It also made her wonder what she and Logan could be to each other if only they could make a fresh start of their own.
He was a good man. Caring, protective, intelligent, loyal.
And on a shallow level, so attractive.
Maddie was going to forever regret not having made love to him. At least Aunt Thea had been properly ruined by the Comte de Montclair. Feathers and all.
But it was no use pining after what couldn’t be.
Logan didn’t love her. He couldn’t love her. Some other woman had gotten to him first and left him ruined for all others.
She hoped this A.D., whoever and wherever she was, properly appreciated what she’d missed. Maddie hoped the woman rued her mistake daily. Maddie was also not above wishing her to be a frequent sufferer of boils.
“What was that?” Logan asked.
Had she spoken aloud? “Oh. Nothing.”
A woman cloaked in a traditional arisaid approached them. She began speaking to Logan in fervent Gaelic, and before Maddie knew what was happening, the woman had placed an infant in her arms.
Wonderful. This was exactly what her heart didn’t need right now.
She started hoping that the infant would squall or soil its clout or vomit up soured milk. Something, anything to stop her womb from turning these frantic use--me cartwheels.
But the babe refused to be anything less than entirely adorable. He was an angelic little bundle in Maddie’s arms, swaddled in a length of cozy flannel.
Meanwhile, the babe’s mother thanked Logan—-even without knowing the language, Maddie could recognize the look of gratitude, and Callum translated the rest. The young woman had been recently widowed, and she had thought she would be forced to leave Scotland. Apparently Logan had engaged her ser-vices to do laundry and cook for the men while they completed their new cottages. She and her son would be able to stay.
Maddie’s heart wrenched. She stared down at the little bundle, who cooed and waved his tiny fists.
A bright something winked at her from the child’s bunting, and Maddie peered at it.
“He’s wearing a luckenbooth.” She showed Callum. “But surely he’s a bit young to be engaged. And I thought those were for lasses.”
“He’s not engaged.” Callum tickled the little one’s cheek. “ ’Tis the custom. A man gives the luckenbooth to his bride on their betrothal, and then ’tis placed on the bunting of the -couple’s firstborn child. -People believed it wards off evil.”
“How interesting. So that means these markings here . . .” Maddie fingered the tiny markings scratched on the heart--shaped brooch. “They’re not the child’s initials.”
“No, no. Those would be his mother and father’s.”
“I see.”
She stared down at the babe in arms, and that heart of gold that flickered in the light of the bonfire.
L.M. and A.D.
The world slowed down. Her heartbeats thumped singly in her ears.
Did you love her?
As much as I knew how. It wasn’t enough.
So she left you.
Yes.
A clever woman, then.
Maddie cringed at the memory. Oh, good Lord. If her suspicions were correct . . .
The widowed woman had joined in the dance, and Logan had moved away. When Maddie looked up, she locked gazes with him over the bonfire. His eyes narrowed, intent and searching. The red firelight played over his furrowed brow.
He seemed to know something had changed.
“Callum,” she said, swallowing a lump in her throat, “does the word nah--tray--me mean anything to you?”
He tilted his head. “Na tréig mi, do you mean? ’Tis not a word, it’s a phrase.”
“What does it mean?”
“It means, ‘dinna leave me.’ Why do you ask?”
She tried to hide the sudden catch in her voice. “No reason.”
No reason. Except that everything makes sense now, and I realize I’ve been a complete and utter fool.
“I have to do something. Can you take him?” She turned to place the child in Callum’s arms.
“No, no. Hold a moment. Me?” He stepped back, waving his amputated arm. “I canna take him with one arm.”
“Of course you can. Mothers do it all the time.” She tucked the babe into the crook of his full arm, making sure his hand supported the infant’s bottom. “There now. Someday you’ll hold your own child the same way.”
On impulse, she kissed both Callum and baby on the forehead.
Then she turned back to look for Logan, searching the crowd.
He wasn’t there.
Chapter Twenty-three
Logan walked away from the bonfire with long, purposeful strides.
But he apparently didn’t walk fast enough.
“Logan, wait.”
He didn’t slow his pace. He couldn’t talk to her. Not right now, after watching her rock that babe in her arms and dance with Callum. After feeling her body against his, even for that short moment.
She’d made her choices, and so had he. He could bear to part ways with her tomorrow. But if she came anywhere near him tonight, he’d be sure to pull her close and do something they’d both regret.