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Clearly delighted with her answer, Keir seized her and dragged her into his arms, his lips finding hers in a passionate kiss. “There are people in yer chamber, awaiting yer return,” he murmured, brushing his mouth against hers. “After all, we are to be married today.”
Sarah frowned. “People?”
“Aye, my mother and grandmother, ready to prepare ye for our wedding.” His brows rose, as though he were warning her of an impending doom. “Any regrets now?”
Sarah laughed. “Do not even try to dissuade me, for it will not work.” She grasped his chin and held his gaze. “You’re mine, Keir MacKinnear, now and forever.” She arched up an eyebrow. “Any regrets?”Don’t you dare voice any!
A rather booming laugh escaped Keir’s throat, and it reminded Sarah of Duncan. “Never,” he stated without a moment’s hesitation, his voice strong and determined, not allowing for doubts. “Ye’re truly one of a kind, lass, one of a kind.”
Sarah basked in his words, allowing them to sweep through her and warm every inch of her. Indeed, she could get used to this loving care, this unerring devotion. It felt so good, so unbelievably good. For a long time, Sarah had hoped that her wedding day would never come, knowing that if it did, it would fill her with dread and apprehension.
Never in her life had she been more wrong, and she was glad for it.
“Ye should dress, lass,” Keir murmured, tucking a stray wisp behind her ear. “I fear if ye dunna return to yer chamber soon, my mother and grandmother will come to find ye.” He chuckled. “They are quite the intrusive lot. Ye might remember me warning ye about that.”
“They are,” Sarah agreed, feeling that same warmth sweep through her as before. “But I would not want to have it any other way.”
Keir rose to his feet. “Then dress quickly and see that ye dunna anger them.” He winked at her, then turned his back and began gathering up her wet clothes from the day before.
Sarah was grateful that he averted his gaze, allowing her to dress without feeling too self-conscious. “I wonder how the girls are?” she thought out loud as she slipped into her dress. “I hope they’re well.”
Keir nodded, glancing back at her over his shoulder. “They are,” he assured her, shaking out her dress before laying it over his arm. “I ran into Mrs. Murray on the way, and she assured me that Augusta and Dorothea as well as Bonnie are well.”
Sarah chuckled, not at all surprised that the housekeeper was well-informed. “I’m so glad.” She closed her eyes, remembering the events of the previous day. “Dorothea felt so cold in my arms that for a moment I feared…” She swallowed hard, seeking to push the memory away.
Keir nodded, turning back to look at her. “I felt the same way when I carried ye up here, lass. Ye were icy cold and—” He broke off, his gaze falling to the floor as the small braided string Dorothea had gifted Sarah the day before fell from the tangle of her damp dress. In the daylight, Sarah now saw that each string had a different color: green, white, and blue.
“Oh, I had completely forgotten about that,” Sarah murmured, rising to her feet. She brushed her hands down her skirts, smoothing out the wrinkles, and then step toward the braided string. “Dorothea gave this to me when—” All words lodged in Sarah’s throat when she lifted her gaze and finally noted the expression upon Keir’s face as he continued to stare at the braid by his feet.
He looked thunderstruck, his face suddenly pale and his eyes wide, their blue shining with an intensity Sarah had rarely seen. He remained perfectly still; only his chest moved with each slow breath. Yet there was something in his gaze that spoke of a broken heart, of an open wound, of pain and anguish.
But also of love.
“Keir?” Sarah spoke his name tentatively as she drew closer, reaching out a hand to touch his shoulder.
The moment the tips of her fingers made contact Keir flinched. He blinked his eyes and then lifted his chin, finally looking at her. “How did ye say ye got this?” His voice was only a whisper, and he still looked as pale as a sheet that for a moment Sarah worried he might faint.
Taking the clothes from his arm, Sarah set them aside. “Dorothea gave it to me last night.”
Keir swallowed hard, then kneeled down and reached for the small braid, his arm extending slowly as though part of him did not dare touch it. Sarah watched as he brushed his fingertips over it, a shiver going through him, before he finally gathered the braid in his hand. His fingers closed over it, and he gripped it, closing his eyes as he rested his forehead against his fisted hand.
“Keir, what is it?” Sarah asked tentatively, touching her hands to his shoulders, wanting to offer comfort for whatever had shaken him so.
For a moment, Keir remained completely still. Then he slowly rose to his feet, his gaze going back and forth between Sarah and the braid in his hand. “Thea gave this to ye?” He stared at her. “How?”
Sarah stepped closer, the palms of her hands settling upon his chest as she looked up into his eyes. “She said she found it on the island. Why? What does this mean to you?”
Keir swallowed hard. “’Twas my sister’s,” he murmured, his gaze once more straying to the small braid. “Yvaine wore it the day she disappeared.” His gaze met hers. “She wore it every day wherever she went.” He exhaled a slow breath, and his brows knitted together. “Thea found it on the island?” He shook his head, disbelief widening his eyes. “We searched everywhere, turned over every rock and blade of grass. We found nothing.”
Sarah felt her heart thundering in her chest, unable to utter a single word as she hung on each and every one of Keir’s, her mind racing with the implications of this discovery.
“I have to go there!” Keir suddenly exclaimed, then instantly spun upon his heel and rushed toward the door. “I have to—”
In a flash, Sarah grasped his arm and pulled him back, her eyes finding his.
Keir swallowed. “I have to go there.” There was something pleading in his voice, asking her to understand. “I have to…” He glanced down at the small braid again. “She was my sister.” He seemed to flinch at his own words. “Sheismy sister. I have to go.”
Sarah held onto him, her gaze holding his. “Wehave to go,” she corrected, remembering the way Keir had always been at her side, had accompanied her to her sister’s estate, done all he could to protect Kate and her children. Now it was Sarah’s turn to stand at his side.
