Page 49 of Defy the Highlander

Pausing with hot food in her hands wasn’t ideal, but Lilia had to wait until the men passed before she could continue. The pork pies were seriously burning her hands and she shifted them, impatiently waiting for the men to pass. But the moment she looked up from the pies in her hands, she recognized one of the men as he walked on the far end of the group.

He was bearded and shaggy, but there was no mistaking him. She’d seen him in that state once before, in a dirty alleyway in Edinburgh. He walked with the grace of a stalking cat, power in his movements, grace in his limbs.

Her heart lurched.

“Brody!”

He heard her. Brody had been looking ahead, not paying attention to the spectators, but the sound of a familiar voice had him urgently scanning the crowd. The moment he spied Lilia, his eyes widened with shock. Shoving men out of the way, he rushed to her but a sharp word from Galan, the English trainer, stopped him.

“Move along, McKay,” Galan boomed. “Straight ahead.”

Brody couldn’t come any closer to her but the expression on his face told Lilia he was very close to disobeying the command. He was as surprised as she was. Therefore, she started to walk on the fringe of the group of men, holding her food and wine, tears stinging her eyes as Brody, too, began to walk at a proper distance alongside her. Moving forward, each one trying to pretend that there was no great reunion to be had.

It was almost too much to bear.

“Ye’re here,” Lilia said, her voice hoarse with emotion. “Ye’re really here!”

Brody nodded. “My angel,” he muttered with satisfaction. “I have been waiting for ye. I knew ye’d come at some point. Ye’re here with Lady Currie?”

She nodded, so eagerly that her hair came undone from its braid. “Aye,” she said. “She has been ill. It’s our first visit in over a month.”

Brody was trying very hard not to move closer to her, fearful he would get in trouble if he did. But, God, he wanted to reach out and grab her.

“Did ye receive my message?” he asked as quietly as he could.

“From Tynan? He told me.”

Brody shook his head. “I paid the man at The Sticky Wick tae send someone tae tell ye that I’d gone tae The Cal. No one told ye?”

“Nay.”

Brody couldn’t hide his exasperation. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I paid the man tae get a message tae ye. Ye must have thought I’d run off and left ye.”

She smiled faintly, shaking her head. “Nay,” she said softly. “I had faith. I’d hoped ye were here. It was the very last thing we spoke of.”

“It was something I was serious about,” he said. He paused a moment, looking her over as much as he dared. “God, I’ve missed ye. Ye have no idea how much I’ve missed ye.”

“And I’ve missed ye,” she said fervently. “So very much.”

They were nearing the gates that led down to the staging area and Brody glanced up ahead, almost in a panic when he realized his time with her would soon be cut short. “Are ye well?” he asked. “Tynan told me that Colly…”

She cut him off, knowing what he was going to say. “I am very well,” she said quickly. “Please dunna worry. I’m restricted tae the house and all I do is sew. Truly, I’m fine. Ye needna worry at all.”

The group of novicius had come to a halt while the big, iron gates were opened. Knowing their time was at an end, Brody dared to move closer to her.

“I have a cottage at the end of the warrior’s village,” he murmured. “If ye can find me when this is over… I’ll look for ye. If not, I’ll see ye the next time ye come. And… Lilia?”

“Aye?”

“I’ve never said this before tae anyone, but I’ve been thinking about it and ye need tae know that I…”

“Move on, McKay,” Galan said as he came up, putting himself between the pair. “Move along. No fraternizing with the spectators unless they pay for it.”

Lilia stood there, crestfallen, as Brody was pushed along by a big brute who spoke like a proper Sassenach. Before Brody was herded through the gate, he mouthed words to her over the heads of the others.

I love ye.

At least, that’s what Lilia thought he said. She couldn’t be sure, but it certainly looked like it to her. Perhaps it was wishful thinking.