“Many times, criminals think they have committed a crime bigger than the crime itself, because of their own guilt,” reasoned Dr. Kent.

“Are you trying to tell me that I am not guilty?” Sophia asked, drying her eyes and face. “That the men that were killed are responsible for their own deaths?”

“No, Sophia. I’m just saying that what happened was a consequence of their odious act. And that you think you’ve committed a crime worse than you have just because you have been nurturing a guilt bigger than it should be.”

Sophia could relate to the thought that some souls are full of guilt. “So...”

“Sophia, anyone who knows you and this wretched story will tell you that you have repented. I agree with Edward’s words. You are doing everything you can.”

“I was angry. I wanted to harm them. Don’t you understand, Mina? I wanted to make them suffer for everything they did to Gabriel.”

“Feeling angry is a part of us. It’s a natural response to being attacked, insulted, deceived or frustrated. They killed Gabriel. They made him suffer.” When Sophia started to shake her head, Dr. Kent held up her hand. “Let me finish, Sophia. Excessive anger is only a symptom of mental health problems, when it harms you or people around you. This can depend on whether you express your anger, and how you express it. Something happens that makes you angry, you express your anger and then move on. Something very serious happened. You knew the criminals wouldn’t be punished. That made you angry and you expressed it and then moved on.”

“So you are saying that anyone is allowed to take justice into their own hands?”

Dr. Kent shook her head firmly. “No. Never. I’m just saying that what you did is psychologically justifiable. You have to come to terms with it, Sophia or it can have serious negative consequences in the long run.”

Scotland, Highlands, Ardaneaskan, Loch Carron.


Craigdale Castle.


3.08 p.m.

“This is ridiculous.” Sophia stomped her foot on the hall marble floor. “I’m not going to bed in the middle of the afternoon. I want to go riding with the kids. I don’t see why-”

“I said no. No riding. No running.” Alistair frowned at Sophia, crossing his arms over his chest. “Up to the bedroom, Sophia.”

“Stubborn man.” She crossed her arms and frowned up at him, imitating his stance.

“Stubborn woman,” he hissed back.

“Lord Pot meets Lady Kettle.” Lachlann chuckled and grabbed Gabriela and Ariadne by the hand. “Let’s go girls. Michael, come on. Those two will be here all day.” Alistair’s father left the hall toward the stables, with the children beside him.

“Alistair Connor, that’s a bit over the top, don’t you think?” Alice shook her head at Alistair, amazed at his overbearing protection.

Alistair whipped his head to frown at Alice this time. “Medical orders. Don’t interfere.”

Tavish went to Sophia’s aid, “I’m the doctor here. And I say-” He interrupted his sentence, when Alistair stepped in his direction. “Err, I’m going to make a suggestion.”

“Suggest with caution, Tavish Uilleam,” Alistair admonished.

“We could go rowing and then have a picnic by the loch. Sophia could use some fresh air and sunlight. Tomorrow afternoon we could go riding.”

Alistair looked at Sophia and she smiled at him, pleading with her eyes. He couldn’t resist. “Rowing it is then. I’m going to change. Say... In fifteen minutes, by the loch?”

Tavish winked at Sophia and made a face at the back of Alistair’s head. Alice and Sophia walked out of the hall, giggling and whispering conspiratorially.

Leonard, who was silently observing the whole exchange, let out a chortle and slapped Alistair on the back, saying cryptically, “Keep trying, Alistair. Keep trying.”

5.01 p.m.

“I need to talk with my father.” He kissed her quickly on the lips as they arrived from the loch. “I’ll head to the sauna after and you, my lady, are going to bed for an hour, at least, before dinner. I’ll meet you later in our room, all right?”

“All right.” Sophia stood there admiring Alistair’s well shaped butt as he disappeared behind the double doors to the Laird Library.

“Sophia! Sophia!” Sophia turned her head to see Michael bolting across the great hall toward her with the two girls behind him.

“What are you doing, kids?”

“Will you go outside and play with us? Will you, Sophia?” Ariadne begged. “Uncle Tavish Uilleam, Mummy and Daddy are on their way to the Spa.”

Sophia looked around and asked Gabriela, “Where is Maria?”

“She went to get a ball with Flannagan. But I want you to come, Mama. Please?”

Sophia hesitated.

“It’s still light out. We can play in the Elm Courtyard and Maria and Flannagan can come along, too,” Michael suggested. “It’ll be fun.”

“Okay, okay,” she said, laughing as the children jumped and cheered, around her. “Just for a little while then.”

The children’s faces lit up, the girls grabbed her by the hands and Sophia ran along with them.

5.33 p.m.

“What you want is immaterial, Alistair Connor. You shouldn’t rush her into making a life changing decision so quickly. Besides, she has a daughter to consider,” Lachlann muttered, rubbing his nape as he watched his son intently. “It’s too soon.”

“I can’t wait. I’m afraid of losing her. And I can’t lose her. Or Gabriela, for that matter,” Alistair countered, gazing sadly at Nathalie’s photograph on his father’s desk. “I waited too long once before and lost everything.”

With these words ringing in his ears, Lachlann rose from the chair. “So be it. You have my blessing. And, I’m sure, your mother would give hers too.” He walked to a cabinet and opened its door to reveal an enormous safe. He punched in a code, unlocking the safe. He motioned for Alistair to approach. He looked up into his son’s green eyes, “When you got married... Well, my son, Katherine and I were very disappointed in your choice. For many long nights, we talked about what we would give you as a wedding present. We know you were surprised that we didn’t give you your share of the jewels, as well as the properties, like we did with Alice.” He waved his hand at the bottom shelves. “You can have them now. I’m sure Sophia will be steadfast and will bring you the happiness that has been missing in your life. Sophia is everything your mother and I have always hoped you would find.”

Lachlann didn’t notice his lapse but Alistair did. He hugged his father, the absence of his mother pressing on his heart. “Sophia already makes me happy, Father.”

“Good.” Lachlann cleared his throat as he picked up an old little green jewel box from the upper shelf and caressed it reverently. “If I could chose the engagement ring for you... It would be this one.”

As Lachlann opened the box, Alistair saw that it was his mother’s favorite ring. The one she used every day of her life. Alistair closed the box, putting his hand over his father’s. “It will be this one, then.”

“Take the jewels with you on Monday.”

Alistair nodded, “I will. Thank you, Father.”

A loud knock on the door interrupted them. Tavish Uilleam opened the door and complained, “It was supposed to be a five minute talk. Leonard and I are waiting. Come on, Alistair Connor.”

Alistair turned to his father. “We are heading to the Spa. Do you want to join us?”

Lachlann absently stroked the jewel box before putting it back in the safe and locking it. “Good idea.”

Alistair stopped dead in his tracks when he walked by the game room. Its windows overlooked the Elm Courtyard and he was regaled with the view of Sophia playing with the children.

“That bloody stubborn woman,” he muttered.

“What?” Tavish asked in a startled voice.

“I’m going to drag her to the bedroom by the hair.” Ignoring his family, Alistair walked through the game room, fury bubbling up with each stomp.

“Stubborn, impossible, unmanageable woman!” His voice resounded like thunder in the courtyard.

He hadn’t realized that they had stopped their game the moment they heard him. Nor could he notice the four ancient giants elms that stood like sentinels in each corner of the courtyard, while snowdrops, viburnums, wisteria, Scottish bluebells, purple heather and pink rhododendrons exploded in color around the borders of the lawn.

The adults followed him; Lachlann tilting his head heavenward praying for patience, Alice shaking her head, and Leonard and Tavish exchanging amazed grins.

“I beg your pardon?” Sophia asked, with a raised eyebrow, when he stopped in front of her.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he barked and Sophia winced. “I told you to go rest. In our chamber. In bed! I gave my word to Dr. Colton I would take care of you. You shouldn’t be on your feet. Much less outside running with the kids.”

“Alistair Connor, that’s more than enough,” Lachlann admonished and Alistair spun to shoot his father a dark look.

“I believe your father just suggested you’re lacking common sense,” Leonard drawled.

“She is the one lacking common sense. Clearly, I gave her too much credit,” Alistair turned back to Sophia, “your disobedience and impulsiveness are going to get you killed.”

“Have you finished?” she asked serenely, raising her elegant brows at him, not the least bit intimidated by his fury.

“Nae,” he hissed. “You aren’t a child any-”

“I’m not, but Gabriela is,” she jutted her chin to where her daughter was watching the argument, her eyes wide.

Fuck. Alistair froze and slowly turned. They were all looking at him: the children, the employees and his family.

Alice, who now stood near the children, grimaced at him.

Clearly he had overreacted. God spare me these stubborn women.

Sophia walked past Alistair, kneeling by the children. “I’ll play with you again tomorrow, all right?”

Gabriela looked up at Alistair who had stopped next to Sophia. “Are you still mad?”

He sighed and dropped to his haunches. “I’m not mad,” Alistair placed both hands on her shoulders and squeezed gently.

“Oh.” Gabriela gaped at him. “So, why did you shout?”

“Because I’m worried. Your mother promised me she would rest.” His gaze traveled from Gabriela’s face to Sophia’s. “How can I take care of her, if she doesn’t obey orders?”

Gabriela angled her head to the side and reasoned, “Then, you have to go sleep with her.”

With that Tavish burst into laughter.

Alistair’s mouth dropped open. He looked to Alice for help, but his sister was too busy trying to maintain a serious face.

“Gabriela,” Lachlann grinned and ruffled her blonde hair, “you’re an astute wee lass.”

“I’ll go upstairs then,” Sophia smiled and kissed Gabriela on the cheek. “See you later, angel.”

When Sophia rose, Alistair didn’t waste a moment. He bent, hauled her onto his shoulder and walked off toward the game room.

Sophia giggled and waved with both hands to the children, blowing kisses.

Alistair heard laughter and taunts behind him, but didn’t look back, walking all the way to the lifts with sure strides in a moody silence.

Sophia didn’t know if she should laugh or if she should frown at him. He had every right to be aggravated with her, but that gave him no right to shout at her.

He put Sophia down only when the lift door closed and scowled down at her, “What were you thinking? How can you be so careless?”

“Alistair Connor,” she smiled, unable to find fault in his concern, despite his overbearing behavior. “Calm down. I feel okay.”

He snorted and dragged her down the long corridor, shoved her inside his bedchamber and slammed the door behind them. “Stubborn, infuriating woman. To the shower. Now!”

Ignoring his order, Sophia stopped in the middle of his room. It was the first time she had set foot in Alistair’s bedchamber at Craigdale. It was completely different from the one at Ells Hall. Huge windows that faced the loch let light flood into the high-ceilinged room. The pine paneling glowed softly on the lower half of the walls, while the upper half was covered with ivory silk and dark-caramel damask. An antique desk and a high backed chair stood in a corner facing two armchairs and a small round table. Set against the furthest wall, a giant ornately carved four posted bed, faced the windows. The decor imparted an airy, uncluttered atmosphere.

He shook his head and sighed as she looked around.

“It’s beautiful.”

“My mother’s work-” Fuck. What am I doing? “Shower, Sophia.”