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“Aye.”

“The sister of the chief of Clan MacKinlay and the eldest son of the chief of Clan Duncraig?”

She nodded.

“Married.”

Lina nodded again, this time with no hint of anything that might make Niall believe she jested with him.

Did he want to stand up from this bench, take Lady Avelina in his arms, kiss her, hold her, make love to her?

Aye, he did.

Even still. . .

“Do you understand the implications of your words?”

Lina did not hesitate. “I do. My brother will likely forbid it.”

So, she did understand.

“And you would. . .?”

“Defy him.”

“Defy him,” he repeated. “Seems an extreme act, does it not?”

“Indeed. Yet I know my brother, and eventually, he would come to my side.”

“And your clan?”

She sighed. “’Twould anger them, aye. But I believe you to be a good man, Niall. Mayhap, in time, others could see the same. Mayhap we could unite our clans with our union.”

“You truly believe such a thing is possible? You see what havoc a few simple cattle wreak. Our feud’s history is long, your slain too many in number for my ancestors to be forgiven, even though the battle was sanctioned.”

“And yet, I am the daughter of one of those slain men.”

“You could forgive me, but. . . could you forgive my father?” By her wince, he knew Lina’s response. “As a married couple, we would live with my clan. I am to be the next chief.”

She did not seem surprised by his declaration. Had she really given this matter some thought?

“Not an ideal arrangement, but one I would have to accept if I were to become your wife.”

"Why would you even consider such a thing? Marry a man you hated just days ago. Whose family you still hate. Whose kinsman you may never come to accept.”

Niall waited for her response.

“Because the way you look at me, the way you make me feel. . . ’tis the first time in all my life my body has come to life. The first time I felt anything as strongly as I feel a kinship to my brother or my friendship with my maid. I’ve been waiting for you, I think,” she finished.

’Twas quite a declaration.

“What, precisely, do you feel for me, Lina?”

“A desire to stand up, come to you, sit beside you. Feel you next to me again. Not be far from you. When we ride, I wish to ride with you. When I sleep, I think of you. When I wake, ’tis your face I see before I even spy it.”

He knew not what to say. “Your honesty is surprising.”

Lina shrugged. “Should I say it is otherwise? Why pretend when you could be gone in days or sooner?”