Chapter 15
15
Ian stormed toward the keep, replaying the events from earlier in his mind. What had happened? He had proposed marriage to Ida, thinking that she would be willing to accept his hand. He was a laird and was offering her more than she had right now.
It would be a good match, yet she hadn’t accepted his hand at all. Somehow, Ian thought that regardless of her uncle interrupting them that she wouldn’t have accepted it.
Blowing out a breath, Ian moved inside the great hall, seeing his sister striding toward him. “Where have ye been?” she asked, eyeing his clothing. “Why are ye soaking wet and dripping all over the stone?”
“I did as ye suggested,” he growled, feeling as if his heart had been torn in two. “And she rejected mah.”
Iris’s eyes widened before she was grabbing his arm and moving Ian into a small alcove away from the lingering people in the great hall. “Wot do ye mean?”
He shoved his hand through his hair, feeling the dampness of his locks. “I asked her tae marry mah and she didna exactly jump at the chance.”
Iris placed her hands on her hips, glaring at him. “How did ye do it? Did ye tell her how ye feel?”
He hadn’t, Ian realized. He had told her that he wanted more than the alliance but he hadn’t come out and told her that he was in love with her.
The thought hit him out of nowhere, punching him directly in the heart. Love? He had vowed not to love another after his first, knowing that a Scot was horridly vulnerable the moment he admitted what was in his heart.
“See?” Iris said softly, her eyes full of understanding. “Ye do love her.”
“Nay,” he blurted out, shaking his head. “I canna love her. I canna love anyone.” It would be his downfall to fall in love with someone who consumed his every being.
“Och Ian,” she replied. “Ye can and ye do. I can see it all over yer face.”
Ian swallowed. He could deny it all he liked but bleedy hell, he did have strong feelings for the feisty lass that had captured more than his attention.
“Tell mah exactly wot happened,” his sister urged. “Tae see if we can fix this.”
So Ian did. He told Iris every moment that he had spent in Ida’s company, even down to the kiss that had his cheeks reddening. “Och Ian!” Iris finally blurted out, slapping him on his shoulder. “Tis exactly wot ye shouldna have done! She thinks that ye only want her for the alliance. Ye let her dictate yer feelings when she told ye tae get out and ye did.”
That was true as well. Normally Ian would have stayed regardless of her words, demanding she listen to him and make a choice. The problem was, he thought that she would pick her uncle every single time and it was clear he wanted nothing to do with the Wallace clan. “I canna pull her away from her family,” he finally said, blowing out a breath. “She’s not going tae leave him nor is her uncle going tae ever trust a Wallace.”
Iris slumped against the wall. “I’m verra sorry Ian. Ida is very dedicated tae her uncle because she believes that without her, he wouldna survived.”
It probably was a fair statement after what Ian had seen about Ida’s uncle and former laird. The Scot had all but given up on his life, dragging those that cared about him through the very pits of hell because he couldn’t handle his grief. Ian was not one to tell him how to grieve, but what he was doing was wrong.
Now his niece wasn’t going to follow her path to a happy future because she was concerned about him. Ian wanted to shake her, to tell her that at some point she had to make her decisions for herself, but he didn’t know if he could get through to her.
Nor did it matter, he guessed. She wasn’t going to pick him, a no-good Wallace.
“Wot are ye going tae do now?” his sister asked hesitantly. “Are ye going tae continue tae wear her down?”
Ian thought for a moment before shaking his head. “Why should I do so? She made her decision and told mah tae leave.”
“But Ian.”
Ian held up his hand, clenching his jaw against the emotion. “Nay Iris. I canna, I have far more important things tae worry aboot.” He had a laird to talk into an alliance, a clan to take care of. He couldn’t spend all of his time and energy on Ida. “I’m going tae change mah clothing.”
Without another word, he walked out of the alcove and up the stairs, his footsteps heavy with regret. Perhaps if he hadn’t left before, he could have shown her what she would have with him, but there was no way for him to know that he would be at this point in his life. A heavy sigh escaped him as Ian made his way to his chambers. There was nothing he could do now. He was destined to be alone.
Iris watched her brother’s broad shoulders disappear from sight before she let out a heavy sigh herself, wondering how she could be the smartest of the lot. Her brother hadn’t truly listened to what she had said before going off to win Ida’s hand, and now the entire plan could be in jeopardy. When her brother had taken a liking to the young lass, Iris had been excited to push them together. Ida was a lovely lass, one who would do her brother some good in his position as laird. Somehow her brother had found his way to Ida and Iris had stood back, watching the growing attraction with a smile on her face.
Now, it seemed that she would have to work just a bit harder to keep them together.
Iris gathered herself together before stepping out of the alcove, moving down the hall toward where she knew she would find her husband. There were days that she woke and reached for James in the dark, worried that it was all a dream.
But he was always there, soothing her worries and reminding Iris how lucky she was to find a man like him.
She wanted the same for her brothers. They hadn’t grown up in a household of love. Sure their da cared about them, saw to their comforts, but love was not something that was outwardly displayed.
Iris hadn’t known what she was missing in her life until James showed it to her. Now she couldn’t imagine her life without his love.
James was seated behind the desk in the study as she walked in and Iris took a moment to admire his handsome profile as he scratched on a piece of paper. James was so absorbed in his work, taking his advisor position as seriously as he took his life.
She was the one who showed him how to have a bit of fun along the way. “James.”
He looked up at her, bestowing a smile. “Wife. Wot do I owe this pleasure?”
Iris shut the door, leaning against it and quickly told him about Ian’s plight. “He is enamored with her and I believe that she has feelings for him too.”
James put down his ink pen. “Iris, ye canna force them together. Ye know that.”
“I donna want tae force them into anything,” she countered, crossing her arms over her chest. “But Ian is being an arse for not trying.” She had never known her brother to be such a coward before, but he was edging close today.
James made a clucking sound with his tongue as he rose from the desk, motioning for her to come to him. Iris did as he wished and he wrapped his strong arms around her, breathing into her hair. “Mah little matchmaker. Ye canna fix everyone.”
Iris rested her head on her husband’s broad chest, hearing the strong beat of his heart under her cheek. “I know but I want tae.”
James chuckled, rubbing his hands over her back. “Ye have tae let yer brother and Ida come together. If they are meant tae be together, then this willna stop them.”
It was the same way it had been for them, Iris thought. She thought that she had lost James the day she had ridden away from the games, but he had found her. He had helped her see that she was meant to be with him. “Yer right,” she sighed, breathing in his scent.
James pulled away, arching a brow. “I need tae record this day.”
Iris snorted, slapping his shoulder playfully. “Donna get used tae it.”
Her husband leaned down, pressing his lips just below her ear. “Then perhaps ye can show mah how much ye appreciate mah stopping mah work tae lend mah assistance.”
Iris curled around his body, giving him better access to her neck. “Aye, a good distraction is wot I need.” After all, she hadn’t shut the door behind her without a reason.