“What I must know—Margot, look at me. What I must know, and know now, is if this is what you truly want,” Knox said, gesturing toward Arran and his men. “Because if you choose him now, if you do not turn back with me now, likely you will be in Scotland for the rest of your life. You’ll not come back to England, not with the cloud of suspicion surrounding him. Do you understand me? You can’t come back, not for a very long time, or you’ll risk too much.”

The night air felt thick; she was having trouble catching her breath again.

“Are you all right?” Knox asked, reaching for her hand.

How could she be all right? She was on a road in the middle of the night, faced with an untenable choice. Margot shook her head.

“Ah, love, I understand. But I must press you for your answer. These men need to be as close to Scotland as possible when day breaks. What do you want, Margot?”

What did she want? She wanted things to go back to the way they were three years ago. She wanted to do it all again, to say the right things, to stand up for herself and her desires. She wanted a completely different history than the one she’d been thrust into. “I don’t know,” she said, her voice shaking.

She heard a horse move toward them, heard Arran’s low voice as thoughts roared in her head. She heard Knox wheel his horse about and move up to the road.

“You’re shaking like a leaf, lass,” Arran said. His hand closed around hers, his fingers squeezing hers. “You need only say it, aye? Whatever you want, leannan. Say you want to end it, and it is done.”

“That’s not—I wasn’t thinking that at all,” she said desperately.

“Aye, of course you are. How could you no’? It’s a bloody bad decision for you, that it is.” He suddenly leaned over her, his hand going to her nape, drawing her forehead to his. “You saved my life, Margot. I willna keep you tied to me if you wish to remain in England. But I canna remain here, and with every moment that passes, I put my men and myself closer to danger. As cruel as it is, you must decide now. But know this—if you come with me now, I will give you all that I have. I will honor you and cherish you for as long as I live, with or without you. The decision is yours.”

He seemed almost preternaturally illuminated in the moonlight. Margot pushed aside her cloak and reached into the pocket of her gown. Her fingers closed around the letter he’d written her and never sent. “I’m coming.”

“Donna say it if you’re no’ certain—”