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Grateful, Keir recounted how they had gone to visit Sarah’s sister and discovered the truth about the seemingly perfect life she had led.
“He took away her children?” Keir’s aunt Isobel exclaimed, clasping a shocked hand over her mouth. “What husband would do that? ’Tis unfathomable!”
Keir nodded, all amusement and laughter gone. “I promised the Whickertons,” he looked from his parents to his grandmother, “that the sisters would be safe here.”
For a moment, silence fell over the salon as his grandmother looked around their small circle, meeting everyone’s eyes. Then she turned back to look at Keir. “They are welcome to stay here as long as they wish,” she told him solemnly, “and for as long as they are here with the MacKinnears, they will be treated as such. I shall write to Edie and assure her that her girls will be quite safe here. After all,” she continued as her gaze traveled around the room, “that is what the MacKinnears have always been about, new beginnings.”
Everyone nodded in agreement. Indeed, like the Whickertons, the MacKinnears had always stood shoulder to shoulder, loyal and steadfast. It was precisely that which made them strong, that which had given their ancestors the courage to start over on these shores.
New beginnings, indeed!
Keir smiled at his grandmother. These days, she rarely got involved in the day-to-day of the clan as she preferred teaching the young all she had learned, ensuring that the children of Clan MacKinnear received a well-rounded education. Still, she was the heart and soul of their people, and Keir knew that she could not keep quiet where her old friend and those Edie cared for were involved.
Of course, her son, Keir’s father and the current clan leader, understood so without words, stepping aside and granting her this moment.
As their small gathering broke off and everybody headed to their own chambers, Keir noticed his father staying behind, his gaze upon him. And so, Keir bid everyone a good night and waited until no one else remained but the two of them. Then he stepped toward his father. “Ye clearly have something on yer mind, Father,” he remarked, eyeing him curiously. “What is it?”
His father rubbed his chin, the expression in his green eyes thoughtful. “A lot has happened lately,” he began, clasping a hand upon his son’s shoulder. “A lot has changed in yer life.” He chuckled. “I admit I’ve only met the famous Grandma Edie once or twice in my younger years, and while I have no reason to doubt my mother’s impression of her, I must urge ye to remain true to yerself no matter what others might plan for ye.” His brows rose imploringly as he held Keir’s gaze.
Keir understood his father’s concern, and he wondered what to say to put it to rest. After all, as much as Grandma Edie enjoyed meddling and matchmaking, Keir knew how he felt. He did not feel directed by another, his path set before him against his own will. No, he had made his own choices along the way.
Indeed, it had been his choice to agree to the kidnapping.
His choice to stand by Sarah’s side.
His choice to accompany her to her sister’s estate.
His choice to…
“I’m in love with her,” Keir said simply, shrugging his shoulders almost helplessly, unable to explain how it had happened or when. Yet he was certain of it, more certain than he had ever been of anything else. “She’s the one.”
For a moment, the expression upon his father’s face stilled. Then, though, he nodded, eyes lit up in understanding. “Ye do have the look of a man in love,” he remarked with a smile. “I simply wished to be certain.”
Keir embraced his father, hugging him tightly. “I know, Father, and I’m grateful for it.” He stood back and met his father’s eyes. “It caught me by surprise as well, for it happened within a matter of days. At first, I suppose I was rather unwilling to accept that I had lost my heart to her.” He shrugged. “Now, though, I no longer doubt the truth of my affections for her.”
His father squeezed his shoulder, a smile coming to his face. “Then what do ye intend to do?”
Keir laughed. “I intend to marry her!” He paused, then sighed. “However, I wish for her to have some time to settle in first. I dunna think ‘twould be right to force yet another decision upon her so soon after uprooting her life. I want her to… choose me out of her own free will and not because she’s lacking a better option.”
His father frowned. “Do ye think she would? Do ye doubt her affections for ye?”
Again, Keir laughed. “I dunna; however, I need her to be certain. I want her to know what it means to choose freely.”
Pride rested in his father’s eyes as he looked at him, and Keir felt warmed by it. “I’m glad ye finally returned, and I wish ye and Sarah all the happiness in the world.” His father embraced him, and for a moment, Keir almost felt like the wee lad he had once been, wrapped in his father’s enormous arms, safe from every harm that might ever befall him.
“Thank ye, Father. ’Tis truly good to be home.”
Chapter Seventeen
A COWARDLY HEART
Although fatigue tugged upon her eyelids, Sarah simply could not bring herself to lie down, her feet carrying her across her chamber, away from the windows and then back toward them. Her eyes were drawn to the far horizon, the soft twinkling of the stars above, reflected gently in the waves of the sea. Indeed, magic seemed to live in this place, and Sarah wanted some of that magic—joy, happiness and love—for all of them.
For herself as well.
For Sarah, none of these things would ever exist without Keir.
As much as she had always prayed for a future safe from marriage, all Sarah suddenly wanted was the very thing she had struggled so hard to avoid.
