Page 13 of The Best of Madeline Grant

“I have a verra different background. While I was married for a time, for the last five years I have been a mistress to a man who sometimes gave me to his friends.”

Robbie barked. “What are you doing? They don’t need to know this.”

Alex held his hand up to his brother before taking his wife’s hand. “Maddie, would you like to leave?”

“Nay, Alex, I am fine.”

“Continue.” Alex nodded to Caralyn.

Caralyn glanced up at Robbie before she spoke. “I realize it may not be best for me to be around all your weans due to my background, so I wanted to be completely honest with you. I would like to stay at your keep, if possible, but I realize I’m an imposition. Still, I wondered if you might have a cottage near the loch where I could stay with my daughters.”

Robbie stopped pacing and crossed his arms.

“I apologize if this upsets you, but I can’t change who I am.” Caralyn kept her eyes fixed on Alex Grant as she spoke.

After taking a moment to reflect on her words, Alex cleared his throat. “Is this what you wish to do? Do you wish to continue to be a mistress to someone while you are at the Grant keep?”

“Nay!” Caralyn bolted out of her seat, but then sat down again. “Your pardon,” she whispered.

“Was it your choice to be this man’s mistress?” Alex asked.

“Nay.” Caralyn shook her head adamantly, then bowed her head. “I was forced. We were desperate for food, and the man made his price clear. Then he held my daughters and threatened to hurt them if I didn’t comply with his instructions.”

“Then I don’t see its relevance to this discussion.”

Caralyn’s head jerked back up, and she glanced from Alex to Maddie.

Maddie stood and walked around the desk to her, grasping her hands in hers. “It does not matter to us what you have donein the past. I disagree with you. Youcanchange who you are. What would you like to do to contribute to the clan?”

“Well, ‘tis part of my problem. The only thing my husband taught me before he passed was how to fish. I thought if we lived near the loch, I could catch and clean fish for you. Ashlyn loves to fish, as well.”

Alex nodded his head. “I see. And the second thing you wished to discuss with us?”

“The person who forced me has been searching for me. He followed us out of Glasgow, but Robbie and his men fought off his men. He was able to escape back to Glasgow. I fear he may come for me and I don’t wish to risk any of your clan being hurt by him.”

Alex turned toward his brother. “Robbie, the man got away?”

“Aye, he threw Caralyn on his horse while we fought off his guards. By the time I followed, he was far enough ahead to force me to use my arrow. I struck him in the shoulder and he pushed Caralyn off his horse down an incline. I had to make a choice, and it was more important to me to make sure she wasn’t in danger.”

Alex quirked an eyebrow, then returned his attention to Caralyn. “If he comes for you, you are safer here inside the keep than in a cottage.”

“But I don’t wish to endanger anyone here.” Her voice was firm.

Maddie returned to her chair in time to hear Alex whisper to her out the corner of his mouth. “Hmmm, where have I heard that before, wife?”

Alex stood. “Thank you, Caralyn. I will give some thought to your request. Until I make my decision, I expect you to stay in the keep.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Maddie helps Caralyn see what life could be worth.

Caralyn sat brushing her hair in front of the hearth. She had just come in from the bathing room and had gotten the lassies settled in bed. Rubbing Gracie’s back always put her to sleep in a hurry. Caralyn sighed when she thought of how happy Gracie was here. Ashlyn was, too—she loved having lasses her age to play with—but she could tell that her eldest still worried about her.

The afternoon with Robbie had been wonderful, except for her outburst. She couldn’t believe how she had treated him, but it had been instinctive for her…and the biggest miracle of all was that he’d seemed to understand.

Every day her feelings grew for Captain Robbie Grant. She loved the way he held her hand and protected her. He was so good with wee Gracie, who adored him. His heart was kind and giving—despite his great physical strength, he wasn’t one to issue orders or insist on getting his own way.

When they had stood inside the cottage, she found herself wondering what it would be like to live with Robbie as her husband, to live with him in the cottage, fish with him, cook for him, and spend their days playing with their bairns. She knew Robbie had to work in the lists every day or do whatever his laird required, but how wonderful it would be to be wrapped in his arms every night just the way she had been under the stars.