It will be a choice that will force ye to heal the division in yer heart, to decide, finally, who ye are and who ye want to be.
Choice. It was all about choice. He’d been walking this path blindly, believing it was the only path open to him. But there were always other paths, other choices.
Who ye are and who ye want to be.
He climbed to his feet. It was time to stop being a coward.
He strode after Anna.
Chapter 17
“Oh my, that is an expression that doesnae suit such a beautiful face,” called a voice.
Anna halted her march across the courtyard and slewed around, ready to give whoever had spoken a piece of her mind. She’d had just about enough of smart comments for one day. All she wanted was to lock herself in her room and shut out the world for the rest of the afternoon.
Duncan MacDonald was standing nearby inspecting his horse’s hooves whilst a groom held the animal by a halter. Seeing her furious expression, Duncan held up his hands in contrition.
“My apologies,” he said quickly. “Just having a wee bit of fun.”
All the fight went out of Anna like air from a popped balloon. “It’s fine,” she said. “I guess I did have an expression like a thundercloud.”
Duncan cocked his head. “Aye, ye could say that. Something piqued yer ire?”
Yes, and his name is Emeric bloody Mackintosh, she thought.The most infuriating man I’ve ever bloody met!
She sighed. “You ever have one of those days where you wish you hadn’t bothered getting out of bed?”
Duncan snorted a laugh, his eyes twinkling and dimples forming in his cheeks. “Aye, often. Today, though? Today isnae one of those days. Today the sun has shone, I’ve won a contest of skill, and met a beautiful outland lass into the bargain.”
Anna quirked an eyebrow. “That line normally work on the women, does it?”
He laughed again, a comfortable, easy sound. “Ah, ye wound me, my lady. It wasnae mere flattery, but the simple truth.” He walked over and stood before her.
She could see why that linewouldwork on the ladies. Duncan MacDonald was very attractive, with those dimples, bright eyes and messy blond hair that flopped over his forehead in just the right way to give him that tousled, just got-out-of-bed look. Oh, yes, he was good-looking all right. Trouble was, he knew it. And no matter his good-looks and easy charm, he wasn’t a certain sandy-haired archer who left her breathless and furious in equal measure.
She gestured to the horse behind Duncan. “You’re going riding?”
“Aye. We’ll be leaving soon. My father and grandmother wish to be back at our keep before dark. Not my choice. If it were me, I’d partake of the Mackintosh’s hospitality for the night.” His eyes fixed on her. “Especially since they have such charming and intriguing guests.”
Anna rolled her eyes. “Oh, really? Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but there’s nothing intriguing about me.”
