“Tell me what happened,” she urged him.
“How do you know something has happened?” he asked genuinely.
“I can sense it, Ronin. Yer eyes are saying it all,” she whispered; placing a soft kiss on his forehead as she rose up from the bed on one elbow.
“I just needed to see you after everything that happened,” he whispered back; unable to meet her gaze.
“What happened?” she questioned worriedly.
“We—we went to Thelma’s cottage. We were told that she had a daughter—” Ronin trailed off; not knowing how to continue. Edna encouraged him to continue, and he did. "We discovered that their entire house had been thoroughly searched by someone, and that her daughter had also been killed."
"Oh god," sheexclaimed, her face contorted with worry and visible horror.
"It was dreadful, Edna. But, darling, you cannot tell a soul. Everyone is terrified as it is. If they know about this...the situation will worsen even further."
"I fully understand. I promise no one will hear it from me," Edna assured him. He felt he could rely on her. Theyshared an unusual story, and the fact that she was still by his side was reason enough for him to trust her.
"I never imagined that when I returned to the highlands, I would be met with such turmoil and sadness. I cannot fathom how one human could kill another, but I forget that far too many people are heartless and only care about themselves."
"I wish I couldease yerpain, Ronin. I share yer grief," she replied.
Ronin pushed her back down onto the bed and kissed her on the lips softly. He adored the way she melted into him as she returned his kiss. Hewas glad he had found her in the midst of all the chaos.
"Edna, you keep me steadyin a world where everything is shattering away, my darling. I cannot know how I could ever be so lucky," he said softly as he kissed her. She looked absolutely stunning, like an angel, with the moonlight shining down on her face.
“Why do you always speak to me so beautifully?” Edna asked with a small laugh.
“Because you deserve all the beautiful words in the world,” he replied honestly. “You deserve poetry, Edna. You deserve to be wooed with both words and actions and I promise to do both if you let me. I am always here for you.”
Ronin realized he needed her and she needed him. He'd gotten to know her well enough in the last few days to realize that the one thing she lacked in her life was love. She needed someone to love and care for her. Hewas certain that he wanted to be that person for her.
“Edna, can I confess something?” he asked.
“Anything,” she whispered.
“I have fallen in love with you.” To his surprise, she wasn't shocked, confused, or even upset by the announcement. Her smile widened even more.
“I love ye too, Ronin.”
Ronin's heart skipped a beat as he heard her say the sweetest words that could have ever been created. Edna's dulcet tones sweetened them even more. He sat up beside herand pulled her onto his lap.
"Edna, I know my words now maysound mad, but trust me, I mean them," Ronin said, and she scrunched her brows, wondering what he was going to say.
“I am listening.”
“I think we should get married,” he whispered. She stared at him wide-eyed; those were the last words she expected to hear.
“Ronin, are ye serious?”
“I have never been more serious. I want to make you mine and to always take care of you.”
“But Ronin, ye are to be laird. Ye have a responsibility to the clan, and I love ye more than I ever thought I could love anybody but how can I fit into yer world?”
"I know it isunexpected, but you are my world. Nothing in the worldmakes sense to me without you by my side. I wanted you from the moment I saw you. Our shared history binds us together. You are my heart in this turbulent present that I have found myself thrown into since returning home, and I know in my core that you are my future."
“Oh Ronin, of course I will marry ye.”
“We can get married tomorrow in the church,” Ronin said. All he could think about as he hugged herand listened to her sigh of contentment was how right she felt in his arms and in his life.