Quest of the Highlander (Crowns & Kilts #5) - Cynthia Wright Page 0,39

it not?”

Tears stung her eyes. Lennox squeezed her hand encouragingly, and Nora wondered why he was being so kind, so good to her.

“Just repeat the vow back to me,” he whispered. “Then we can go.”

She drew a deep breath and said, “Lennox MacLeod, I take thee to my husband.”

Her father paled. “Aye, then. It’s done.” He made a dismissing motion, and Nora saw his hand tremble. “Farewell, daughter.”

It came to her then how severe this rupture in her life truly was. She ached to put her arms around her father and tell him she loved him, that he had been her rock, her mentor, her guide through life. But already he was turning away, head bowed, and she knew that anything further from her would only twist the knife in his heart.

“Let’s be away,” Lennox said in a low, firm voice. Picking up her satchel, he clasped her elbow through the green wool of her cloak and guided her to the door.

Just as they passed through the portal, Nora looked back and saw her father angled in profile, watching them go. He suddenly looked like an old man. Impulsively, Nora called out, “Father… I left a letter for you, on my bed.”

Shaking his head, William Brodie averted his face again. “I no longer know ye. Be gone from me.”

Nora heard the catch in his voice, but what could she do? Instead, drawing a deep breath, she stepped off into a future filled with secrets, half-truths, and uncertainty.

Chapter 11

As the first light of dawn crept over the castle walls, masons began to assemble in the courtyard. Lennox guided Nora along the shadowed, colonnaded gallery, heading toward the stables. He tried to stay out of sight, for the last thing he wanted was an encounter with any of his family. How could he possibly explain Nora’s presence by his side?

Glancing over at Nora, Lennox saw that she had retreated inside herself. She had drawn the edges of her green hood closer to her face, and her expression was pensive, even troubled. Did she feel ignored by him at a time when she might need reassurance?

“I don’t mean to be cold,” he said in a low voice. “I just want to us to be away.”

Nora looked over in surprise, almost as if she had forgotten he existed. “Oh, yes. Of course, I am feeling the same.”

Soon enough, Lennox brought Chaucer out of the stable and into the Nether Bailey. He turned to Nora and gestured toward the padded pillion that he’d attached behind his saddle.

“We must ride together for now.”

Lennox was surprised to see her cheeks go charmingly pink, and suddenly their situation was tinged with pleasure.

“I am grateful to you for taking me away, and I shan’t complain of any discomfort.” She bit her lip and her blush deepened. “Not that riding with you would be unpleasant.”

“I’m relieved to hear it.” He gave her a wry, tentative smile and put both hands around her waist, preparing to assist her up to Chaucer’s back.

“MacLeod!” a male voice shouted from behind them. “Lennox MacLeod!”

He groaned. “I knew it would be impossible for us to depart unnoticed.” Turning, Lennox saw his brother-in-law emerging through the ancient north gate that opened to the outer close. “Did we not make our farewells last night?”

Christophe de St. Briac came toward them. Clad in a worn doublet of dark leather, he lightly held a small chisel in one hand. “We did indeed, and so I was not surprised to see you pass through the courtyard this morning without another word to me,” the Frenchman said before turning his crisp, blue eyes on Nora. “And then I saw Mistress Brodie. When you told Fiona and the rest of us that you meant to go to Duart Castle, you forgot to mention that you would have a traveling companion.” He arched a brow for emphasis.

Lennox felt Nora watching him, waiting to see how he would respond. He stared back at Christophe and cursed himself for allowing his family to think they had the right to intrude into his private life.

“Nora is coming with me,” Lennox began. “We are…wed. I cannot explain now, but ye may tell my sister that I’ll send word soon.”

“You two are wed?” Christophe replied, cocking his dark head in disbelief.

“Aye, we are! But I can say no more at this time. We must be away.” Lennox was relieved when his brother-in-law took a step backward.

“Eh bien.” Christophe’s gaze traveled to Nora. “I wonder how our friend Grant