Page 33 of Highlander’s Misfit Lass

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Trevor had been secretly pleased when Emma had admitted she wanted to return to England with him. Although he had developed some affinity for the Highlands, he was not quite ready to leave his life in England yet, for there were still ambitions he had to fulfill in his uncle’s company. However, when morning rose and the reality of their situation revealed itself to him, he became worried, for they were going to have to tell Emma’s parents about what they had planned. Trevor had already seen how much Douglas wanted to maintain his life, but now Trevor had come along and was looking to change it.

However, the conversation had not been as difficult as Trevor worried it would be. It was clear that Douglas had done some thinking, no doubt encouraged by his good wife, Trevor thought. Douglas made it clear that he wanted what was best for his daughter, whatever she decided that may be. Emma was delighted by this and squeezed Trevor’s hand. When she explained that she was going to return to London with Trevor, it was clear that her parents were unhappy, but it was equally clear they were not going to stand in her way. Tears were shed and well wishes were shared. Trevor promised to look after her, and they made it clear that they would correspond regularly and return to the Highlands as often as they could. Trevor was not seeking to take Emma away from her home or her family, and in fact, he made it clear that as he did not have much in the way of family himself, he was looking forward to spending more time with them as the years passed.

Trevor and Lyndsay couldn’t have hoped for anything better, and they wished the newlyweds well as they left for London. They had to wait a while to summon a carriage that could transport Emma’s belongings, although she was a humble girl and did not own too many things.

“I have tae admit that I am a little sad at leaving,” Emma confided in him as the carriage trundled away from the village. The entire village, apart from David, was there to wave her away.

“It’s only natural because it’s your home. It’s the only home you’ve ever known, but we will return. This is not the last time you will lay your eyes on this part of the world,” he reassured her.

“I know, but it still takes a toll on my heart. Still, I suppose it is tempered by the excitement of the life I am traveling tae. I cannae wait tae see the landscape change as we travel down tae England. I just hope that we dinnae run intae any bandits.”

“I’m sure we won’t. The roads are not as dangerous as they once were,” he said, and the carriage got underway fully.

They had been traveling for some days when Emma turned to Trevor. She had a troubled look on her face.

“Trevor, there is something that I want tae ask ye about. I know ye said ye would confide in me in time, and I dinnae want tae push the issue, but since we are married and hae a wee bit of time tae spare as we travel…I wondered if ye would tell me the story behind yer scars.”

Trevor’s heart was filled with tension. He knew this moment had been coming, and he supposed that he had put it off for as long as possible. She was his wife, and he had a duty to share his entire life with her, even the parts he would rather forget.

“When I was younger, my mother died without me knowing much about her. I was raised by my father, who was by all accounts a scoundrel and a rogue. He was shunned by his family, and he made money by any nefarious means. Eventually, he took up fighting until he was crippled in a bout. Money was hard to come by, and he needed more and more things to ease his pain, so he trained me and sent me into the fights. As it happened, I was rather good at them. I suppose it gave me a way to focus my anger, and I had a lot of it.” Trevor paused to take a breath, for the memories were not easy ones to endure.

“My father never told me I was good for anything other than fighting. He said the world hated me and the only way I was ever going to get respect was by fighting people. Because I was young, a lot of people underestimated me and I was able to earn good money, then people wanted to challenge me because I had earned a reputation as being undefeatable. I could command a crowd and the money I made was not an inconsiderable sum, but there was a part of me that was always ashamed because the more I fought, the more I knew I was becoming like my father.

“I never allowed myself to fall in love because I didn’t want anyone to get hurt. I could see myself turning out like him and I didn’t want anyone to suffer as I had suffered at his hands.”

“What happened tae him?” she asked.

“He died in his sleep. Some would say that was too peaceful a death for a man like him. When I was on my own, I decided to go back to my uncle and ask him for an opportunity to better myself. Thankfully he didn’t curse me for the sins of my father, but my life was not as it should have been. Despite serving my apprenticeship under my uncle, I was still fighting, unable to ignore the pull of the arena or the money that I was making. I knew it would be my undoing, yet I could not stop. It was a terrible thing, and it only made me hate myself. Then I fought a butcher’s son and I almost killed him. There’s a vicious, savage part of me that I cannot get rid of. I have tried to keep it under control, but you saw a glimpse of it when I fought David, and you have seen the result. Most women would cower at the sight of these scars. I’m sorry I did not tell you the truth earlier, and I would not blame you if you decided to turn your back on me for fear of what I’m capable of.”

“All I know is that ye are capable of a great love,” Emma said, taking his hands. The generous affection took Trevor by surprise, and he was shaken from his melancholy by her bright eyes and her kind smile.

“I had a feeling yer story was marred by violence. I’m no stranger tae it in the Highlands. As ye know, my Da was a warrior. He told me of battles he haes fought, and he said he was lucky tae find a good woman tae love him as well. I will nae shy away from the man ye were, Trevor, for he grew intae the man ye are, the man I love. I dinnae think ye will be yer da. Ye already seem tae be a better man than him, and I dinnae even mind ye fighting as long as ye fight for a just cause. If our children ever suffer the insults of bullies, I know ye will make sure they can defend themselves.”

“Children?” Trevor asked, arching his eyebrows.

Emma blushed and looked a little embarrassed. “Well, I mean, perhaps in the future. It is the custom for married people, is it nae?”

“It is indeed,” Trevor said with a chuckle. “And I have no qualms at all about starting a family with you. In fact, I think it would be quite an intriguing prospect.” He leaned across to give her a kiss, and they both smiled. She rested her head against his shoulder as they watched the landscape of England roll by. Trevor passed the time by idly telling her stories about the towns they passed through. Emma listened intently, her eyes wide, for she had never seen so much of the world before.

Just as she had been inspired by his reaction to the Beltane Day festival, Trevor saw the world in a new light as he witnessed her reaction to it as well. What seemed like common buildings to him were entirely new to her, and it gave him a greater appreciation for everything they saw. The sometimes dreary land of England had much beauty if he knew where to look.

“What is our life going to be like?” Emma asked, which was a valid question considering that she was used to spending life on a farm rather than in a busy city.

“Well, I will usually spend my days in the office, and then in the evenings we shall spend our time together, and perhaps I will even attend some balls if you would like that?”

“I would,” Emma asked, smiling with delight. “But what am I supposed to do during the day when you are working?”

“Well, I imagine you will find some things to occupy your time until we have children. If we’re going to attend these balls then you are going to need dresses. There are plenty of shops in London to keep you occupied,” he said. “In fact, I’m sure that there’s so many things to do you’re not going to be able to stop.”

He then told her about different shops they could visit during their time in England, as well as some of the friends he had made there. He was quite sure that their social calendar would be full as well, especially if his uncle had anything to do with it. Somehow attending balls and social gatherings with Emma did not fill him with as much trepidation as the thought of attending them alone did. At least he would not have to go through the rigmarole of meeting eager brides any longer, and he could take great pride in showing off the most beautiful woman in the world.

“We are going to have a good life, you and I,” he said.

Emma nodded and believed him wholeheartedly.

The carriage trundled through the beautiful landscapes of England and eventually came to London. In the distance, the grand buildings rose in an intimidating fashion, and Emma pressed her face against the side of the carriage so she could see everything clearly. She gasped in awe at the sight of the towering buildings and the exquisite architecture, and like the rest of England, it gave Trevor a new sense of appreciation for his home. He had spent so much time in the city that he looked at it with jaded eyes, but with Emma beside him, he saw the adventure and the opportunity it could offer, as well as the hope for the future.

He placed his arm around her and looked out the window with her, enjoying the way she asked about every building and looked at every inch of London as if it was the most wonderful thing imaginable. In his estimation, the Highlands were a little more beautiful given the natural scenery surrounding the village, but London was a hive of activity, and Emma was eager to explore it all. For a while now, he had been living life in a stupor, but that was about to change. Emma was about to make him live as he had never lived before, and he was looking forward to the challenge. He had started by becoming a fighter, and there was a time when he didn’t think he would be anything more. But now he was. He was a lover, a husband, a man who had found the other half of his soul, and he was never going to let her go.

They reached his townhouse. They alighted from the carriage and he announced that this was all hers too. It may not have been as grand as the farm she grew up on, but it was all theirs. He swept her off her feet and lifted her into his strong arms before kissing her sweetly and carrying her up to the bedroom. After a long journey, it was time to unwind.