Page 69 of Her Forbidden Highlander Husband

“It’s not been easy. Getting to know someone who is a stranger never is. I was a fool to think it would be easy as Cam and Lach enjoyed telling me. But I did think I knew what it was to love someone, and I was wrong about that.”

“If you make someone out to be a certain way in your mind, they’re bound to disappoint ye. There’s no way ye can be what they expect. It’s not fair to them. And it’s not fair to ye, either. I know you’ve wanted a family since you were a wee lad, but a real family is not the same as the one you created in your mind.”

“Aye. I know. It’s much better now. But I’m not sure if Ev will ever really open up and share everything.”

“The lass was hurt in a monstrous way.”

Liam nodded. “She’s been coming to terms with her demons. Even yesterday on the way here, she recognized a place she’d been with them and instead of walking away she stayed. She refuses to let them win. I’m so proud of her. But I think she still blames herself for what happened. If she hadn’t left her home she wouldn’t have been taken.”

“She paid a heavy price.”

“Aye. But if she’d never left Scalloway, I never would’ve met her, and she wouldn’t have Gwennie. It’s odd to wish for something to never have happened even though it formed a path to something you’re glad happened.” Liam laughed at himself, expecting Bryce to join in and make fun of him.

Instead, the man nodded seriously.

“Unfortunately, I know well that living on the wrong side of one’s future doesn’t work well for a happy life.” Bryce had spent many years blaming himself for his first wife and child’s death. They’d fallen ill and passed when he’d been away. He thought they’d died alone and punished himself for it.

“Dorie loved the idea of me as her husband. She loved the freedom I allowed her. But despite her words, she couldn’t really love me until I let her know me. You can love your Evelyn only so much until she gives ye permission.”

Liam nodded. There was a time he wouldn’t have understood the difference, but over the last months he knew it well.

“Come. Let’s go find our women. I know well where they’ll be.”

…

Evelyn couldn’t hide her surprise as they entered through a door with bars across it. Dorie had said she was taking them to the Children’s Ward, but they were clearly descending down into the bowels of the dungeon under the castle.

The steep steps were well lit and dry and opened into a large room. Iron grids broke up the large room, obviously cells. But instead of being cold, dark, and damp, it was warm from the fires in the hearths and full of children’s laughter. Rushes on the floor kept the voices from echoing.

“With some of the children being quite small, we needed a secure place to keep everyone. We still have many sweet souls who lost their parents when we took over Baehaven. Some abandoned their children to flee before the battle. Some were widowers killed who left children behind. We made a place for them here until we can find homes for them all.”

Evelyn noticed Dorie wipe at her eye.

“I hope it’s soon,” Evelyn said.

“Aye. Me too. They’re happy enough down here for now. But it’s not a true home.”

Shy at first, Gwennie soon got pulled into a game with the other children. She made quick friends with a small girl with pudgy cheeks and a sweet smile.

In all, there were eight children. Ranging from the little girl with Gwennie, who looked to be a year and a half, to a boy who was probably ten or eleven.

Among the children were a number of cats. One wound around Evelyn’s legs.

“The cats cleared out the mice. We feed them now, since they did such a fine job.” She knelt down to pet the black cat at Evelyn’s feet. “Didn’t you, Sir Midnight?”

The cat purred and stretched before running off to rub against one of the children.

“They seem happy,” Evelyn said, seeing the worry on Dorie’s face.

“I hope so.”

Liam and Bryce joined them then. Her husband smiled at her before getting down with the children to play. Soon, they were all laughing at a story he was telling.

“Bryce says he loves to play with children because he missed his chance to be one,” Dorie said.

“Liam?”

“Yes. Bryce told me the way he was abandoned and how, even at a young age, he seemed an adult already.”