She sighed against him, but it didn’t sound like resignation. It sounded like...acceptance, and something in him eased.
Held in Hugh’s arms, it was hard to keep her anger and frustration, and even harder when she knew he was right. The difference of him being a spy before was that he hadn’t had her. Together, they would keep each other safe. They would share in this way, too.
‘Let him know,’ she whispered. ‘Send a message to Robert about what we do.’
‘Alice?’
She pulled away and was caught in Hugh’s gaze. The storm inside his eyes had ceased, and they were more blue than ever.
‘Keep your vow. We will be helping together, just as we both wish to. We’ll be helping Clan Colquhoun and Robert’s family.’
He cradled her face in his callused hand, his thumb tenderly brushing against her cheek. ‘I have to confess your words that day of the storm about my father aren’t what brought me peace. Aren’t what made me forgive the past.’
‘Then what?’
‘You were here.’ He gave her a soft kiss. ‘No matter what loss had brought me to Swaffham, no matter what trials I had living here, how could I ever hate this town where I met you?’
She pulled him tightly to her, and rested in the warmth of his embrace.
‘I love you,’ he whispered. ‘The pain, the regrets, the trials ahead we must face—all of it is insignificant to my feelings for you.’
She knew the thread, the years and the love that bound them would spin endlessly now that they were together.
‘I knew all along that you’d marry me.’
A huff of held laughter, a shake of his head against the top of hers. ‘We’ll be careful. If it goes according to Eldric’s plan, we simply have to travel for the few weeks afterward before we find a home. If anything is discovered, we’ll be countries away from here.’
They would be, and yet... Looking up, she shook her head. ‘Then how will Spain work in your vow to Robert?’
‘I have sources to follow. If it doesn’t work, we’ll move to France—but away from the Western border. I can’t guarantee to keep you completely safe from this.’
She laid her hand on his cheek. ‘I don’t want safe. I want you. I never thought I’d have you at all—I’ll take what I can get.’
Grasping her hand, he kissed her palm. ‘You may take all you can get, but I’m greedy now and I want everything. I want usthisway.’
She leaned her head against his chest and heard his heartbeat. ‘Me, too.’
Chapter Eighteen
Candlemas. A day marking the end of Christmas. For him, it was a day that would mark the beginning of his life with Alice.
The sun was starting to set when Hugh finally spied through the crowds Alice’s chestnut-coloured hair against her green cloak.
Entire families were carrying their candles into the church for a blessing and then placing them in the square until every bare spot was covered. The well and cross in the square’s centre dripped and flamed as bright as any sun and illuminated the snow-covered square.
And there, as the flickering flames glowed brighter than the dying sunlight, was Alice, taking candles and helping William find places for them.
It was weeks since he’d held her, kissed her. Weeks while he and Eldric had planned what needed to be done and how. What steps he would take to protect himself, Robert and the Clan Colquhoun. What he would do to protect Alice.
Already Swaffham might be plagued by other spies, and they’d agreed they wouldn’t be together until every detail of the plan had been discussed. Even he and Eldric had limited their time in the open together. Nothing could be left to chance.
Seeing her here, her grey eyes glowing like the flames, her chestnut hair haloed like some angel, her cheeks red with the cold, he knew nothing had been left to chance. He’d never risk it otherwise. She was too precious to him.
He slowly stepped into the square, simply to prolong watching her take these last moments with William that she wanted so desperately. Theirs would be a difficult parting, but he was a child and wouldn’t be able to bear the burden of the truth.
However, he and Alice had made contingencies and William and his family would be well cared for. William would be positioned as a steward-in-training with Mary, and when enough time had passed he would know the truth. Hugh would do everything in his power to ensure Alice would see him again.
She shared a few more words with William, gave him a strong hug that took the child by surprise, before she stepped down from the well’s steps to walk towards him.
