"You pitied me as everyone else does."
"Nay. 'Twas the opposite, in fact. I admired your mettle. A lesser woman would not have survived what you have. You have amazing strength of spirit."
"No more amazing than you. Look at what you risked for me."
The door opened and the footsteps of two people entered.
"I've returned," Anna said in a bright tone. "And I've brought Neacal with me. You said you wished to meet him, officially."
"Aye." Kristina's face burned, for she looked so disheveled. Surely she should be upright and composed when meeting a chief.
"'Tis a pleasure to meet you, Lady Kristina." Neacal took her hand into his roughened one and kissed the back. "Are you feeling better?" he asked in a deep voice with a Western Highlands accent much like Colin's.
"Wonderful to meet you, chief. I still have pain but 'tis not as bad."
"I'm glad. And please call me Neacal."
"I will, if you will call me Kristina. I understand we will soon be family… when you marry my sister."
"Indeed, and I look forward to it."
"Why do you wish to marry her?"
In the moment of silence, Kristina realized her question must have startled Neacal. But in the absence of their parents or any other family member, she was the only one left to make certain he would be a good husband to her sister.
"Truth be told, Anna first enchanted me and drew me under her spell with her song," Neacal said. "And now… she is my life. I know not if I could survive without her."
Kristina heard the adoration in his deep, soulful voice and it touched her profoundly. Neacal's love for Anna was palpable and obvious within the room's atmosphere. She had never realized she could feel such a thing before, between others.
"I am happy for you both," she said, closing her eyes against the tears.
"We would like for you to stay here at Bearach Castle with us, if you wish it," Neacal said.
Her tears welled faster. "I thank you. You're incredibly generous." But what if they found her to be a great burden?
***
Kristina's tears ripped at Colin's heart. He could see how appreciative and touched she was to be welcomed to stay here indefinitely. But something gnawed at him. He could not see her staying here. Instead, he only saw her by his side. Would she be interested? Would she want to leave her sister again and live with him at Rhodie Castle? Would his clan approve of her as his wife? His gut instinct told him that his father would not like the idea. He wanted Colin to marry an important chief's daughter and form a clan alliance.
Kristina's blindness did not bother him at all, but he could well imagine his clan might have reservations.
"Colin?" Neacal's voice brought him out of his deep thoughts. His friend waited near the door.
He lifted Kristina's hand and kissed it. "I will see you in the morn, Lady Kristina."
"Very well, and thank you again. Good night."
"Good night." He bowed to Anna and followed Neacal out and along the dim corridor. "I could use a sip or two of whisky." Colin suspected he might have a difficult time putting Kristina from his mind this night.
"I have plenty." Once in the solar, Neacal poured two small glasses of whisky. "'Tis clear to me you're smitten with the lass."
"Mayhap." Colin saw no point in denying it. His insightful friend would spot any half-truths he told anyway.
Neacal grinned, offering him the glass.
"Slàinte mhaith," they exchanged in toast.
Colin sipped the fiery liquid and let it trickle slowly down his throat. "Her tears rip my heart out. I cannot withstand it."
