Chapter Twenty-Eight
Liam found his lass standing atop a wee knoll overlooking the churchyard near the ruins of a small kirk on the edge of the settlement. When Will sought him out earlier in the village while he and some of the men worked to repair the old grain mill, the lad had gasped for breath. Flustered, the young man pressed him to speak to Nora without delay.
As if Liam might’ve argued with the lad’s request.
For a sennight, he’d taken Will’s advice and distanced himself from Nora. Though, each torturous day had been a sheer testament of his strength. Despite his best intentions to give her space, he’d often furtively sought her out, eager to see for himself that his lass was safe and sound.
For long moments, he merely lingered in the meadow, watching her in silence, while he soaked in the comely sight of her, committing every slight detail of the woman to memory.
The faint spring breeze stirred her dark, unbound tresses and ruffled the hem of the drab, gray gown she’d donned to work the land. Sunlight framed her slim, delicate figure in golden hues, giving her an almost angelic aura which suited her pure, caring heart. With her arms crossed tightly over her chest, she stared down at a set of moss-covered graves jutting up from the knoll where she stood.
Careful not to startle her, Liam cleared his throat to announce his approach as he strode across the churchyard to join her. Craving her touch, he reached out to clasp her cold, fine-boned hand. Rather than tug free of his hold, as he halfway expected, she twined their fingers together with a firm grasp.
For an immeasurable span of time, the two of them stood side by side, hand in hand, neither of them uttering a sound, and that was quite all right with Liam. Regardless of the silence, Nora’s strong presence spoke volumes, suffusing Liam with a level of peace and comfort he’d never experienced in another’s company. Mayhap, not even with his kin. This depth of tranquility reached to his very soul.
He inspected the four mossy stone markers and lifted a brow at the two graves on either side of her parents. Nora and her brother’s names had been crudely carved into the rock. He cast her a quick, questioning glance.
Without removing her gaze from the headstones, she explained, “Tavish had them placed alongside my mother and father to convince the clan we’d perished with them.”
What a right, foul bastard Tavish MacNab was.
The arse deserved an exceedingly long, miserable life whiling away his days alongside his son in the MacNab dungeons. Fraser had taken a great deal of pleasure imprisoning the pair before he departed for home, eager to return to Liam’s mother.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Nora’s shoulders tremble. Disentangling his hand, he removed his mantle and swept the woolen fabric over her arms, tucking the collar close beneath her chin.
The breeze stirred traces of herbs that clung to her skin. The sweet scent drifted up his nose, rousing his awareness of the woman standing before him. From the creased lines of her furrowed brow to the straight point of her little nose, he loved everything about the woman.
Her dark, solemn gaze met his for an instant before flickering away. “Thank you.”
Her dejected tone clawed at his chest.
Saints alive, he regretted ever listening to Will’s foolish instruction. The lad may understand his sister to a degree, but so did Liam. Leaving her in solitude had been a horrid notion. Nora had not required distance in the least. What she needed was a strong set of shoulders to ease some of her burden.
For a blasted sennight, the woman had toiled hard planting vegetables and grain in the fields, wearing herself to the bone. And he’d done naught but stand idly by and let her slip further into loneliness.
Unable to hold his tongue any longer, he breached the silence. “Nora…” His pulse quickened with an uneven thrum. “Calum must return to his wife and clan. And since Fraser’s adamant I should lead his for some foolish reason, I must return as well.”
Releasing a deep breath, he paused long enough to collect his thoughts. In truth, his thoughts scrambled on the slight wind swirling around them.
“I understand.” Melancholy lingered in her voice.
Did she truly? Because he surely did not.
How the devil could the woman remain so unruffled when he felt as if he might rip apart at the seams? One negative word from her would gut him where he stood. He searched her downcast features, striving to string together some fashion of coherent speech.
“My cousin and I shall leave at dawn on the morrow. Alas, there’s much to do that requires our attentions. With a day’s journey ahead of us, we hope to reach home by nightfall.”
For Christ’s sake, why the hell was he babbling like an old woman?
“Nora…” He slammed his mouth shut before he prattled out more nonsense.
As a hush stretched between them, she raised her head to peer at him. Her beguiling, brown gaze captured him, holding him as her willing captive.
“Aye?” she urged him with a lift of her delicate brows.
Caught in the snare of her gaze, his usual, charming tongue deserted him. The organ in his chest pounded a frantic drum, while that odd flapping in his stomach started up again. The thought of leaving Nora ignited a possessive flare in him. She was his Nora. Nor would he bear the rest of his life without the woman by his side.
“Are you all right, Liam?” Her frown deepened into concern.
Was he all right?
“Saints, nay, I’m not all right.” He growled in frustration. “I’ve not been all right in a sennight.”
Struck by a devouring need to hold her in his arms, he snagged her round the middle and hauled her against his frame. The slight weight of her body molded to his and he closed his eyes for a brief moment as he savored the feel. Like a man starved, he tucked her close, obliterating any space between them, and enfolded her in a crushing embrace.
The profundity of their connection extended farther than the simple mechanics of lust ever would. Not to say he did not desire Nora in his bed for the rest of their days, but this degree of familiarity struck a more profound note in Liam. This immersive craving to surround himself in the comfort of her embrace and overwhelming goodness was love—plain and simple. A love he had no intention of forfeiting.
Pulling away, he clasped her shoulders and peered down at her. “Your brother’s a fool.”
The lass’ brows climbed to her hairline in surprise. “Erm…”
He rushed to explain, “He suggested I give you time to sort through your feelings. ’Tis why I’ve been scarce the past sennight. Believe me, ’twas not because I wished to leave you alone. I cannot profess how many damned times I nearly said to hell with everything and swept you away, so that I could have you all to myself.” He sighed deep enough to ruffle the hair atop her head. “I’m leaving on the morrow, and I’d hoped…I wish…” Saints, he fumbled for the perfect words. “What I mean to say—”
“Aye, Liam.” A pretty smile blossomed on her full lips, causing his heart to stutter over several beats.
Thoroughly caught off guard, he blinked at the lass, unsure of her meaning.
Nora tossed her head back and released a hearty laugh that spanned to the valley below. “Your face.” She managed to speak between giggles. “’Tis a rare sight to render you speechless, Liam MacGregor.”
His mouth hung open but sound failed to come out. His mind blanked while he grappled to comprehend her shift in mood.
Grinning, she clutched his hand between both of hers, lifting his clasped hand to her chest. “To clear up your confusion, allow me to explain.” Closing her eyes briefly, she shook her head before snaring him with her rich gaze yet again. “It took my foolish brother stating a rather obvious fact earlier on for me to realize how remiss I’ve been with you.”
He frowned at her words, his apprehension growing the longer he waited.
“You see, you’ve never shied away from your feelings for me. From the beginning, you’ve been forthright, honest, and steadfast, while I’ve never muttered a word of how I felt for you. I hope you can forgive me for failing to speak sooner.” Sincerity shone in her dark eyes. “’Tis truth, I had no intention of falling for you. I vow I struggled in vain to fight my attraction to you, but ’twas useless. Each time you aimed one of your silly grins at me, my heart softened more and more, until too late. Before I could grasp what was happening between us, I’d fallen wholly in love with you.”
Elation burst forth in Liam’s chest, the words searing in his mind forever. He might’ve dropped to his weakened knees if his lass had not clutched his hand. As he searched her smiling features, his breathing grew labored. Anticipation hastened the furious thump of his heart.
“I love you, Liam MacGregor.” Nora raised a hand to cup his cheek. “And aye, I will marry you, if you will still have me.”
A loud, resounding shout of triumph gushed from his throat before he could recall it.
“You’ve made me the happiest of men, my lass,” he exclaimed. “I love you, Venora MacNab.”
Overwhelmed with happiness, he grabbed Nora and lifted her in his arms, spinning her around. With her arms around his neck, his usual solemn lass squealed and laughed in delight, the joyful sound music to his ears. He dropped her on her feet and captured her mouth in a deep, consuming kiss that left them both breathless.
Releasing her lips, he grinned down at her. “If I’d known a clout to the eye would bring us together, I might’ve urged you to strike me sooner.”