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William hurriedly barked orders to have his horse saddled and readied. Florence climbed back up onto her mount, and when his was brought to him, he vaulted into the saddle and the two turned for the opened gate, rushing out from behind the walls of his castle to reunite with the woman he loved, and beg her to give him a chance to make up for seventeen years lost.
CHAPTER NINE
Elspeth
S
he could not find Florence anywhere, and she was starting to worry. It was not like her to just run off without telling anyone. Besides, she did not know the area. Where in the world would she go?
Elspeth made her way up onto the castle way above the gate to gaze out over the road leading to the keep. She was not certain what she was thinking she would find. It was not as if Florence would just magically reappear…
Except, there she was, riding into view. Elspeth released a long sigh of relief until she spotted a second rider keeping pace with her daughter. It took her a moment, but when recognition slammed into her, she lost her breath in a rush.
William.
It was William.
Her heart began to race as she stared at her daughter and William approach the keep in utter disbelief. What was he doing there? And why was he with Florence?
Her mind raced and she felt almost panicky as she realized that she would have to speak with him. It had been so long. What in the world would she say? How could she explain everything that had happened in the last seventeen years?
Picking up her skirts, Elspeth ran down to the courtyard to meet them as they arrived. A few other Duncans were still around from the meeting earlier and gawked when they saw the McCollum Laird enter the keep as though it were his right to do so.
Florence and William came to a stop and dismounted just as Elspeth ran up to them.
“Whit is going on here?” she demanded to know immediately. She gazed up at William cautiously. “Whit are ye doing here?”
He stared back at her as if in awe.
“Elspeth?” He murmured. “Ye…ye are so lovely. Just like the last time I saw ye.”
She wanted to throw herself into his arms and cover his face with kisses, but she reminded herself of the last time they saw each other. He had thrown her out of his room and exclaimed that he never wanted to see her again.
Folding her arms, she asked again, “Why have ye come here?”
William glanced toward Florence, who gave him a reassuring look. Seeing them next to each other made their shared features that much more obvious. Anyone who looked at them would know in an instant that they were father and daughter. Elspeth wanted to both weep and rage at the time lost between them, but she remained stoic and cool as she waited for William’s response.
He stepped toward her and began, “Elspeth, I was a complete fool our last day together. I should no’ have said the things that I did. I should no’ have made ye leave. It is a mistake I have regretted ever since.”
He was saying all the words that she had longed to hear for seventeen years, but she guarded her heart against him. She would be a fool to forgive him so easily after what he had done to her.
“That is all well and good,” she huffed. “It still does no’ explain why ye are here now. Do ye expect to be able to come back and act as though nothing has happened?”
“Nay,” he replied with a shake of his head. “I do no’. I expect I will have tae work tae earn yer trust again, but I am willing tae do whatever I must. I still love ye, Elspeth. I always have. There has been no one since ye, and there never will be anyone but ye. Please give me the chance to make it right between us. I beg ye.”
It was no small thing for a man like William to beg. Her mind was telling her to be cautious, but her heart was screaming at her to take him back. If the last few months had taught her anything, it was that nothing was guaranteed in this life. Everything she cared for could be taken from her at any moment, so what point was there in wasting time hanging on to hurt and heartbreak? Especially when love and happiness were potentially right there, hers for the taking.
She glanced toward Florence, who was watching them both with wide, eager eyes. She nodded to Elspeth, clearing in favor of having William in their lives.
Whatever lingering hesitation she had vanished with her daughter’s approval.
“Aye, William,” she breathed. “I want ye back as well. I have no’ been able to stop thinking aboot ye for all these years. I have no’ been able tae stop loving ye.”
A wide smile curled his lips and he reached for her and pulled her into his arms. Pressing his body to hers, he kissed her. It was desperate and hungry and stoked a fire within Elspeth that she had thought long dead. Desire bloomed within her, and she clung to him, uncaring who might be around to see their passionate display.
When he broke away, they were both breathless.
“Gather yer things,” he told her. “Ye and Florence are coming wi’ me.”
