Bride of Ice (The Warrior Daughters of Rivenloch #2) - Glynnis Campbell Page 0,82

and concerned and heroic—she felt her heart splinter into a thousand painful shards.

He’d been drinking by the fire. At her sob, he set down the cup and hurried forward, folding her in his arms.

Anguish unexpectedly poured out of her in a harsh howl of despair.

“Och, Hallie,” he said, stroking her hair with trembling fingers. “What’s happened? What’s wrong?”

His compassion only made things worse. It would have been better if he’d been embarrassed by her tears. Or vexed with her for weeping like a child. Then she could have pretended she was better off without him.

But he was neither embarrassed nor vexed. Not even knowing why she was upset, still he was empathetic. The more she thought about that, the worse she felt about losing a treasure like him. And the more she cried, the harder it was to tell him what was wrong.

“There, lass,” he crooned in her ear. “Has someone…died?”

She shook her head.

“Your parents are well?”

She nodded.

He sighed. “It can’t be that dire, can it?”

She replied with a wail.

Dear God, how was she going to live without him?

How could she bear to be wed to another when her heart belonged to Colban an Curaidh?

Colban felt Hallie’s despair as if it were his own. He might not know the cause of her tears. But he felt her heartache. And her soul-wrenching sobs made him feel utterly helpless.

Wolves he could face.

An army he could battle.

But this kind of sorrow was a formidable foe.

The best he could do was hold her quaking body. Murmur reassurances against her damp hair. Let her drench his cotun with her tears until she ran dry.

Then perhaps he could discover what was wrong.

He ran through several possibilities in his mind.

Perhaps the king had awarded Creagor to Morgan, and she was upset on her cousin’s behalf.

That was fine. He’d half expected that outcome. There might be an initial rebellion on the part of Rivenloch, but the clan would abide by the will of the king. They would learn the mac Girics were good neighbors. And the marriage between Hallie and him would help smooth over any conflict between the clans.

Perhaps her parents were upset that Hallie had allowed her cousins to be taken hostage by Morgan.

That was fine as well. Once the ownership of Creagor was settled, the hostage situation could be untangled with no harm done. Morgan couldn’t be blamed for imprisoning hostile attackers. And Hallie couldn’t be blamed for taking a counter hostage. Both had acted in their clans’ best interests.

Perhaps the king had unexpectedly awarded Creagor to Rivenloch.

That was a bit more upsetting. It meant that the mac Girics would be returning to the Highlands. They’d have to go without him, of course. Colban had no intention of breaking his vow to Hallie. As the future laird of her clan, she must remain at Rivenloch. And so would he.

Perhaps she was having regrets about agreeing to marry him. Perhaps, now that she’d spoken with her parents and had a whole day to consider her actions, she felt shame and remorse for what she’d surrendered.

That was not fine. That possibility made his throat close and his heart thump woodenly in his chest.

He would allow her to back out, of course, if she wished. It was a lass’s prerogative to change her mind. Losing her would tear him up inside. But he didn’t want a wife who didn’t love him with all her being.

He continued to hold her, smoothing her hair and absorbing her sobs, until they subsided and all that remained were hitching sniffles.

She stepped away then to gather her wits and wipe away her tears. Her eyes were raw. Her nose was red. Her cheeks were flushed. And yet she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. It tore at his heart to see his magnificent warrior lass so distraught.

She looked him in the eyes and tried to speak. But even that small connecting glance made her chin start quivering again. Biting her lip, she turned away, toward the window.

“I want you to know,” she said, “I…care for you.”

“I care for ye as well, lass.” But a shiver of doubt went up his spine at her words. Caring for him wasn’t what had made her weep.

“I will always care for you,” she said.

His heart stilled. Here it came. “But?”

“But…” She forced herself to face him. “We’ve both sworn to do what’s best for clan and country, aye?”

“Aye.” It was what they’d discussed last night. How their marriage would unite their people and strengthen