Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Halvard was standing at his table, studying a half-finished wood carving of a deer when they entered. He did not look surprised to see them together.
“I know why you’ve come,” he said quietly.
Kenneth stiffened. Selene’s breath caught.
Does he know about last night?
“I’ve observed ye taegether,” Halvard continued, turning at last. To Selene’s surprise, he was smiling. “I am nae blind. Neither am I cruel. I will nae stand in the way of what is already bound.”
Relief flooded Selene so suddenly her knees weakened.
“But,” Halvard added, expression darkening, “Be mindful. Aidan will nae forgive this. He will destroy ye both if he can.”
Selene’s heart skipped a beat. “Thank you, my dear brother. Does this mean you are prepared to grant us you blessing at last.”
Halvard lowered the exquisite little carving, placing it on the table. He nodded. “Aye, if ye wish it, I am happy tae bestow me blessing and good wishes upon ye both.” He looked up at Selene and grinned. “Yet I ken ye would have journeyed with yer lad nae matter what I said.”
Kenneth stepped forward and reached for Halvard’s hand. The two men shook hands. Not quite amiably, yet the hostility Selene had viewed simmering between them had definitely thawed.
Perhaps there was hope there would be a true alliance between the clans one day.
Halvard reached for his cloak. “I shall accompany ye tae the landing tae see ye safely set sail.”
Before either Selene or Kenneth could respond, the door was flung open and all three pairs of eyes turned as a small whirlwind blew into the room.
Elsie.
“I want tae go with them,” She blurted.
Halvard stared.
“I wish tae travel tae Duntulm.”
The words landed like a stone tossed into a loch. First the splash of her proclamation, then a startled silence as ripples fanned out around the room.
Halvard turned slowly, disbelief written plainly across his face. “What did ye say, wife?”
Elsie did not flinch. “I am sailing with me sister and Laird Kenneth. I wish tae go with her. We’ve had scarcely more than a day together and I cannae let her go so easily.” She gazed up at her husband adoringly. “Say aye,” she implored, “Please, pretty please.”
Halvard’s expression remained implacable.
Elsie closed the door behind her with exaggerated care and crossed the room, folding her hands as though she were presenting herself for judgement.
“I willnae permit ye tae leave our keep.” Halvard shook his head. “‘Tis nae safe.”
“I havenae finished,” she said calmly.
“Ye have,” Halvard’s fierce tone would brook no argument. “Me answer is still nay.”
Kenneth glanced at Selene, who had gone very still beside him. She opened her mouth to intervene, but he shook his head. It was never wise to interfere between a man and his wife.
Selene recognized the defiance on Elsie’s face.
She’s already planning something.
Elsie smiled winningly and tilted her head. “Me Laird Halvard, I ken ye always say nay tae me wishes. At first.”
“That is because the answer is usually nay.” He folded his arms, an obdurate expression on his face, his lips taut.
“And yet,” she said lightly, “I am still standing here, pleading again fer yer agreement.”
Halvard sighed and rubbed a hand over his chin. “This is nae game, me love.”
“Nay,” Elsie agreed, stepping closer. “It is a journey. With me sister. Who is about to be married.”
Selene inhaled sharply at that last word, warmth blooming in her chest.
Halvard fixed Elsie with a stern look. “Ye need tae heed me words, lass. If ye journey tae MacDonald lands, ye will be in danger.”
Elsie’s mouth curved into a small, knowing smile and she tossed a curl over her shoulder. “I am always in danger. I live with ye, savage laird that ye are.”
Selene bit the inside of her cheek trying to hold in a giggle.
Halvard’s lips twitched. “Dinnae be clever with me.”
“But ‘twas ye who taught me cleverness, ma love,” Elsie said gently.
She reached out and smoothed a wrinkle from his sleeve with the familiarity born of a loving marriage.
“Ye insisted I should be observant. Tae listen. Tae read men’s moods.
Now that we ken that Aidan is our enemy, dae ye truly believe I would be safer here, imagining every shadow, fearing tae ride abroad.
I would be far better beside Selene and Kenneth where I can see the threat and meet it? ”
“And ye would meet the threat without a sword or a weapon?” he snapped.
Elsie’s eyes glinted and she shot him a cheeky grin. “Nor would ye let me carry a weapon here even if I stayed.”
She stepped closer still, lowering her voice. “Ye ken Kenneth will guard us. Ye trust him.”
“I trust him tae die trying,” Halvard said grimly.
“Exactly,” Elsie replied promptly. “And ye have always said there is nay safer shield than a stubborn Highlander with something tae lose.”
Kenneth coughed, switching his gaze to a series of intricate wooden carvings along the wall.
Halvard paced to the end of the study, then back, then once more. “If ye go, I will only permit ye tae stay as long as the wedding. Nae a day longer.” he insisted. “I will nae risk losing ye tae Aidan’s vengeance.”
Elsie followed him, undeterred. “Ye will nae lose me. Ye will only miss me fer a short while.”
He stopped and turned suddenly, so that she bumped right into him. Spreading his arms wide he seized her in a bear hug.
“That,” he said quietly, “is nae the same thing.”
Elsie looked up at him then, her eyes bright but steady. “Nay. It isnae. And ye ken which would hurt ye more.”
A thick, ponderous silence settled over the room. Halvard held Elsie close.
Selene’s heart pounded.
He’s wavering.
Halvard’s shoulders sagged almost imperceptibly. “Ye are a most difficult adversary,” he said hoarsely.
Elsie smiled, soft and utterly unrepentant. “Only tae the people who love me.”
She slipped her arm through his, resting her head briefly against his shoulder. “Let me go with me dear sister. Let me see her safely settled. Then you may scold me fer the rest of me life.”
“Fer the rest of mine,” he muttered.
She kissed his cheek.
He closed his eyes.
“God help me,” Halvard said, opening them again, “Ye will be the death of me.”
“Nae today,” Elsie said brightly.
He straightened, drawing in a long breath. “Very well. I shall permit ye tae travel with Laird Kenneth on two conditions.”
Kenneth’s head snapped up and Selene drew in a sharp breath, her heart stuttering.
Elsie would be coming with her, after all.
“First…” Halvard glanced at Kenneth. “The Laird MacDonald must give his permission. Ye’ve nae yet been invited, ye minx.”
He glanced at Kenneth who had not spoken. Selene nudged him with her elbow. “Agree, please,” she muttered under her breath.
“Of course.” Kenneth rustled up a smile. “I would be happy tae have yer wife as me guest at Duntulm.”
Halvard nodded in acknowledgment. “But,” he continued, “Only if I, too, am welcome at Castle Duntulm.”
Elsie gasped and Kenneth nodded again.
“I am only too happy tae extend an invitation tae ye Laird Halvard,” he said smoothly. “I should be honored if ye could be my guest at Duntulm.”
“Good. I thank ye.” Halvard turned to Kenneth. “I have duties that require me fer at least the next three days. I can make arrangements so that after that I shall be free tae sail. In the meantime, if ye permit, I shall send a small contingent of me men tae add tae yers.”
“Of course, I understand ye wish tae guard yer lady’s safety.”
Puffed up with victory, Elsie beamed, leaning in to lay a soft kiss on Halvard’s lean cheek. “I will look forward tae yer arrival at Duntulm, me dearest.”
Halvard frowned. “And if ye so much as hear Aidan’s name—”
“I will hide behind Kenneth,” she said solemnly.
Kenneth groaned. Selene’s relief spilled out in a peal of laughter.
Halvard shook his head, resignation and affection warring openly on his face. “Go then. All of you. Before I come tae me senses.”
Elsie threw her arms around him again in a fierce and joyful hug. “Thank ye, me love.”
He hugged her tightly. “I’ll come as soon as I am able,” he murmured.
She pulled away, her eyes shining and headed for the door.
“I must go and finish me packing.”
As Elsie rushed headlong from the room, Selene turned to Halvard, a smile on her lips, her voice filled with gratitude. “You have shown us great kindness.”
He waved it away gruffly. “I have lost a battle. Dinnae pretend it is otherwise.”
Kenneth inclined his head. “Ye willnae regret this.”
Halvard met his gaze with a grim smile. “I trust ye Laird Kenneth, tae see tae it that I dinnae.”
By the time they reached the landing, the birlinn was ready, the sailmaster waiting to unfurl the sails, the ropes creaking as though impatient to cast off
Kenneth checked the horizon twice in as many minutes.
“The tide will be turning any time now, it willnae wait,” he muttered.
Selene smiled softly. “Nor will ye.”
“Nay.” He returned her smile. “’Tis true, I willnae.”
She turned and bade a quick farewell to Halvard.
He stood apart, his hands clasped behind his back, watching them with an intensity that bordered on pain. Elsie approached him more slowly this time, her bravado slipping.
For a moment neither spoke.
Then Halvard said, very quietly, “Ye have always run toward love and life.”
“And ye taught me tae never hide.”
Selene watched as he reached out, straightened Elsie’s cloak, his fingers lingering at her neck. “Three days,” he promised. “And I will be with ye again.”
A solitary tear trickled down her cheek. “Three.”
Standing on tiptoe, she brushed his lips with a kiss, then turned and stepped lightly across the plank onto the deck.
Kenneth guided Selene aboard, his hand firm at her waist. As she stood on deck, the reality of it finally struck her – the separation, the danger, the irrevocability of choice.
Behind them, Halvard raised his hand.
Kenneth inclined his head in respect, Elsie waved a bright kerchief, blinking back tears.
The ropes were loosed, the sails unfurled.
As the birlinn pulled away, their voices quietened, the shore receded – and with it, the sheltering safety that had been hers and Kenneth’s for the past days.
His presence was solid beside her, and though the shadow of Aidan stretched like a dark shadow across the water, it could not eclipse Selene’s happiness
Kenneth’s jaw was set, his eyes gazing forward, as if he was already calculating wind and distance and threat.
He turned to her and dipped his head. “Me love, I must see tae the ship. She’ll nae sail herself home.” He kissed her cheek before he walked away.
And for the first time, Selene believed utterly that whatever lay ahead, they would meet it together. She stood by the curve of the deck, watching the water lap against the hull. Her stomach fluttered with fear, excitement, and hope, all knotted together.
She thought of Duntulm. Of stone walls and wind-swept heights. Of learning to belong to a place that was not hers by birth but would be by choice. Of waking beside Kenneth not in stolen hours but in daylight. Of meals shared, decisions made together, a life shaped not by fear but by intention.
I am not retreating now, as I was when I left my father’s home. I am going toward whatever may come, into life with the man I love.
Elsie joined her, slipping her hand into Selene’s. “Ye look like someone about tae take a giant leap intae what ye dinnae ken.”
Selene laughed softly. “It feels rather like that.”
“Good,” Elsie said. “The best things usually dae.”