He released her, his eyes just above hers. And with her whole heart, she wondered what lay within them.
“Why did you do this?” she demanded. She ached to hear him say what he had told her before—he loved her. He had loved her forever.
“So that my son’s mother need no longer be a MacGinnis,” he replied, eyes dark upon hers.
“So you will bring Danny back?”
His grip upon her tightened. “Aye, as I’m able.”
“You promised!” she reminded him, fighting his hold.
He arched a brow. “You’ve just promised to love, honor, and obey, my love.”
“Indeed, well, you remember this! MacGinnis was my father’s name. I will remain a MacGinnis until the day I die,” she informed him.
“And I’m trying terribly hard to see that the day you die remains far in the future.”
“This is a travesty.”
“Nay, lady, this ends the travesty,” he told her, and lifting her off her feet, he carried her to the throne chairs that had been prepared for them for the evening. “Friends, I give you Lady Douglas!” he announced.
The cheering began again.
And the windup of pipes screeched.
Well-wishers came forward.
“Ah, cousin!” she heard, and turned to see that Alistair was at her side. He was decked in his MacGinnis colors, not costumed. She was glad. She would easily recognize him.
“It’s come about proper at last, eh?” He smiled. “I’m happy for you, cousin. Truly, I am.”
“Thank you. Alistair?”
“Aye?”
“Why has he done this?”
Alistair’s smile faded. “He is very afraid for you, I think. He wants everyone to know, it seems, that he is alive and well and healthy as an ox. His brother is alive and well—and healthy as an ox. And if something were to befall them both, he has left a child. Legal issue.”
“This has to end!” she whispered. “Alistair, I can stand this no longer. Who would have done such a thing to me as to hire a midwife to switch my babe with a dead one? Who would have done such things to David? Who would try to kill him?—”
She broke off.
Old Ioin Menzies had come up to her. He opened his arms, kissed both her cheeks.
“It’s the witches, mind ye!” he said, and walked away.
A rise of shouting announced the caber throw. She suddenly felt David’s fingers curl around her hand. She glanced at him sharply.
“My love, I am required to take part.”
She followed at his side as they joined the men taking part. “Stay here with Skylar and Sabrina,” David commanded, stepping onto the field.
The onlookers gathered around as the men took their turns throwing the massive log as far as they could.
“What is this?” Sabrina asked.
“The caber throw.”