Page 82 of Highland Flame

“I ken ye dinna want to admit it, but ye are my faither. I’m sure of it,” said Cam. He looked more angry than happy to have found the man after so many years.

“I never admit anything before I know all the facts,” said Lord Clifton, twirling the chess piece of the queen around in his fingers. “What was your mother’s name?”

“Ye ken damned well that her name was Elspeth.”

“Elspeth?” He put the piece down on the board. “Nay, I don’t know anyone by that name. I’m sorry. That proves I am not your father.” He started to stand, but stopped halfway up when he heard what Cam had to say next.

“She didna use her real name at work. Instead, she called herself Libby.”

“Libby,” whispered Robert, slowly sitting back down. From where Yvaine sat, she swore the man’s eyes seemed to become glassy. “Are you Libby’s son?”

“I am. Now do ye believe me when I say ye are my da?” asked Cam.

Lord Clifton slowly shook his head. “It can’t be. My son is dead. I heard the story from the Scottish monks when they sold my ring back to me. This ring,” he said, holding up his hand. “It is the one I let Libby steal from me the last time I was with her. It is also the one she found on my son’s remains.”

“Let her steal?” asked Yvaine from the bed.

“Yes,” he answered over his shoulder. “I purposely left it on the nightstand, knowing she’d take it. I wanted her to have it. To pay for raising a child, should one have been conceived that night.”

“Ye told her ye wanted to marry her,” spat Cam. “She was in love with ye!”

“I know.”

“Why did ye lead her on that way?” asked Yvaine. “That was cruel.”

“It wasn’t cruel, and I didn’t lead her on. I fell in love with Libby and, in the moment, I told her I’d marry her. I’d just lost my wife at a young age, and that is really what I wanted to do. But the next morning, I realized my mistake. I was a nobleman. I couldn’t marry a whore, no matter how much I thought I loved her. I figured I was just lonely, and that was all there was to it. It just . . . wasn’t going to work. I knew then I could never see her again.”

“That ring,” Cam nodded to the man’s hand, “was the one my mathair gave me before she decided to send me to live with another family. I gave it away to a young lad, and that is who the bear mauled.”

“I see,” said Robert, looking down at his ring.

“Excuse me, Lord Clifton,” said Yvaine, standing up and walking over to the table. “But if ye bought back the ring from the monks, and kent the whole story, why didna ye go to Libby? Ye must have kent where she was.”

“In my heart I wanted to,” he said. “I never remarried after my wife died. But I do have two daughters, and I didn’t want to disgrace them by marrying a whore. I don’t want them to ever know I have a bastard son either. I’m sorry. I am a noble, and this cannot be. Sometimes I feel I made a mistake with Libby, but I had to leave it all behind. I only hope you can understand.”

“I’m no’ sure I ever will,” said Cam. “Ye see, family is so important to me that I would never want to hide behind a title instead of bein’ true to my heart.”

“I’m sorry, Cam. I believe you now. I am thrilled to have found you after all these years, but at the same time, I curse it.”

“What the hell does that mean?” asked Cam with a grunt.

“Cam, I think I understand.” Yvaine placed her hand on Cam’s. “It means he has another life now, just like ye do. If he was to acknowledge ye are his son, he might lose his other family, or his land and title. I’m sure his family means a lot to him. Both his families, as well as who he is and what he’s earned.”

“I see,” said Cam in a soft voice, no longer looking at the man. “At least do me the favor of lettin’ me raise my daughter. Please, dinna take Avianca away from me. Ye have two daughters, but she is my only child.”

“I will not take her away,” said the man, standing up, sheathing his sword. “However, only under one condition.”

“What’s that?” Cam stood as well.

“That you let me visit my granddaughter, as well as you on occasion. I will come to Scotland to see you, but it will be in secret, of course.”

“Then ye willna be tellin’ everyone out in the courtyard that I am yer son?” he asked.

The man shook his head. “I can’t. I will say it was all a misunderstanding, and that your accusation was not true. You will agree that you made a mistake.”

“Oh, Cam,” said Yvaine, her heart breaking for him.

“Will ye tell the monks that Avianca is to live with me in Scotland, so I will no’ have trouble takin’ her with me?”