Page 68 of Forever My Lass

Unable to tell if the girl was crying out of reaction to her ordeal, fear, or happiness, Madeline didn’t question Ainslie. The sudden wave of dizziness that rolled over her made Madeline stagger a few steps to one side to remain standing. Angus uttered an inaudible curse and gently pried Ainslie away from her.

“Ethan, help Ainslie back down tae the beach, lad,” he said as he swung Madeline up into his arms. “I’ll see Madeline gets down there safely. “

Iain’s youngest daughter nodded and with her friend’s arm around her waist, Ainslie slowly walked toward the face of the cliff. Madeline murmured a soft protest as the tall, brawny man swung her up into his arms and followed the children. The moment he scowled at her dissension, she winced.

“If ye think I am aboot tae listen tae the lad rail at me for nae bringing ye tae him fast enough, then ye are as tetched in the head as he is.”

The grumpy yet affectionate growl in the man’s voice made her bite back a smile as he headed toward a natural slope of stone that was a path down to the inlet. As they reached the sand, Madeline quietly asked the Scotsman to set her down. Sand squished between her toes as she staggered forward as fast as she could to where Iain laid next to a roaring bonfire someone had built.

The moment she reached Iain, she sank down to her knees beside him. Tears blurred her vision as she bent over him and kissed him gently. Fingers brushing across his forehead and cheek, she caressed him tenderly just to prove to herself he was alive and well.

“I thought I’d lost you,” she whispered with fear as the memory of the terrifying moments they’d just survived increased the tremors rocking her body.

“Ye almost did, mo ghràdh, but ye saved me so Angus could beat the life back into me.”

His voice was gravelly, and it held a note of pain that made her carry his hand to her mouth. Iain’s lips twisted in a smile that was half amusement and half pain, as he watched Angus drape a heavy blanket over Madeline’s shoulders. She had been trembling violently from the cold, exhaustion, pain, and fear for minutes now, and the warmth of the blanket emphasized how cold she really was.

“Ye need to change out of that wet undergarment,” Iain said quietly.

“Here? Now?” Her eyebrows shot upward as she eyed him with amused disbelief.

“There is nae need tae worry I will accost ye, mo ghràdh,” he snorted softly with laughter. “I’m exhausted and in tae much pain tae do nae more than hold your hand.”

“You might be, but if you think I’m going to undress and wear nothing under this blanket with other men around, then—”

“I have rethought my suggestion and agree ye should nae undress here. Instead, I want Angus tae take ye back to the manor tae change and sit in front of a warm fire.”

“And you?” Madeline nodded toward the blanket he was lying on and the one draped over him. His bare shoulders were exposed to the fire and the sunshine above. Iain smiled teasingly at her.

“The fire already has me feeling warm again, although I think it may be days before my chest stops hurting.”

“Well, I’m not leaving you.”

“Does that mean ye intend tae stay at Muchalls Hall?” The quiet question made her eyes meet his before she looked away.

“Yes,” Madeline replied softly as she focused her gaze on the flames of the fire that was thawing her muscles.

It was impossible to leave him now. Although he would never marry her or want them to have children, she didn’t care. As long as he loved her, it would be enough. Grace and Ainslie had already become a part of her soul, and she would love them as her own. Strong fingers entwined with hers, and Iain squeezed her hand tightly in his.

“Ye will nae regret it, Madeline. I will never let ye regret staying, mo leannan.” The fervent promise in his voice made her turn toward him. Just seeing him alive and well made her happy, and she smiled.

“I could never regret loving you, Iain.”

A gentle touch on her shoulder made her turn her head. Grace stood staring down at Madeline, the remnants of fear on her lovely face, while Ainslie stood shivering inside a large blanket next to her twin. Without hesitating, Madeline smiled and opened her arms to the girls. The twins immediately threw themselves forward, and they clung to Madeline as if they never intended to let go.

Her heart swelling with love, she tightened her embrace around them and looked over their shoulders at Iain. Their gazes locked, and Madeline drew in her breath at the love reflected in the dark, stormy depths of Iain’s blue eyes as his hand reached out to capture hers. As his fingers tightened around hers, she knew it was a silent promise that he would never let go as long as he still had breath in his body.

Chapter 19

Iain jerked awake from the nightmare he’d been having. The sun hung low on the horizon and filled the master suite with a soft glow. An incoherent whisper next to him made him turn his head toward the sound. Madeline lay on the opposite side of the bed with Grace and Ainslie lying between them.

When they’d returned to the manor, Ainslie had been almost hysterical when he’d tried to convince her to nap for a few hours. The child had been terrified to leave him or Madeline. Grace had been almost as upset as her twin. At their reaction, he’d looked helplessly at Madeline until she’d told his daughters she would take a nap with them.

Her suggestion had been a source of immense relief for him. Even though her exhaustion was apparent, the fear in her eyes warned him she would balk at leaving him just as Ainslie had. At that point, he’d admitted to himself that he was equally unwilling to let the three of them out of his sight.

Without thinking twice, he’d ordered them into his bed. Madeline’s eyes had widen with alarm as she’d glanced at Bridget and Eileen bustling about the room, but he’d shrugged his indifference. To his and Madeline’s amazement, Bridget had looked up from insisting Ainslie finish her hot soup to agree with his decision.

Iain had expected silent disapproval from his housekeeper, but the alacrity with which Angus’s wife had agreed with his decision had left him speechless. At his amazement, the housekeeper had eyed him with amusement and murmured that she had no doubt that his bed would be much warmer in the near future. Although the girls hadn’t heard the woman’s observation, Madeline had been close enough to hear the remark.