Chapter 12
Liam clenched his jaw as he stood near the fireplace, listening to the other Scot drone on about his keep and lands, as if he could impress the laird with his lengthy explanation. It was morning, shortly after dawn, and he had woken early, eager to get their guests out of the keep.
The sun was shining, and the roads were thawing, meaning that they could leave on a borrowed horse after a swift trade with one in Liam’s stables.
He would give the whole lot for them to leave.
Last night, after he had sent Sorcha upstairs alone, Liam had replayed the moment where Roderick had attempted to make a move on his wife.
Liam had never felt jealousy so powerful rage through his body as he had watched the man reach out and touch Sorcha’s hand, wanting to rip the limb off him.
He could understand why, though. Sorcha had looked bonnie in her dress, more like the lady of the keep than he had realized. Her eyes had been full of warmth, and Liam wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and hold her close.
He had missed her something fierce, and no matter how much he attempted to avoid her, one glimpse and he was unable to stay away.
Chatter drew his attention and he watched as Sorcha and the other woman made their way down the stairs, Liam drawing up to his full height as they joined them at the fireplace. “Well,” Roderick stated, looking at his wife, “’tis time for us tae depart.”
Gresla walked over to Liam instead of Sorcha, laying her hand on his arm. “Thank ye for yer hospitality.”
He inclined his head, seeing the hopefulness in her eyes that he would ask her to stay a bit longer. Liam was not a fool. He had recognized the coy looks she had given him last night, likely anticipating that he would visit her chamber and her husband would be going to Sorcha’s.
Liam had spent the night watching Sorcha’s chamber door instead, wishing that the Scot would make an appearance. Why he didn’t join his wife in the chamber, Liam did not know, but no other man was going to either.
Together, the group walked to the door and Liam slid his arm around Sorcha’s waist, hearing her yelp in surprise as he pulled her close. “May yer travel be safe,” he called out as Roderick helped his wife up into the wagon.
“Farewell,” the Scot called out before snapping the reins and moving the horses in motion. Liam held his breath until the wagon was only a dot on the road out of the village.
“Good riddance,” Sorcha muttered, causing Liam to smile. It seemed his wife had the same thinking as he had.
“Did ye not care for our guests?” he asked, not removing his arm from around her waist.
She pulled away from him, moving further into the keep. “I only wish tae see them on their way.”
Liam shut the heavy door and crossed his arms over his chest, staring after her. “I thought ye were enjoying the Scot’s company.”
She turned and he saw a flash of anger cross her features. “The same could be said of ye, Husband.”
Was she jealous as well? “I thought Gresla was a fine dinner companion,” he said slowly, goading her a bit. After days of not being in her company, he did not want to leave so soon.
Instead of railing at him, Sorcha smiled. “And I thought Roderick was as well. He clearly was interested in mah talents.”
It was Liam’s turn to frown. “He wasnae interested in anything but a spot in yer bed, lass.”
Sorcha dropped her arms. “Well, at least someone was.”
Liam closed the distance between them, his hands balled into fists at his side. “Is that what ye wanted, Sorcha? For him tae warm yer bed?”
She clenched her jaw. “Perhaps I did.”
“Bloody hell he would!” Liam growled, grabbing her arms. “No Scot will warm yer bed, except me.”
Sorcha lifted her chin, meeting his icy stare. “Then why aren’t ye there?”
Why wasn’t he? Because he was scared that he was growing too close to her. He was afraid that if he started to have feelings for her, she would be in danger and he would be unable to protect her. The fight left him, and he released her. “Lass, I dinnae know what tae say.”
“Tell me why,” she said, her voice soft. “I dinnae know what tae do, Liam. We agreed tae the business arrangement, but...”
She didn’t complete her thought, but she didn’t have to. Liam knew what she was feeling, the questions that she had about what was between them.
It was the same thing he was feeling. Liam reached for Sorcha, but this time his touch was gentler, his arm pulling her close. “I dinnae have the answers, lass,” he started out. “But one thing is for certain, I wanted tae gut that Scot for touching ye.”
She laid a hand on his chest, her touch having him hold his breath. “And I wanted her tae hang from the highest gallows. Do ye think there’s still time tae catch them?”
Liam barked in laughter, leaning down to press his lips into her hair. “I’m thinking that we will let them go for now.”
Sorcha laid her forehead to his chest, heaving a breath. “I will consider it.”
Liam grinned. “Tell me lass, what do ye need?” He was tired of fighting his warring feelings for his new wife, coupled with the guilt of having those feelings and losing those that he had for Nelia.
He truly did not know what to do—with Sorcha, with anything.
She lifted her head, her eyes wide and clear. “I need ye, Husband.”
He reached up and cupped her cheek, brushing his thumb over her soft skin. “Then let me take ye tae bed this morn.”
Later, Liam ran his hand over Sorcha’s back as she slumbered on his chest, staring up at the coverings from the bedpost. As much as he had tried to fight it, being with Sorcha is where he felt as if he were complete and...happy.
“Liam?”
So, she was awake. “Yes, Wife?”
“Why didnae ye tell me about yer wife?”
Liam stiffened, her soft words like a dagger to his heart. “Who told ye?”
“Does it matter?”
No, it didn’t, and he had not given it much thought to tell her about Nelia or his son. Perhaps that had been a mistake.
“Nay,” he said, forcing himself to not move. “It doesnae.”
“That was yer hesitation,” she replied. “About wedding me.”
“Aye.” He had no need for another wife only to lose her as well. But Sorcha had forced herself into his life and now he could not imagine letting her go. He had to do all he could to protect her.
“I dinnae want tae replace her or yer son,” she said after a moment. “I know ye cared for them greatly, and they will always have a place in yer heart.”
They would. Liam had not expected her to say such things, especially since he had not bothered to tell her about them in the first place.
Could he have room for them all? The thought hit him square in the face.
He did care for Sorcha, though much of their time was spent in times like this.
He had avoided her, yet she did not hold any ill will toward him for doing so.
Sorcha was far more than he deserved or expected. Emotion clogged his throat and he held her close, choosing not to respond.
He couldn’t.
“Liam.”
Liam turned to find Nelia behind him, dressed in a long white gown, her hair down around her shoulders. “Nelia?” he rasped.
She gave him a tender smile. “Aye. Look at ye. Ye have had no problems with eating, have ye?”
Her teasing tore at his heart and Liam wiped away the tears in his eyes. “I cannae believe yer here.”
She held out her hands and he took them, her light touch barely caressing his skin. “I know ye miss me,” she started, meeting his gaze. “But ’tis time tae let me go.”
“Nay,” he replied, frowning. “I will never let ye go. I love ye!”
“I know,” Nelia answered, sadness crossing her expression. “But I am no longer alive, Liam. I can no longer walk the earth with ye or give ye the future ye are looking for. I’m nothing more but someone who lives in yer memories, in yer heart, and that is where I belong.”
Liam swallowed, clinging to her hands. “How am I tae let ye go?”
“Easily,” she laughed, her hands already sliding out of his. Liam attempted to grasp them again, but he couldn’t find them. “Let me go, Liam. Move forward.”
“Nelia,” he whispered as her lovely face started to fade. “Dinnae leave me.”
“Yer not alone,” she said, her voice faint. “Ye never was.”
Liam bolted awake, his heart pounding in his chest and sweat dotting his skin. A quick look told him that he was still in Sorcha’s chamber, with her sleeping next to him soundly.
He wiped a shaky hand over his face before sliding back the furs and climbing out of bed, careful not to disturb Sorcha.
After donning his breeks, Liam slipped from the chamber, the cold air in the hallway cooling his warm body.
The dream had seemed so real, but Nelia’s words had tugged on something that he had been contemplating for days now.
Nelia was right. It was time to let her go and move forth with his life.
Liam made his way to the master chamber, placing his hand on the door before pushing it open and stepping inside the dark room.
While the room had been cleaned, nothing remained of that fateful day.
He had burned everything that had been in it, leaving nothing more than the stone floors and walls.
Even the drapes that had covered the windows were gone, the moon shining through the glass window.
But as he looked around the space, Liam found it difficult to remember what the room had looked like. He could not picture in his mind the furniture, or the colors that had graced the bed.
What did that mean?
As much as he hated to admit it, it meant that the room did not hold the fears and anger any longer. He had lost his wife and son here, yes, but it was just a room.
Sighing, Liam raked his hand through his hair, his mind on what he needed to do now. Sorcha thought that he could not move past his loss and she was taking him as he was.
But he was no longer a broken man. Nelia would not want him to be such. Tomorrow he would move them both into this chamber, as it should have been when she had agreed to be his wife. It was time for him to take the clan as his uncle had wished for him to do, and move forward with his life.
With Sorcha.
Liam took one long look at the chamber before closing the door, his skin chilled as he made his way back to Sorcha’s chamber, sliding in beside her without disturbing her.
Sorcha had wished for a business agreement and he had agreed, yet their marriage was already turning into something that was far from their initial discussions.
He wasn’t so certain he was ready for a true future with Sorcha. While she did make him happy, the thought of her increasing with his bairn made him break out into a sweat. Nay, it was far too soon to be thinking of a family when he did not know his wife.
Liam placed his arm across Sorcha’s waist and felt her move toward him, curling her body against his. He was no longer going to ignore his wife.