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Once at the common shelter she gathered the women for a meeting.
“What’s wrong?” Rowena asked softly, knotting the tie of her night robe.
Terese glanced around at each of the women, and from the looks of concern she suspected that they all were aware of her plight.
Hester reached her hand out to her. “It’s time for the warriors to leave, isn’t it?’
Terese was glad she phrased it as she did, for the thought of hearing aloud that it was time for Lachlan to leave pained her heart.
“I don’t want Evan to leave,” Piper said tearfully.
Terese had been so concerned with her own heartache she had forgotten about the other women who would possibly be affected by the warriors’ departure.
“He’s only just kissed me,” Piper admitted. “And I liked it. And he doesn’t make fun of my connection to the woods; he shares it with me.”
“Andrew hasn’t kissed me yet, though I know he wants to,” Megan said. “He’s patient with me and so gentle.” She chuckled. “And he makes me laugh and…” She choked back tears. “Lord, I never thought I’d care for another man ever again, but I find I do care for Andrew and would love to know him better.”
“And you, Terese?” Rowena asked. “How do you feel about Lachlan?”
A tear finally spilled from one eye and she let it trail down her cheek. “I never thought I’d have the opportunity to meet a man to love, but I could easily love Lachlan. He’s charming, brave…” She laughed. “And a mighty fine lover.”
The women grinned.
Terese turned silent and the women waited, the laughter and grins fading.
She swiped the tear off her face and her words were abrupt and stern. “Lachlan loves Terese, not Alyce.” She looked first to Piper then to Megan. “I know that neither of you would leave Everagis, but you both are welcome to invite Evan and Andrew to remain here if you wish. It would give them time to see if they would want to make a permanent home here with each of you.”
“You should have the same for yourself,” Megan protested.
“How I wish that could be so, but we all know it cannot,” Terese said. “Lachlan cannot remain here. He has a duty to his clan and his family. And I cannot go with him, for then my father will—”
Hester interrupted. “Lachlan loves you; it’s obvious. He can request your hand in marriage from your father, and surely your father would agree.”
Terese shook her head. “Lachlan isn’t interested in Alyce. He has referred to her as a shrew, and do you really think he would want to wed me once he learned that I have been lying to him all this time?”
“But he has spent time with you,” Piper said. “Surely by now, he knows you are no shrew.”
“I cannot take the chance,” Terese said. “If I admit my true identity and Lachlan doesn’t want me then my father will send men for me, and I will be forced to wed a man of my father’s choosing.”
“What will you do?” Hester asked.
Another tear slipped from Terese’s eye. “Tomorrow I tell Lachlan it is time for him and his men to leave.”
“He will protest,” Hester warned.
Terese fought the ache in her heart. “I will do whatever it takes to get him to leave.”
Tears glistened in all of the women’s eyes.
“We will be here for you and help anyway we can,” Rowena said and the other three women nodded.
“I know,” Terese said forcing a smile that never surfaced. “And I will need your help when this is done, for my heart will break in so many pieces that I wonder if I will survive the pain.”
Lachlan was upset to find Terese gone when he woke. She had done that a few times now and it disturbed him. He felt as if she was running from him, and he didn’t like the thought.
He was also annoyed that he had never gotten another chance to tell her that he loved her and wished to marry her last night. He wanted this settled, for he was eager to take her home and introduce her to his family. He knew they would be surprised but pleased and that his two brothers would tease him unmercifully, but he looked forward to it, for they would truly share in his joy.
His one disappointment was not being able to discover anything about Ronan, but with the mercenaries remaining in the area, he felt certain Cavan would send a group to further scout the area and make contact with the group.
The thought of doing it himself had crossed his mind, but he considered the circumstances and the amount of men he had, and he had decided that the task called for more warriors than he had available.
He would take all the information to his brother Cavan, and he would decide on how to proceed.
