With a dip of his head, he disappeared down the hall.
Waiting a few moments so that the redness that was surely tinging her cheeks from her cry would lessen, she sat on the bed, thinking about the conversation that Torquil was planning to have with Alpin, and started to fash anew. She only hoped that somehow, he could talk some sense into her pig-headed brother.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Torquil had torein in his anger after Eilidh had told him about the ultimatum that Alpin had presented her with. Asking her to choose betwixt him and her family was dastardly. There was nay reason for it.
He found Alpin sharpening blades behind the barn. For the briefest of seconds, he paused, but he didn’t let the fact that the man who could not stand him was sharpening items that could end his life with the quickest of slices deter him.
With a deep breath, Torquil calmly stepped into Alpin’s space. “We need to speak—man to man,” he said, his voice strong.
Alpin straightened, his shoulders tense as he eyed Torquil.
The air was thick with challenge.
Torquil waited for Alpin to order him to leave his space as he had done so many times afore. When he didn’t, he cleared his throat and said what he needed to say.
“When I fell in love with yer sister, I ne’er intended it to divide her family. She loves ye all verra much. And I love her verra much. I would like to find a way to mend this divide, but nay matter what happens, I will never leave Eilidh.” He paused, allowing Alpin to soak in what he was saying. When the man didn’t speak, just stood there watching him with narrowed eyes and crossed arms, Torquil continued. “She is the best thing that has e’er happened to me—and ifprotecting her makes me the enemy, then so be it. I will remain so.”
“Would ye die for her?” Alpin spat, his face fierce.
Without hesitation, Torquil replied, “Aye. In a heartbeat.” And he would. He would gladly put his life on the line for his wife.
Alpin looked stunned at his answer, but he said naught, storming off toward the castle, but something shifted in his demeanor.
Was luck finally on Torquil’s side and Alpin was now coming to see how much he loved Eilidh? He could only pray that was the case.
Morven approached him, a sly smile on her face. “I saw what ye did there.”
Confusion furrowed Torquil’s brows. “Pardon?”
“Yer conversation with Alpin. I heard the whole thing.”
“’Tis no’ proper to eavesdrop.”
Morven laughed. “If that is the case, ye would be best to no’ have such conversations in public where there are lots of people around to watch and listen.”
Torquil sighed, pushing his hair out of his face. “I suppose ye are right.”
“Anyhap, I just wanted to tell ye that ye did weel.”
Torquil grunted, shaking his head. “How so? He still stalked off without offering any sort of acceptance.”
“It was in his question.” Morven smiled. “When ye answered, ye did so quickly, and most importantly, ye didnae flinch. That was what mattered.” She placed a hand on his arm. “My brother is as stubborn as they come, but he understands and respects strength. That is what ye showed him. He will come around.” She patted his back and then left him alone with his thoughts.
Mayhap she was right, but only time would tell. Of all the people that Torquil thought he would have to fight with to gain their acceptance, it was not her brother that he’d thought would pose the biggest challenge. Nay, he had given that title to Arthur.
How wrong he had been.
“There ye are. I have been looking for ye e’erywhere.” Eilidh smiled, holding up his lute. Slung across her shoulder was her fiddle case.
He pulled her close and captured her lips in a deep kiss.
“Ye are a sight for my weary eyes, Firebrand.”
Her eyes danced. “I verra much enjoyed that greeting. I declare that is how I would like to be greeted from here on out,” she giggled happily.
“Then I shall do my best to grant yer wish.” He accepted his lute, and they began to walk away from the barn.
