Three
The moment Bridgette parted ways with Graham on the castle stairs the emotions she had been repressing overcame her. Her legs gave, and she slapped a hand against the stone wall as she slid to her bottom and landed on a step.
Lachlan was bound to another woman…
The thought crashed around in her head, making it and her heart hurt. Her vision blurred with unshed tears that she blinked desperately away. She would not cry! She fisted her hands in her lap as a sense of hopelessness and loss clawed at her.
Fool, her mind hissed.
She nodded to herself. She was, indeed, a fool. She’d thought she had accepted that a future with Lachlan was lost to her forever, but clearly she had not truly done so.
“Bridgette! There you are!”
Bridgette looked up into the beaming face of her dearest—and really only—female friend, Marion. She scrambled to her feet and hugged Marion to her. “I’m verra glad ye are safe! I was scairt for ye!”
Marion returned Bridgette’s fierce hug. “I must confess I was rather afraid, too, but I knew Iain would come for me.”
Bridgette untangled herself from her friend. “Ye look well,” she said, meaning it. Marion was as lovely as ever, despite having been in captivity in England and then having to follow King David around Scotland and then having to return first to England before coming directly home.
Marion’s hand moved to her belly, and a smile came to her lips. “We are well,” she whispered.
Bridgette gasped. “A wee bairn is coming?”
“Yes, but shh! I’ve only just become certain, and Iain does not yet know. I intend to tell him tonight, so it must be our secret for now,” Marion said in a hushed tone.
“I will,” Bridgette instantly replied, keeping her voice equally low.
Marion grinned. “Ye will be Auntie Bridgette!” she whispered.
Bridgette laughed. “I’ll be pleased to be called Auntie Bridgette by yer bairn.” She stilled, realizing she would truly be an aunt to the child if she became Graham’s wife. Some of the joy of the moment fled.
“What is it?” Marion asked, concern filling her voice. “You look suddenly sad.”
Marion was the only one who knew that Bridgette had harbored affection for Lachlan for years. She locked gazes with her friend. “I met Helena,” she said quietly.
Marion’s shoulders slumped. “I’d hoped to see you first and tell you so that you would be ready.” She moved to the step Bridgette stood upon and took her by the elbow. “Come. Let us have this conversation in my bedchamber where we can speak freely.”
Bridgette nodded, and they quickly made their way to Marion’s bedchamber. Once Marion shut the door, she turned to Bridgette. “All hope is not lost! It’s only a pledge to marry, and you know they can be broken as long as—” Marion’s cheeks pinked. “As long as they don’t join.”
Bridgette sighed and shook her head. “All hopeislost. Nae that there ever truly was any. Lachlan never once gave me any hint that he cared for me.”
“You shared that kiss in the woods!” Marion protested.
“One kiss four years ago dunnae assure a great love match. My head has kenned it for some time, but my foolish heart refused to accept it.”
“I don’t agree at all,” Marion said. “I simply cannot understand why Lachlan decided to pledge to marry Helena if they suit. It was very odd and sudden, and they will not suit.”
Bridgette snorted. “I imagine his decision had to do with her beauty.”
Marion shook her head. “If that was the only reason, then Lachlan would have tried such a thing long ago with one of the many lovely lasses that fawned over him.”
Bridgette’s stomach knotted. “Perchance he has fallen in love.”
“No. I’ve watched them. They are wary with each other, very guarded.”
Bridgette was curious, though she knew she ought not to be. “What does Iain say?”
Marion scowled. “Not much. He said the Campbell proposed it and Lachlan agreed.”
