Chapter 21 #2
“I’m glad ye told me,” Ryan said, glad that he was finally getting to know his wife better.
He wondered what other hardships she might be bearing.
He found that he wanted to help carry that load.
“I will make sure to keep it from the maids. They’ve been gossipin’ up a storm lately.
Best we daenae give them more fuel for their fire. ”
“I appreciate that,” Margaret said, leaning her head against his shoulder. “Though it won’t be long until they find out. It’s not like it’s a secret. If they don’t find out before my family gets here, I’m sure they’ll put it together once they arrive.”
The warmth rolling off her was intoxicating. It was as though something had changed within her after their conversation this morning. He wanted to explore it more, but he didn’t want to spook her. He would accept the parts of herself that she offered gratefully.
“Ach, I suppose ye’re right,” he said. “They’re quite adept at gettin’ information.”
She hummed softly in affirmation. Then she said, “I don’t know anything about your childhood. What was it like?”
“Me childhood with me parents wasnae great,” he started, glad that she was leaning against him and not watching his face. “Me father wasnae a nice man. He believed in physical punishments, and I wasnae a well-behaved child, even though he tried to force me to be.”
“Ryan,” she said, lifting her head slightly.
He shook his head, not wanting to see the pity in her expression. He’d come to terms with the realities of his childhood a long time ago. It was difficult, and it made him question his worth. Now, he knew that he was strong, deserving of his title as Laird McGhee.
“It wasnae all awful,” Ryan said, his tone as soothing as he could manage.
“I had Aaron. He was me best friend, and when me parents died, he welcomed me into his clan. I was there for twelve years before me cousin passed, and I became Laird McGhee. He and I were thick as thieves. He’s still me best friend, but I daenae see him often.
I cannae get away from things that need me attention. ”
“It sounds like Aaron is a wonderful man,” she said gently, her cadence soft and thoughtful. “And it doesn’t surprise me that you’re unable to get away. It seems like the people of Clan McGhee are quite fond of you and the way you lead. They trust you to take care of them.”
“I like to think ye’re right,” Ryan said, smiling despite himself. “And I think Aaron will like ye. And ye’ll love his wife, Izzy. Though he teases more than I do. Before me cousin passed, I was a bit more like him in that regard.”
“You mean you weren’t always so serious and frightening?” she teased, leaning back to raise an eyebrow playfully at him. “I find that hard to believe.”
“Ach, I was always a wee bit frightenin’,” he admitted with a smirk. “I’ve a reputation for being bloodthirsty in battle.”
Margaret went still, her face dropping. Gently, she asked, “And are you?”
Me answer is important to her. If I’m nae truthful, she’ll find out. Me reputation isnae a secret, the same way her orphan status is nae.
“Only when me loved ones are in danger,” Ryan replied, squeezing her hand to convey that she was now part of that category.
Even though he wasn’t able to say it just yet, he hoped she understood his meaning.
“I was Aaron’s right-hand man for a spell before I came into the title of Laird.
He and his clan were important to me. I would do anythin’ to keep them safe, even if it made me a beast.”
She stayed silent, and for a moment Ryan was sure that he’d scared her.
It wouldn’t surprise him. This thing between them was still so fragile that he didn’t think it would take much to shatter it.
Then, her head rested against his shoulder again.
The weight against him spoke more of trust and acceptance than any words could.
“I assume you feel that way about your clan now, then?” she murmured after a beat. There was something gentle and hopeful in the way the words slipped from her tongue. “The people of Clan McGhee believe in you. They care about you, and I doubt that care isn’t reciprocated.”
“Ye’re sharp, Lady McGhee,” he laughed, relief taking hold. “Takin’ care of me people… that is what’s important to me. It’s nae secret to them.”
“I think Aaron was a good influence on you,” she said.
“I won’t speak ill of the dead, but it sounds as though living with Aaron’s clan is what made you into the Laird you are today.
I hope it’s not presumptuous to say that had you spent your entire life here, you wouldn’t have had upstanding men to learn from. ”
Ryan was quiet, digesting her words. While he’d always known something of that effect to be true, he’d never heard it voiced so plainly. Had it not been for Aaron and the kindness of his clan, Ryan would have been a different man.
“I suppose ye’re right,” he said after a beat had passed.
“I’d love to meet Aaron one day,” she said with an almost dreamy quality. “And Izzy, too. It sounds as if they are lovely people.”
“They are,” Ryan agreed, liking the idea of integrating her even further into his world. “And I’ll take ye to meet them soon. I promise ye that.”
I didnae ever believe I’d be deservin’ of someone like her, but she makes me believe that I am.