“Stay. Please.”
She began to fuss and fidget. She couldn’t help it. She’d almost lost him. She was green and nauseated and still frightened out of her wits. Yet, he seemed so calm. “Sweetheart,” he repeated to gain her attention. “I’ve been stabbed and shot twice since coming to London.”
“Oh, Ewan! I know. It’s all my fault.”
He gave her hand another gentle squeeze. “No, lass. That isn’t my point. As I said, stabbed and shot twice.”
“And almost blown to pieces.”
“Right. I don’t think this town agrees with me.”
She shook her head and sighed. “I suppose not.”
“What I’m trying to tell you is that I don’t belong here. Lass, my place is in the Highlands.”
She held her breath in sudden panic. Had he reconsidered? Decided not to marry her after all? She did look a sooty mess. “Ewan, what are you saying?”
“I’ll be leaving here when my three months are up. Perhaps sooner, since I think I’ve accomplished what this visit was meant to bring about. With your help, of course.”
She nodded, now wishing she’d taken a moment to tend to herself. If he was going to rescind his marriage proposal, she wished to be properly dressed to receive the bad news. Not that it mattered how she looked or what she wore while her heart was being ripped to pieces. She continued to hold her breath as he resumed the conversation. “Desmond is more than capable of running the dukedom of Lotheil. He’s been raised to the task. He wants it, but most of all, he’s earned it.”
“You’re just as capable. Why are we speaking of Desmond?” Lily tipped her gaze upward to study his expression. She let out a small gasp. “Has your grandfather offered the dukedom to you?”
He nodded. “The old man believes I’m a natural leader.”
“You are.”
“He claims I’ve shown more wisdom in dealing with problems than he ever has.”
“You have. He’s right to be impressed with you. You’re smart and honest and caring, and everyone respects you.”
He teasingly tweaked her nose. “Enough, lass. You’ll swell my head with such compliments. But as I said, my heart is in the Highlands.” He gazed at her, cast her a boyishly hopeful smile that tugged at her own heart. “Rather, my heart will be in the Highlands if you’ll come back there with me. I haven’t given Grandfather my answer yet, but I know what I’d like to say.”
Her eyes rounded in amazement. “You intend to refuse him.”
“I wanted to talk it over with you first. If I refuse, I won’t be a duke. Can’t make you my duchess. But I’m Laird Carnach in my own right and I can’t think of anyone who’d make a better Lady Carnach than you. Life won’t be as comfortable for you up there as it is down here. But we have beautiful hills and lochs, and you’ll never want for anything. I mean it, Lily. All I have is yours. I need you, lass. I can’t be happy without you. I love you.”
She grinned. “More than Jasper loves me?”
He laughed. “Never thought I’d have a dog for competition. That clumsy oaf fell in love with you at first sight. I suppose I did too. Tongue-dragging, heart-thumping, baboon-stomping, head over heels in love with you. But I’m dumber than that big looby. Dumber than a baboon, too. It took me longer to admit that you’d captured my heart. So what do you say? Can you love me if I remain a mere laird?”
She threw her arms around him, careful to avoid his injured shoulder. “I can’t help but love you. I’d love you even if you were a baboon. If you don’t want the dukedom of Lotheil, then I don’t want it either. In truth, I’d make a terrible duchess. All those stuffy affairs. All that time away from my research.”
“About that,” he said, groaning as he drew her even closer, “I’ve written to Sir William Maitland about you. I sent a letter off to him shortly after Lord Guilfoil’s lecture, and received his response about an hour ago.”
She gasped.
“He’s settled in Scotland and has invited us to visit him on our way back to the Highlands.”
“You’re taking me to meet him?” She kissed him with all the joy and passion residing in her heart.
He kissed her back, this time more urgently, his good arm sliding across her shoulders to draw her close. Jasper nuzzled his big head between them. His ears were perked and tail was wagging. “Stay put, ye looby. I’ll no’ have you interfering while I properly kiss the lass.”
Jasper snorted in obvious disdain.
Ewan kept his attention on Lily. “You claimed my heart that first day we met, the moment I pulled you out of that puddle. I should have admitted my feelings to you then, but I was too arrogant to give up control of my heart. I’ve finally come to my senses.”