Lachlan's Heart: Book Two of The MacCulloughs by Suzan Tisdale

Author:Suzan Tisdale [Tisdale, Suzan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781943244966
Publisher: Targe & Thistle, Inc.
Published: 2021-01-30T18:30:00+00:00

She could not have been more stunned. “And what do ye want in return?”

“Nothin’,” Lachlan replied. “The entire buildin’, the business, it would all belong to ye.”

From the way she was looking at him, he knew she didn’t entirely believe him. “I want nothin’ in return, madam. I want only to be done with this business.”

She quirked a pretty brow. “Ye say this business as if ye have a mouthful of dung.”

“I meant no insult, madam.”

Still unconvinced of his sincerity, she maintained her icy glare.

“Murdoch, please leave us.”

Thankfully, he did not argue. Lachlan waited until the doors closed behind him before he returned his attention to matters at hand. “Truly, I meant no insult. I have reasons for wantin’ to end the previous relationship ye have had with prior lairds.”

“I am listenin’.”

He let out a heavy breath. “Ye see, I happen to be verra much in love with a woman who used to do what ye do. Years ago, she left that part of her life and has tried to start over. I want her to be my wife, but I fear she still worries overly much about what she used to do.”

“Does it bother ye? What she used to do?”

He smiled warmly, “Nay, it does nae bother me. I understood her reasons for doin’ it and would never hold it against her.”

“But ye see, with that statement alone, it is apparent to me ye do.”

Confused, he asked for clarification.

“Laird, ye behave as though she needs yer understandin’. I imagine ye even forgave her, aye?”

“Of course, I did.”

She gave a slow shake of her head. “She does nae need yer forgiveness. No woman who has ever been forced to do what we do, or any woman who outright chose this way of life, needs a man’s forgiveness. Only acceptance. To forgive is to say she has done somethin’ wrong when in fact, she has done nothin’ wrong. She provided a service, that is all.”

He couldn’t quite see it in those terms but was willing to try to see her point.

“Would ye feel the need to forgive a woman for bein’ a seamstress? A laundress? A weaver or a scullery maid?”

Now, he could see where she was going with her line of thinking.

She caught the realization dawning in his eyes. “Then why would ye feel the need to forgive this woman ye claim to love?”

For a long moment, he mulled it over and over. Mayhap she was right. Keevah had done nothing that hundreds, if not thousands of women had done in the past. Each for her own reasons. Still, he thought there had to be a better way to make a living.

“For some of us, we have no choice but to do what we do. A few have reasons of their own. It might be the desire for independence. The need for excitement. Or they work in establishments such as mine, save up enough coin, to buy a business the rest of the world finds a bit more palatable or respectable.

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