pain flashed across his features, but then he cupped her face so he could stare into her eyes. “How exactly is that wrong, Hannah?”
How would she ever explain it? “I’ve only been widowed for two months. I owe my husband the same loyalty he showed me in life.”
Chet released a sigh. “Loyalty? Love, Major Campbell is gone. Your loyalty to him is no longer required. You’re as free as I am, lass. We can have a second chance that very few ever receive.”
Not after he knew the truth. His mother would be sure to tell him if Hannah didn’t. “Ye might no’ want one.”
He scoffed at that. “For thirteen years I’ve lamented your loss. If you are willing to start over, I am certain I am.”
“But I have children,” she said, still unable to blurt out the whole truth. “It canna ever be as it was.”
Chet nodded. “And I want to meet them. I want them to like me. I want to do whatever will make you happy. Just don’t run away again.”
This was all happening too fast. She hadn’t planned on any of this. Hannah closed her eyes. She couldn’t look at him. Not right now. “Chet, ye are one of the dearest men I’ve ever kent. But there’s somethin’ I have ta tell ye.”
“There’s not someone else?” he asked, pain lacing his words.
Hannah shook her head. “No.” She opened her eyes again to find him studying her for all his worth. “But I do still have somethin’ ye need ta ken.”
“I’m listening.”
Hannah sucked in a breath, then release it. “When Harold gave that letter ta James, my whole world turned upside down, and—”
“Hannah,” he interrupted, but she held up a hand to silence him.
“Ye said ye were listenin’. It’s hard enough ta tell ye. Just let me speak.” When he nodded, Hannah continued. “James bundled me inta his travelin’ coach and we headed home as fast as the driver could take us. By the time we reached Briarstrath, it was obvious somethin’ wasna right with me.” When his gaze intensified on her, Hannah took another steadying breath. “Then Dr. Fraser confirmed I was with child.”
***
Chet’s mouth fell open, but no words came out. She’d been with child? With his child? It had to be. She’d been an innocent before her night spent with him. Thank God he wasn’t standing; he’d have fallen to the ground otherwise upon hearing the news. As it was, a chill crawled up his spine.
“I dinna ken what ta do,” she continued softly, “and I doona ken what I would have done without James. He arranged for me ta marry Malcolm the very day we arrived home. Then he bought Malcolm’s colors and we left as soon as possible.”
Before Chet could even reach her. “My child?” he whispered, finally finding his voice.
She winced and her eyes dropped to her lap. “I told Malcolm before we said our vows. He had every right ta ken.”
“But I didn’t?” Chet muttered, anger seeping into his words. He had every right to know too, and yet she’d married some Scotsman and rushed for the continent before Chet could find her.
Hannah reached for his hand, anguish etched across her brow. “After the letter ye wrote… I dinna have any other choice, Chet.”
“I didn’t write the damn letter,” he whispered. Dear God, he had a son. All these years he’d had a child, and his brother had stolen his future from him. Harold was burning in hell, Chet had no doubt. “I want to meet him.”
“Of course you do.” Hannah nodded slowly. “But ye canna tell him, Chet.”
He snorted his response. Surely she didn’t intend to keep his son from him.
“Alasdair was very close ta Malcolm,” she explained. “He’s havin’ such a difficult time dealin’ with his fath…with Malcolm’s death. I doona want ta make the situation worse for him right now.”
Even though her words made sense and the last thing Chet would ever want to do would be to cause his son harm, his heart still constricted at the thought. “His name is Alasdair?”
Hannah’s face
How would she ever explain it? “I’ve only been widowed for two months. I owe my husband the same loyalty he showed me in life.”
Chet released a sigh. “Loyalty? Love, Major Campbell is gone. Your loyalty to him is no longer required. You’re as free as I am, lass. We can have a second chance that very few ever receive.”
Not after he knew the truth. His mother would be sure to tell him if Hannah didn’t. “Ye might no’ want one.”
He scoffed at that. “For thirteen years I’ve lamented your loss. If you are willing to start over, I am certain I am.”
“But I have children,” she said, still unable to blurt out the whole truth. “It canna ever be as it was.”
Chet nodded. “And I want to meet them. I want them to like me. I want to do whatever will make you happy. Just don’t run away again.”
This was all happening too fast. She hadn’t planned on any of this. Hannah closed her eyes. She couldn’t look at him. Not right now. “Chet, ye are one of the dearest men I’ve ever kent. But there’s somethin’ I have ta tell ye.”
“There’s not someone else?” he asked, pain lacing his words.
Hannah shook her head. “No.” She opened her eyes again to find him studying her for all his worth. “But I do still have somethin’ ye need ta ken.”
“I’m listening.”
Hannah sucked in a breath, then release it. “When Harold gave that letter ta James, my whole world turned upside down, and—”
“Hannah,” he interrupted, but she held up a hand to silence him.
“Ye said ye were listenin’. It’s hard enough ta tell ye. Just let me speak.” When he nodded, Hannah continued. “James bundled me inta his travelin’ coach and we headed home as fast as the driver could take us. By the time we reached Briarstrath, it was obvious somethin’ wasna right with me.” When his gaze intensified on her, Hannah took another steadying breath. “Then Dr. Fraser confirmed I was with child.”
***
Chet’s mouth fell open, but no words came out. She’d been with child? With his child? It had to be. She’d been an innocent before her night spent with him. Thank God he wasn’t standing; he’d have fallen to the ground otherwise upon hearing the news. As it was, a chill crawled up his spine.
“I dinna ken what ta do,” she continued softly, “and I doona ken what I would have done without James. He arranged for me ta marry Malcolm the very day we arrived home. Then he bought Malcolm’s colors and we left as soon as possible.”
Before Chet could even reach her. “My child?” he whispered, finally finding his voice.
She winced and her eyes dropped to her lap. “I told Malcolm before we said our vows. He had every right ta ken.”
“But I didn’t?” Chet muttered, anger seeping into his words. He had every right to know too, and yet she’d married some Scotsman and rushed for the continent before Chet could find her.
Hannah reached for his hand, anguish etched across her brow. “After the letter ye wrote… I dinna have any other choice, Chet.”
“I didn’t write the damn letter,” he whispered. Dear God, he had a son. All these years he’d had a child, and his brother had stolen his future from him. Harold was burning in hell, Chet had no doubt. “I want to meet him.”
“Of course you do.” Hannah nodded slowly. “But ye canna tell him, Chet.”
He snorted his response. Surely she didn’t intend to keep his son from him.
“Alasdair was very close ta Malcolm,” she explained. “He’s havin’ such a difficult time dealin’ with his fath…with Malcolm’s death. I doona want ta make the situation worse for him right now.”
Even though her words made sense and the last thing Chet would ever want to do would be to cause his son harm, his heart still constricted at the thought. “His name is Alasdair?”
Hannah’s face
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