“Fer weeping? Of course. But tell me, why do ye weep so? Did my son do something—”
“Och, nae. Nae, my lady.” She sniffed. “’Tis my father. He used to tell me I was too compassionate fer this harsh world. It makes us not so different after all.”And then ye called me, child.She thought the last without speaking it. It exposed too much of her.
The Lochiel’s wife sat up. She didn’t speak at all but just stared at Elspeth. Finally, she set down her cup.
“He told me he cares fer ye.”
Elspeth didn’t know whether to rejoice or apologize. She did neither, but she could not stop her hands from shaking in her lap.
“That means he trusts ye,” his mother went on, “I can understand how he does. With those huge, haunting eyes, ye are most believable. But ye willna be so easily trusted by me. My father used to tell me the best way to trust a man is if he keepshis word. That applies to lasses, as well. Will ye give me yer word no’ to harm my son?”
“Aye.”
Ismay Cameron raised a red brow at her. “Nae hesitation at all?”
“Nae, my lady, none.”
“Am I to believe ye share his sentiments?”
Instead of giving her a direct answer, Elspeth fought with every ounce of strength she had in her not to cringe at the merciful command Ismay Cameron possessed.
“My lady, ’tis hard fer me to admit. I am a failure to my family’s memory.”
“Mayhap yer family would prefer ye to be refilled with the abundance of love rather than live with the hardship of hatred.”
Aye, Elspeth thought, her father and mother would. Was Lady Cameron approving of Logan and—was she?
“Mayhap ye are correct,” Elspeth allowed. “But it doesna matter. He hasna asked me, and even if he did, we dinna have his kin’s approval.”
“Nae, ye dinna have it. And he willna go against his father and marry ye if my husband disapproves.”
“I am a Covenantor’s daughter. The Covenanter who stabbed and maimed his son. He will never approve.”
Ismay MacPherson’s lips snaked into a smile. “Miss Woodburn, ’tis my approval ye must seek. My husband will do whatever it takes to make me happy.”
“My, that says much about ye, lady. To subdue a heart such as his means ye are a formidable warrior.”
Logan’s mother laughed, covering her mouth with her dainty hand. “Ye are better at silvery words than my son Ealar.”
Elspeth didn’t take offense that her words were called into question for insincerity. The Camerons did not know anythingabout her, whether she was sincere or not. For Logan’s sake, she would not kill them.
Elspeth spread her gaze over her hostess. “May I ask why ye dinna stay here in this house instead of the castle?”
“Child, we would love nothing more than to live here all the time, but Constantine is still Lochiel. He has many duties to see to every day. One day, though, we will settle here. What about ye? Have ye and Logan spoken about where ye will go?”
Meaning, ye are not thinking of staying here, are ye? Och, the Lady of Lochaber did not say it precisely, but Elspeth understood well enough. She swallowed her heart that was so foolishly ready to welcome folks into her life.
“Yer son said he would help me find a place to go.”
His mother eyed her narrowly. “He is willing to let ye leave? Odd. He didna sound like that when I spoke to him. As a matter of fact, he grew positively irate when I mentioned yer leaving here.” Her gaze grew warmer and her smile softened. “Are ye telling me what ye think I wish to hear?”
Elspeth shook her head. “I am telling ye what I need to hear.” Aye, ’twas what he’d first promised her. But he no longer wanted her to go.
Stay here with me.
She wanted to, but how could she want to live with a Cameron? She had changed since Ewen brought her here. She liked his cousins, even Steafan. The shame of her fondness toward them was no one else’s but hers. The thought of forgiving them, of letting everything go, felt as if she were losing her family all over again.
Once, not too long ago, it would have been all that mattered. But now, the thought of losing Logan vied for her heart and soul.
