped the hood of her cloak to fall to her shoulders, giving Nash a splendid view of her glorious copper hair. Then, as if to delay what she knew was coming, she said, “Some of Dunnottar’s buildings are not yet two hundred years old while others, like this one built by the Keiths are from many centuries ago.”
Nash drew her to the window, an open portal to the castle’s grounds. He could see no reason to delay. “Are you going to forgive me or not?”
She bit her full lower lip. “Would you ever do it again?”
“Do what?”
Her sherry eyes flashed. “Spy… lie. All of it!”
He stepped closer, placed his hands on her waist inside her cloak and gazed deeply into her eyes, wanting her to see the sincerity of his words. “My days of acting the spy are over, Ailie. As for lying, I did not lie to you. Well, not exactly. I just didn’t—couldn’t—tell you all I was about. The nature of the work required our silence and, at times, the assumption of a disguise.”
A frown creased her forehead.
He glanced out the window, seeing only the ruins, the snow-covered ground and the sea beyond. “Once I learned how unjust it would be to return Kinloch for trial, I thought to let him escape. And when you spoke of him as wanting only good for Scotland, I knew you would feel betrayed if I did not let him go.”
“Robbie was against it?”
Nash turned to face her. “He was, but I do not fault him. We had agreed to do the job for Sidmouth. I thought to persuade Robbie to let Kinloch escape, but I was not successful. In the end, Robbie paid a terrible price for being more constant than I.” He touched his forehead to hers. “I’ve been miserable thinking you have rejected me, but last night you gave me hope. Forgive me, Ailie.”
She brought her hands up and draped them around his neck.
“I suppose I shall have to forgive you since I love you.”
Their eyes met. “You do?” He felt a silly grin spreading on his face.
She nodded. “Aye, for quite some time.”
“Just as well,” he said, more casually that he felt, “because it so happens I love you, too. Might have done since the first time I saw you waiting to meet us on the dock. Or perhaps it was that first morning you taught me about haddies. Or when I followed you into the woods to gather greenery and kissed you. You have a mind of your own, Ailie Stephen, and are not afraid to stand up for what you believe. How could I not love you?”
Nash bent his head to kiss her. “I love your freckles, Aileen Stephen, every one.” He kissed the sprinkling of freckles on the top of her cheeks and then he took her mouth in a kiss he had waited too long to bestow. At first, their lips were cool from the chilled air around them but, soon, the kiss became one of passion and the blood running through his veins heated as his body melted into hers.
She welcomed his kiss and, when he slipped his tongue inside the sweet recesses of her mouth, she pulled him closer. He reached inside her cloak to fill his hand with a warm breast, drawing a moan from her throat.
The sound of a man clearing his throat caused Nash to lift his head. Turning, he saw the Ormonds standing just inside the entrance, smiling.
Peeling his body from Ailie’s, Nash said, “Time we saw another part of the castle.”
She nodded and he took her hand and led her toward the door.
“May I recommend the chapel?” offered Hugh. “I believe it’s one of the oldest buildings and, I daresay, has been host to many a wedding.”
Ailie felt her face flush with heat despite the cold as Nash took her hand and led her across the castle grounds to the quadrangle where the palace and chapel were located. Even though the buildings themselves were free of snow, a thin carpet of white still covered the ground.
Nash gave her a wide grin. “The chapel is the perfect place for what I have in mind.” Now that all had been forgiven and they had confessed their love, the whole world had come right for Ailie. “Wherever you like.”
