“On the contrary I did,” she replied, then launched right into telling Jack all about her life in Rosewood.
As she spoke, she remembered the gypsy’s words about her fate and the vision she had seen. Isla wondered if that was real.
She shivered at the thought of it and felt a lump form in her throat.
“I find that I don’t miss them that often these days,” she said. “I think I am really getting used to be being here now.”
Her hand rested on the table, and Jack placed his on hers very briefly. He toyed with her fingers before he withdrew, and she instantly missed his warmth.
She didn’t think she would ever be able to say goodbye to Jack when the time came. Isla was slowly feeling the fondness grow. It would be devastating to know that she would never be able to return here.
“My men keep askin’ for our weddin’ date… we’ve been betrothed for a while now.”
Isla shook her head. “What did you tell them?”
Jack didn’t answer, so she added. “I wonder what you will have to tell them when I leave. Do you say I died? Or returned to England? The latter will only make Jamie hate me more, and those who already like me will not feel the same way after that.”
Jack looked at her again, and she felt the pang in her heart grow. “They will forget.”
And so will you,Isla’s mind completed. Tears suddenly stung her eyes, and to push them back, she had to look away from him, raise her head to the dark sky and blink them away.
She blew out air from her lips and cleared her throat to get rid of her hoarse voice. “We can give them the weddin’ they want,” she spoke after some time.
“How do ye mean?”
“Your men want a wedding. We can give them the wedding they want Jack. I don’t mind.”
In Isla’s heart, she knew it was a lie. She did mind. Marrying Jack was binding herself to him. She never thought she would marry, even back in England. Isla always viewed marriage as a necessary evil.
Many women married not because they needed companionship, but because they wanted a place in society.
Isla had always preferred relevance. With Jack, she found she wanted a place at his side, even if it was only for a short time.
I'm falling in love with him.
Her heart ached at the realization. Why did it have to be a man she couldn’t end up with it? Why did she have to care for Jack? Was the gypsy’s plan all along? To bring her here and teach her a lesson about love?
Isla's sadness grew with the ache in her heart when Jack shook his head and spoke, “I willnae be able to take ye to wife, Isla. Not unless ye decided to stay here for the rest of our life.”
He got on his feet after that, and she did the same. Isla felt a tear slide down her cheek as he kissed her palm and added,
“That choice is solely yers to make, Isla. I willnae ever ask ye do anythin’ against yer wish. The fair is in two fortnights now and ye will return to yer time. I only wish ye can remember me after ye have returned because I will never forget ye.”
“Jack—” she called in a very faint voice as he turned away from her and walked toward the garden exit.
Isla dropped on the chair, and let the tears fall. She knew it was her choice now just as Jack clearly stated. But could she trust him well enough to give up her real life and stay here?
Could she give up everything to live with him? To stay in this place, she had come to love.
Isla heard the gypsy’s laugh in the back of her head, and it made knots tighten in the pit of her stomach.
What choice must I make?
25
The moment with Isla got too intense and he had to tell her the truth. He couldn’t keep thinking of a future with her when he knew it in his heart.
She would leave and return to her time where she belonged. In the end he would pick a Highland lass for wife and hope to the Heavens that he could live with the ache Isla would leave behind.