Page 89 of Highlander’s Forbidden Fruit

“I cannae believe this!” Evanna stomped her foot in agitation. How dare he use her and her family like this? They weren’t pawns in a chess game to move about as he pleased. They were living breathing human beings with feelings. Maybe that’s why they were so easy to manipulate.

“It gets worse,” Aleck commented. He looked like he regretted telling her all this, but she needed to know.

“John was married,” Ashton said.

“What?” Evanna yelled.

Ashton made a sheepish face. “Remember when I wrote to you not to accept his proposal because of reasons I could not write in a letter? That was it. He was married to Malti, an Indian woman he met on his tour of the Raj.”

“The one he saved from the pyre?”

“Yes!” Ashton said in surprise. “So, you do know Malti.”

“Only that he saved her, not that he married her.”

“And sired two children,” Aleck piped in.

Evanna had to sit down. She walked over to the log she had been sitting on earlier and took a seat, but got up immediately. She was too restless to sit down.

“So, John was married, he wasnae in love with me, and he was exploiting me for my money?”

“Yes.”

“And here I was dying of guilt and running away to a convent because I thought I’d betrayed him?”

“It appears so.” Ashton nodded.

She took a deep breath and released it slowly. When she was done, she turned to Aleck. “And ye came to stop me?”

“I couldnae let ye abandon me again.” He took her hands in his. They were warm and dry.

“I wasnae abandoning ye,” Evanna said, resting her head against his broad chest.

“I ken ye meant well,” Aleck tipped her chin up so she would look at him. “But when will ye realize the only way ye help me is by keeping yer infuriating self by my side?”

Was this really happening? Was she finally free to love the man she had always wanted? It was a feeling that had always been out of the reach of her hand, but now she felt like she could place her palm on it. It was a palpable happiness, and it was only for her and him.

“Ye’ll have to ask Da for his blessing.”

“He’s already given it.”

“Nae!” It couldn’t be this easy. All the puzzle pieces were falling into place, and they made a beautiful sunny picture. “When did ye ask him?”

“Before I came for ye.”

“He was very enthusiastic about it,” Ashton assured her. “Called him son and everything. Then he threw my father out of his house. It was the best moment of my life.”

Evanna laughed, not because Ashton was being his sardonically funny self, but because she was so happy she couldn’t contain herself.

Was this how people in love felt, like their feet couldn’t touch the ground? Evanna held on to Aleck more firmly. He held her just as tightly, and she could see in his eyes that he was wondering the same thing. They were both allowed to be happy, yet they were so cautious about it being taken away they took every moment as a rare blessing.

“Can I come out now?” Sarah called from within the carriage.

Evanna laughed. She had forgotten all about Sarah. She must be terrified. Evanna and Aleck walked towards the carriage together and helped Sarah out. She looked from Evanna to Aleck, and then at their hands entwined together. A sweet smile broke out on her lips.

“I’m so glad ye chose him,” she said. “I prayed that ye would.”

“Well then I have a very serious job for ye, Sarah,” Evanna said. “Do ye think ye could do it?”