Seduced by the Laird (Conquered Brides Series Book 2) by Eliza Knight

up the stairs, her blood charged with excitement.
    She read and reread the scrawled words.
    Dearest Kay,
    There is an apple in the basket for every reason in which I’m sorry.
    I’m sorry for being a cad. For not finding you sooner.
    I’m sorry for not holding onto you when I had the chance. For letting you slip away.
    I’m sorry for not telling you how much I wanted you, for taking you for granted.
    I’m sorry for not saying the right things, for not being the man you needed.
    I’m sorry for not protecting you, for not realizing sooner how wrong I was.
    I’m sorry for not listening to you, for not letting you go now.
    ~G
     
    “What does it say?”
    Donna leaned over her shoulder to see, but Kirstin rolled up the parchment before she had the chance to see its contents.
    Kirstin cleared her throat, swallowing down her heart, which had somehow clawed its way up her neck, lodging somewhere in the back of her mouth. Her eyes stung as tears threatened to spill. How could he do this? How could he write to her? Make her feel everything in a rush all at once. It was overwhelming. Her heart surged, her fingers trembled, arms prickled. She was cold. She was hot.
    She was delighted and devastated at the same time.
    Kirstin cleared her throat. “Run along to compline, Donna. I’m suddenly not feeling well at all.”
    “What about the apples?” Donna picked up the basket, sniffing the fruit with pleasure.
    “They are yours.”
    For she couldn’t eat his apology. Wasn’t even certain how to accept it. He wasn’t letting go this time.
    This time.
    Why, oh why, did her heart sing? Why did hope fill her at his persistence? There could be nothing between them. Not again.
    And yet… She longed for it.

 
    Chapter Nine

     
    She was dizzy. Vision blurred and the wood beneath her hip where she lay on her side bit painfully into her bones. Water lapped all around her, and a slow breeze whistled on the wind. Blinking open her eyes, she saw she lay on the bottom of small fishing boat.
    The boat rocked gently. Behind her an old man sat telling her a story about the loch and a sea monster that lived within its depths. His oar dipped into the water, the soft sound of a splash as he pushed them forward, slow and methodical.
    “Coming to shore now, lass.”
    They gently hit the shore, the wood creaking as it slid against the bank. Kirstin tried to push herself upright, but she felt so weak, as though her limbs had been filled with steel instead of bone. She managed to lean up on her elbow, taking a break before she would try to sit the remainder of the way up.
    The man stood, wobbly, stabbing his oar into the water and the shallow earth beneath the glittering depths, black with streaks of white from the moon.
    “There’s the castle. I’d best be heading back across the loch afore that ‘ole monster comes up to get me. Go on now. Ye said your kin’s inside?”
    Kirstin nodded, despite the water he’d given her, her tongue still felt too swollen to speak. She gazed up at the tall tower of Eilean Donan. Torches were lit along the wall, lighting up the massive and imposing structure. She’d made it. Now if only she could find her cousin. If she could even get out of this boat.
    “Ye’ll have to stand to get out,” the old fisherman said. He reached a feeble hand forward, callused from decades of working oars and tackle.
    “What’s going on here?” A deep baritone voice echoed somewhere from onshore. Not the old man’s, Kirstin was certain.
    “Bringing this lass back to the castle. She was on the other side of the loch. Said she belongs here.”
    The soft crunch of boots on the grass, a swipe of reeds. A dark figure looming above her.
    “I’ve not seen her here before,” he said, his voice like a beacon. She reached instinctively out to him.
    “Well, are ye calling me a liar?” the old man asked.
    The younger man chuckled. “Not ye, sir.”
    “Her?”
    “Maybe.”
    Kirstin managed to push up, catching sight of the man