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*

Beitris had not expected to find Liam waiting outside the apothecary, leaning against the wall like he had all the time in the world. Or that he’d look at her the way he did, steady, hopeful, and entirely too handsome for her peace of mind.

“Beitris,” he said, straightening when she approached, “I’ve something important to ask ye.”

Her stomach dropped. Important rarely meant good where matters of the heart were concerned. She tightened her grip on her basket. “Aye? What is it?”

He took a breath, forehead creasing as if he’d practiced this moment a dozen times and still wasn’t ready. “I spoke to Keir.”

“About what?” she asked warily.

“About ye.” His throat worked. “About courting ye. Properly.”

With a perplexed expression, eyes wide and lips parting, Beitris blinked.

Once.

Then twice.

Liam shifted nervously, one hand rubbing the back of his neck. “Keir didnae kill me, so I’m taking that as permission.”

Her heart flipped, but she fought to keep her expression steady. “Ye talked to my brother?”

“Aye.”

“And ye survived?”

“Aye,” he said with a wicked grin.

She stared at him, mind spinning. “Liam McRay, are ye sure? Ye wish to court me?”

“Aye,” he said softly. “If ye’ll have me.”

The world seemed to tilt. She should speak, say something sensible, something measured, something that didn’t reveal how her heart was beating as if it were trying to escape her chest. But all that came out was: “Oh.”

Liam’s brow shot up. “Oh?”

“Nay, I mean aye,” she muttered, covering her face with her hands. “I feel strangely.”

He gently lowered her hands, his fingers warm against hers. “It’s only me, Beitris.”

That was exactly the trouble.

She swallowed hard. “Liam, I… I care for ye. Ye ken that. But what if ye change yer mind again? What if ye grow tired of this and…”

“I won’t,” he said firmly. “I may have been an idiot in the past, but I have nae doubt about ye, about us. If ye say yes, I am yers fully. Heart and soul.”

Her breath trembled.

She wanted to believe him so badly it hurt.

“Beitris?” he whispered. “Will ye court me?”

Her lips curved before she could stop them. “Aye, Liam. I will.”

The relief that washed over his face was so raw and unguarded it made her chest ache. He reached for her hand, lacing their fingers together as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Good,” he said, voice thick with emotion. “Because we have one more thing to do.”