Graham.In the end, they circled back to Graham.
Lachlan dragged a hand through his hair and stared down at the ground, wishing to think before answering. He had a feeling what he said next might be the most important thing he ever spoke. Even though Bridgette did not love Graham, he thought himself in love with her. Therefore, he would consider Lachlan courting Bridgette a betrayal of their bond of brotherhood, and the hatred and anger that would come from that would widen the rift between them that already pained Lachlan so. And it would possibly rip their family apart.
Lachlan clenched his teeth. He did not want that. There had to be a way, though, for him and Bridgette to one day be able to explore what was between them.
Time!That’s what they needed. In time, this thing with Helena would be finished, and Graham could meet someone new. He opened his mouth to speak, but Bridgette spoke first.
“I saw Eolande,” she said, her glistening gaze locking with his and imploring him to listen and understand.
He nodded, his gut telling him he’d not like what she was about to say.
“She told me my desire was greater than my ability to vanquish it.”
“Aye,” he murmured, feeling slightly relieved. If the seer had said it was hopeless to fight this thing between them, then surely it was.
Bridgette gave a harsh laugh, which made him flinch. “Dunnae be calmed, Lachlan. Eolande told me if I did nae control my desire until the time to embrace it was at hand, then I’d be the storm to destroy the bond of brotherhood.”
He seized the opportunity. “That’s what we need! Time! Time for my pledge to Helena to be dissolved, and time for Graham to forget ye. Then our time will come to discover just how deep this thing between us is.”
Bridgette’s eyes widened, and he thought she might just agree, but then she shook her head. Disappointment and denial filled him.
“Lachlan, Eolande also said that jealousy will drive one of ye to lie, to risk yer life, and to hurt the one ye love. And for the other one of ye,jealousywill drive him to his death, whereupon vengeance shall resurrect him.” Bridgette visibly shuddered, and he trembled with her, the words striking at the heart of his own fear. “Do ye see now?” she rasped. “Do ye ken? I will rip ye and Graham apart if we pursue this. We must let whatever this is go! We must forget each other!”
He pulled her to him, her womanly softness to his hardness, and buried his face in her fragrant hair. “I’ve tried,” he said, not bothering to hide his misery any longer. “Have ye nae tried yerself?”
“God’s teeth, aye!” she cried out. “Ye haunt me, ye wee devil!”
Despite the gravity of their predicament, a smile tugged at his lips, and he knew then exactly what he must say. “Wait for me,” he implored, the words tumbling from his mouth, despite the fact that he did not even know how long he was asking her to wait or what she might be waiting for. He simply knew he had to ask. “Wait for us and the time to come when we may discover what draws us to each other and tempts us, in spite of it all.” His breath caught deep in his throat as he waited for her to respond.
“I will wait for ye,” she whispered. “I dunnae believe I have a choice.”
Leaning toward her, he pressed his lips to hers, and for a long sweet moment, their tongues swirled and tangled. Finally, he forced himself to pull away, knowing the day was marching quickly toward darkness. He did not doubt his ability to protect her, but he did not want to take unnecessary risks, which reminded him of why he had followed her in the first place.
“Bridgette, I need ye nae to wander away from the castle unaccompanied by men. Many men. Actually, dunnae depart castle grounds unless I’m with ye.”
She frowned. “Why?”
’Twas a good question, and he did not have an exact reason, only suspicions. “My uncle returning to Scotland and Helena.”
Bridgette snorted. “Helena! I could easily defend myself from Helena.”
“Aye,” he agreed. “But perchance her father’s desire to have her pledged to me has something to do with you.”
“Me?” Bridgette asked, her scowl deepening.
Lachlan rubbed a hand across his face as he thought how to best explain himself. “Colin Campbell wished to marry ye, and ye declined that offer. Yer brother will feel a sense of obligation to be allies with whomever ye marry, and ye ken as well as I do that the Campbell kens this.”
“Aye, but—Oh!” She gasped. “Do ye suspect the Campbell laird sent Helena here to get close to me? To sway me? And pledging her to ye gave the man a reason for his daughter to come?”
“I dunnae ken for certain,” he answered honestly. “And I believe Helena is here for more than just ye.”
“I dunnae believe it’s me at all,” Bridgette replied. “She’s barely even talked to me except to ask me of the Fairy Flag when I stumbled upon her.”
Lachlan tensed. “What did she say?”
“She said Colin had told her the history of it, and that she was curious. I thought it a bit odd that Colin would be speaking of yer clan’s—” Bridgette abruptly stopped speaking as her eyes popped wide. “Do ye believe she might be here to steal the flag?”
“Aye,” Lachlan confirmed. “I ken it to be so, but the flag is nae in danger. I must learn why else she is here. Now, do ye ken why I wish ye to stay near the castle?”
