Euphemia
I peered around Thaddeus and saw the rage etched deep into my uncle’s face. I’d never seen him like this before. He was only a few feet away when I jumped between them, flinging my arms out.
My uncle skidded in the snow and caught my wrists.
“Oot o’ the way, lass. He’s dead,” he snarled, trying to swing around me.
Thaddeus’s hands closed around my waist as he tried to pull me aside.
“I can handle him,” he growled.
“But I like yer face the way it is,” I snapped, struggling against my uncle’s grip. “God, whit is Aunt Flora feedin’ ye?”
Callum froze mid-punch, horror flickering across his face.
“Ye like his face?” he said incredulously. “His?” He shook his head hard. “I thought the worst when ye didnae return.”
Then he hauled me into a crushing embrace, lifting me clean off my feet and rocking me back and forth.
“Ye and Ranald are all ah’ huv left o’ my brother,” he said, his voice cracking.
Thaddeus’s hands fell away from my waist. I wrapped my arms around my uncle’s neck and hugged him back.
“We got snowed in and ah’ fell ill,” I said softly. “Today’s the verra first day ah’ felt better. I’m sorry fur worrying ye like this, Uncle Callum.”
He set me back on the road and held me at arm’s length, his eyes scanning me from head to toe.
“Ye dinnae look poorly,” he muttered darkly, glaring past me. “And I blame him.”
He tried to step around me again.
“Uncle Callum, please dinnae harm him,” I cried, stepping fully into his path.
He scowled, his gaze flicking between us several times.
“Whit is goin’ on here?” he demanded. “A few days ago ye wanted tae toss a bedpan at his heid.” His brow furrowed tightly.
“You did?” Thaddeus piped up behind me.
I ran a hand over my face.
“I want tae marry him,” I said, then muttered, “Dinnae ask me why.”
“Him?” my uncle exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.
I nearly laughed when I felt Thaddeus’s sharp indignation ripple through the bond.
He’ll come around, Madadh said, startling me.
“Why him?” Callum demanded.
“He has a massive house,” I snapped.
He has a few massive things, Madadh chuffed.
“Ah dinnae like this,” Uncle Callum muttered, shaking his head before turning his glare back on Thaddeus.
“I assure you, I was going to ask for Euphemia’s hand in marriage as soon as we returned,” Thaddeus said, trying to reassure him.
But my uncle’s eyes narrowed on him before flicking back to me.
“I bet ye were,” he growled, nostrils flaring.
My cheeks heated at his suspicion, but I hooked my arm through my uncle’s.
“Just think,” I said lightly, tugging at him, “he’ll be like yer new son.”
“Ower ma dead body,” he snapped—but his arm tightened around mine.
And finally, he moved.
? ? ?
The journey home in the coach was awkward. My uncle wedged himself firmly between us, though it did nothing to stop Thaddeus and me from staring at one another.
“Yer baith making me feel ill,” he muttered eventually.
The truth was, I felt an almost constant need to touch some part of Thaddeus. Even with the bond between us, the ache to be close to him refused to fade.
Without a word, my uncle dragged me off the path to Eilidh House and took me home. When I glanced back, Thaddeus stood there—looking forlorn. Lost.
The sensation hit me through the bond a heartbeat later.
Even Madadh whined at the separation.
The guilt hit hard when Aunt Flora burst into tears at the sight of me. Lying to them—about getting lost, snowed in, and some vague illness—felt heavier than I’d expected.
My uncle stood in the corner, grunting every so often.
“We’ll be going home tomorrow,” he said.
“Home tae what?” I gasped, panic flaring sharp and sudden. “There’s nae work and nae food.”
And Thaddeus.
I turned to Aunt Flora, who was wringing her hands.
“I want tae marry him,” I said.
Her eyes widened.
“Ye’d want tae marry a Sassunach,” Ranald sneered from behind me.
I spun to face him.
“Aye. Ah wud,” I snapped. “He didnae huv anythin’ tae dae wi’ what happened tae oor parents.”
“Am ashamed tae call ye ma sister,” he yelled, making the wee ones stir and fret.
He stormed outside. I took a step after him—panic biting again—but my uncle caught my arm.
“Let him be fur noo,” he said quietly, shaking his head.
By nightfall, nothing had been resolved. Ranald hadn’t looked at me—let alone spoken to me. I spent most of the night shedding silent tears, listening to the children breathe in their sleep.
Through it all, I felt Thaddeus through the bond, thrumming steadily, trying to lift me when I couldn’t lift myself. I eventually drifted off—but only after hearing him howl in the night.
He was close.
And for now, that was enough.