harder to deny their truth.
She could no longer deny his Lordship— no, not “his Lordship,” her father —the paternal relationship he desperately craved. If she did, she would regret it until her dying day.
And so, with the ceremony less than an hour away and the chapel filled with Lowland and Highland Douglases alike, Moira visited the Earl of Kildrummond’s chamber.
Without having been summoned. For the first time in her life.
Halting in front of the door , she took a breath. Then, raising her hand, she rapped a knuckle against the heavy oak. Long moments passed in silence; she was certain her breath was so loud it echoed down the corridor. She was about to knock again when the earl’s man pulled the door open. Seeing Moira standing on the other side, he gazed quizzically at her for a brief instant. Composing himself, he stepped back to let her pass.
Inside, the earl was seated in front of his dressing table. Though his body had withered in its illness, he still looked every bit as regal as he always had. His silver hair had been combed and lay feathered over his shoulders, emphasizing how narrow they’d grown. A robe of deep black velvet was latched over the stark cords of his neck, and cascaded down his back like a ribbon of midnight sky.
H is blue eyes, so much like hers though they were now sunken into his gaunt face, sparkled with enthusiasm. A smile that was almost childlike spread across his wan lips when he caught her reflection through the polished tin mirror.
“Moira, lass. Ye look positively lovely . Every bit as beautiful as yer mother.”
“Yer Lord sh—er... Father.” She curtseyed awkwardly. “Should ye be out of bed?”
Lord Kildrummond coughed . The sound of wet phlegm rattling in his chest was so pronounced, both Moira and the earls’ man winced.
“I wouldna miss it for the w orld, seeing ye married,” he answered when he’d recovered enough to speak.
“ Ye’ll be there to make bloody sure I marry, more like.”
Warmth infused his eyes as he took in her stubborn grimace. “Such spirit; such life. I’ve been called a fool for neglecting yer upbringing, for not checking yer manners when ye were young. But I ask ye: how could I? I could no more change ye than I could tell the hills no’ to bloom wi’ heather. Yer mother’s spirit shines in ye, lass.”
His wistful tone at the mention of Lilian dredged the last of her buried guilt. She lowered her eyes to the floor. “Aye, well... I’m sure she’s grateful to ye for all ye’ve done for me.”
“I would have d one more, lass, if ye’d have let me. And what I do now, this marriage to Viscount Strathcairn, ‘tis only yer welfare I think of. Ye’ll see, ‘tis for the best.”
Her exhumed guilt twisted sharply in her gut. She glanced warily at Lord Kildrummond’s man, who stood unobtrusively to the side.
“We need no’ speak of it anymore. ‘Tis done. I only came to see how ye were before things get underway. Ye look as if ye need to rest.”
“Ye’re right. The effort simply to prepare has tired me. I’ll rest now, but I’ll be counting the minutes until I can see ye again.”
Moira shifted uncomfortably. “Er—aye. Until then.” She bounced on the balls of her feet once or twice, itching to flee the room and silence the angry sting of her conscience. But the proud light radiating from Lord Kildrummond’s face brought the echo of Niall’s words into sharp clarity.
Why no’ put yer father’s mind at ease? At least in this last stage of his life ... Be the daughter he’s always wanted.
Cursing silently, she stepped to the earl’s side and placed a kiss on top of his thinning hair. He started, caught off guard by her sudden affection. His eyes shining with tears, he raised a withered hand and patted her arm.
God’s blood, those tears would haunt her for the rest of her life!
As it always does, time marched on, and the final hour passed; it was time for the ceremony to begin.
Bound and
She could no longer deny his Lordship— no, not “his Lordship,” her father —the paternal relationship he desperately craved. If she did, she would regret it until her dying day.
And so, with the ceremony less than an hour away and the chapel filled with Lowland and Highland Douglases alike, Moira visited the Earl of Kildrummond’s chamber.
Without having been summoned. For the first time in her life.
Halting in front of the door , she took a breath. Then, raising her hand, she rapped a knuckle against the heavy oak. Long moments passed in silence; she was certain her breath was so loud it echoed down the corridor. She was about to knock again when the earl’s man pulled the door open. Seeing Moira standing on the other side, he gazed quizzically at her for a brief instant. Composing himself, he stepped back to let her pass.
Inside, the earl was seated in front of his dressing table. Though his body had withered in its illness, he still looked every bit as regal as he always had. His silver hair had been combed and lay feathered over his shoulders, emphasizing how narrow they’d grown. A robe of deep black velvet was latched over the stark cords of his neck, and cascaded down his back like a ribbon of midnight sky.
H is blue eyes, so much like hers though they were now sunken into his gaunt face, sparkled with enthusiasm. A smile that was almost childlike spread across his wan lips when he caught her reflection through the polished tin mirror.
“Moira, lass. Ye look positively lovely . Every bit as beautiful as yer mother.”
“Yer Lord sh—er... Father.” She curtseyed awkwardly. “Should ye be out of bed?”
Lord Kildrummond coughed . The sound of wet phlegm rattling in his chest was so pronounced, both Moira and the earls’ man winced.
“I wouldna miss it for the w orld, seeing ye married,” he answered when he’d recovered enough to speak.
“ Ye’ll be there to make bloody sure I marry, more like.”
Warmth infused his eyes as he took in her stubborn grimace. “Such spirit; such life. I’ve been called a fool for neglecting yer upbringing, for not checking yer manners when ye were young. But I ask ye: how could I? I could no more change ye than I could tell the hills no’ to bloom wi’ heather. Yer mother’s spirit shines in ye, lass.”
His wistful tone at the mention of Lilian dredged the last of her buried guilt. She lowered her eyes to the floor. “Aye, well... I’m sure she’s grateful to ye for all ye’ve done for me.”
“I would have d one more, lass, if ye’d have let me. And what I do now, this marriage to Viscount Strathcairn, ‘tis only yer welfare I think of. Ye’ll see, ‘tis for the best.”
Her exhumed guilt twisted sharply in her gut. She glanced warily at Lord Kildrummond’s man, who stood unobtrusively to the side.
“We need no’ speak of it anymore. ‘Tis done. I only came to see how ye were before things get underway. Ye look as if ye need to rest.”
“Ye’re right. The effort simply to prepare has tired me. I’ll rest now, but I’ll be counting the minutes until I can see ye again.”
Moira shifted uncomfortably. “Er—aye. Until then.” She bounced on the balls of her feet once or twice, itching to flee the room and silence the angry sting of her conscience. But the proud light radiating from Lord Kildrummond’s face brought the echo of Niall’s words into sharp clarity.
Why no’ put yer father’s mind at ease? At least in this last stage of his life ... Be the daughter he’s always wanted.
Cursing silently, she stepped to the earl’s side and placed a kiss on top of his thinning hair. He started, caught off guard by her sudden affection. His eyes shining with tears, he raised a withered hand and patted her arm.
God’s blood, those tears would haunt her for the rest of her life!
As it always does, time marched on, and the final hour passed; it was time for the ceremony to begin.
Bound and
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