Arran left us, understanding that I needed a moment alone with Baodan to explain the best I could. I couldna tell if he was angry. Baodan was a man whose face was impenetrable, and I could sense that even if he was angry, it would take much to get him to express it.
“Baodan, I believe I need to speak with ye a moment.” Me words sounded foolish and obvious, but I knew not what to say, me face still flushed red with embarrassment and shame.
He surprised me by reaching for me hand and moved so that we walked through the small garden.
“Aye, that ye do, lass, but I doona think that ye have as much to explain as ye think ye do.”
“What do ye mean?” I allowed him to lead me as we slowly made our way out of the garden, meandering through the castle grounds in the moonlight.
“He is the one, is he no, lass? The one who lay claim over yer heart even when he was no longer there? I knew there was someone, lass, but I dinna know it was me cousin.”
“Aye, and I’m so verra sorry, Baodan. I wouldna have agreed to marry ye if I believed there was any way for Arran and me to be together. But now that there is, I canna marry ye. It wouldna be fair to ye for me to do so.”
“Aye, I know that ye canna, lass. I wouldna wish for ye to.”
I stopped me feet so that he would have to stop walking as well and turned so that I faced him, reaching out to grab his other hand as well. “Truly? Ye are no angry with me?”
He smiled, squeezing me hands gently. “Nay, lass. I am sad that I shall no share in the pleasure of yer company. I think that we could have been bonny friends, aye? But I canna be angry with ye for doing as yer heart bids. Ye are lucky, lass. Ye have been given the chance to be with the one ye thought that ye’d lost. If I was given the same opportunity, there is naught even the fiery pits of hell that could stop me. I am happy for ye, Blaire.”
I hadna expected such a reaction, but after listening to him, I wasna surprised. He was the best of men. If I had more brains than heart, I would have married him rather than Arran. I stretched, having to stand on the farthest tip of my toes to reach him as I kissed him on the lips before pulling him into a hug. He squeezed me tight, and me feet came off the ground. Together we stayed there for only a moment.
Once he sat me back on the ground, I stepped away from him to walk back to the castle, but I turned to bid him one last farewell. “Goodbye, Baodan. Ye are a good man. There is someone else out there who ye will find that ye have enough of yer heart left to give to, and she in turn will heal what ye lost. There is no man more deserving of it than ye.”
He shook his head shyly. “Nay, lass, I doona know about that. If such a time comes, I shall welcome it, but I willna expect it as I journey forward.”
I turned away, silently throwing a prayer up to the heavens that love would find him, as I went in search for Bri, Mary, and Adelle. They wouldna be pleased with me if I kept all that had happened from them for long.
*
The castle had turned to pure commotion by the time I arrived back there after speaking with Baodan. Eoin, Mary, Bri, and Adelle were thrilled to see Arran and were all ready to resurrect Edana only to bury her again after they learned the lies she’d told him. Baodan’s family was so angry with Arran and meself, I was certain a fight was about to erupt. Thankfully, Baodan showed up shortly after I arrived and calmed them down, taking them away so that they could make their preparations to return home.
All of the chaos ensued around me, but there was only one person’s reaction I was concerned with as I made me way inside the castle. I spotted me father instantly, leaning casually against a doorway looking on at the screaming spectacle with ornery amusement.
He smiled as he spotted me, quickly pulling me into a side corridor before I could be swept away by the flurry of activity in the main hall. “So I hear that ye’ve changed yer mind on another wedding, have ye, lass? Please tell me that this one to Arran shall be yer last and that ye will truly marry him.”
I laughed into his chest as I hugged him. “Aye, Father. If I doona, I shall let ye send me away to a convent.”
“Doona tempt me, love. Now, let us leave this place. The two of ye can be married at the top of the river near here. It runs into a deep valley and is the prettiest place in all of Scotland. ’Tis where yer mother and I were married. If we leave now, ye can make it by morning.”
We sat out in the middle of the night. My father and I on our own horses and Arran and Adelle atop another. She was not an excellent rider, but she was no novice either. When Arran had told her she could ride with him if she wished, she’d jumped at the chance. I had a feeling it had more to do with her enjoying being in such close quarters with Arran’s solid body than her no wanting to ride her own horse, but it dinna bother me a bit. I could no blame her. Besides, it was I who would share his bed from this night onward.