Chapter 14 #2
“To what end though?” Boyd asked as he stepped closer. “We only have so much resources. Ye cannae keep the search goin' indefinitely. That would be foolish. Ye might as well set out to circumvent the globe in a hunt for them.”
As much as Theodore didn’t want to admit it, Boyd had a point. He couldn’t ask his men to leave behind their family to hunt for another’s. No, there would have to be some cut off point.
Theodore ran his fingers through his hair as his shoulders dropped. “There’s nay way around this, is there? She’ll have to ken what is goin' on. I daenae want her to hold onto hope when there may nae be any to be had.”
“Just tell me what it is ye want me to do, and I’ll do it,” Boyd said. The conviction in his voice rang through Theodore. There was no doubt remaining in Theodore that if he would ask Boyd to travel to the ends of the earth for him, Boyd would.
Theodore’s breath came out hard through his nose. He hated the fact that Boyd was right. The search would have to end eventually. But it didn’t have to be today.
“Send for her,” Theodore answered.
“Madison?” Boyd frowned as his eyebrows knitted with confusion.
“Aye. I think it’s best she understands what’s goin' on. I cannae have her thinkin’ she’s goin' to be reunited, when the truth might be the opposite.”
Boyd stole a step closer to Theodore and lowered his voice as it there weren’t just the two of them within the walls of the study.
“Are ye sure that’s a wise idea? She’s barely startin’ to trust the quiet around here. The news might…” he trailed off as if the words eluded Boyd. “…unsettle her further.”
“She has a right to ken what we’ve found. They are, after all, her family. Ye’d want to ken about yers, would ye nae? Then I cannae withhold that information from her. If she is to make a place here, she deserves to ken what’s become of her blood, whether it be good or bad.”
“Daenae say I dinnae warn ye,” Boyd said as he stood taller.
“Have the servant who stayed up in the kitchen with her come to me.”
“Eliza?”
“If that’s who was kind to her and fed her when she wouldnae eat with me. I want Madison to be comfortable and a friendly face might lessen the blow.”
Boyd nodded and turned for the door. Theodore’s chest felt heavy as he turned his attention to the fire. Of course, the possibility of them still being alive was there, but it felt like a frayed silk ribbon running through his fingers.
“Me laird,” Boyd interjected as he paused with a hand on the door frame, making ready to step out.
“Aye,” Theodore answered.
“What will ye tell the lass if she happens to ask if we’ll keep lookin’?”
Theodore gaze met Boyd’s. With an arched eyebrow and stern tone, Theodore answered, “That we will nae stop until we scoured every inch of the highlands. But that is as far as I will send anyone out. We’ll nae go huntin’ the earth for them.”
Boyd studied Theodore for a long moment until the silence settled thick over them. Something in the form of respect softened Boyd’s features as he gave Theodore a somber bow of the head before stepping out of the room.
Pacing the length of the fireplace, Theodore pondered over the words he’d use on Madison. It was a delicate matter after all, one that he wished he didn’t have to endure. But the task was laid before his feet.
Time slipped by and in a short while, the knock he had been dreading came. Theodore rolled his shoulders back and steadied himself.
“Enter.”
The heavy door moaned as it opened.
Madison stepped in first, her timid frame silhouetted in the doorway.
Eliza followed close behind, her gentle presence clearly meant to provide comfort.
In the reflection of the window, Theodore caught sight of both women—Madison's uncertainty written in every line of her posture, Eliza's steady hand resting lightly on the younger woman's shoulder.
"Ye wished to see me?" Madison asked. Her voice wasn't as fragile as her appearance. It was stronger and far more assertive than he was expecting. Eliza gave her an encouraging nod but remained near the door, respectful of the laird's space yet close enough to offer support.
“Ye may sit down if ye wish,” Theodore said without turning to face her. It was bad enough he could feel the tension thickening as the storm clouds gathered in his mind.
“I’ll stand if it’s all the same,” she answered just as defiantly as he knew she would. He let out a sigh of relief. Perhaps she wouldn’t take the news as bad as he had built up in his mind. Perhaps she would be understanding. The new revelation gave him the courage to face her.
Madison’s fierce and determine gaze struck him harder than any blow by a man could do. The reflection he saw moments before betrayed the ire and worry that was etched in every wrinkle of her face.
“I told ye I would help ye find yer family,” Theodore began. Just as he predicted, her eyes lit up with desperate hope. He lifted a hand before she could speak. "But I need ye to temper yer expectations, lass. What I have to tell ye isnae what ye're hopin' to hear."
Madison reached for the support of the chair as the color drained from her face.
Theodore was at her side in a flash, eager to ease her into the plush seat.
He shook his head wishing he didn’t enjoy helping her.
But the truth was, he did enjoy it. He loved the fact that someone so small trusted him and leaned on him.
“Nay word at all?” she muttered as her gaze went beyond him as if something on the horizon had caught her fancy. “I daenae understand. They couldnae have vanished. They have to be somewhere.”
“Aye, that they do,” Theodore said as he knelt beside her, ensuring to stay in her line of sight. “But I need ye to see reason here. I’m but one man with limited supplies here— ”
“Say nay more, I understand,” Madison said in a deadpan tone that sent an icy finger trailing down his spin. It was as if all emotions had drained out of her and she was but a husk of a person before him. “I’m stuck here.”
The tears flowed freely, yet she said nothing. Not a whimper escaped from her pursed lips. Theodore’s heart shattered. He reached for her, molding his hands to her face. Her gaze was distant and one he’d seen one too many times. Pain sliced through him making him recoil from her immediately.
He rose to his feet and stared down at her a moment. The woman was broken, that much was evident. He walked to the small coffee table and withdrew a wooden piece from the box before returning to Madison’s side.
“I ken that ye’re hurtin’ and ye feel out of sorts right now,” he said as he toyed with the chess piece.
He played with the small pawn between his fingers, rolling the wooden thing about as he tested the merit of the wood.
Once he found it, he glared directly at Madison, forcing her gaze to fall on him before snapping the piece into twigs.
Madison blinked, but didn’t recoil from him.
If anything, the sound startled her to attention.
Theodore arched his eyebrow and studied her a moment before continuing.
“But just because ye’re broken, doesnae meant ye cannae be fixed.
Sure, ye’ll nae be the same as what ye were before, but that is what life does.
It changes ye and ye daenae ken what mortar holds ye together, until ye’re left broken in pieces on the floor. ”
“If ye’re tryin’ to make me feel better, it’s nae workin’,” Madison said, raking her hands over her face to clear any evidence of tears.
“Perhaps then a trip out of the castle will,” Theodore stated. “I’ve a run to make nae far from here. Ye’re welcome to come with me. Perhaps ye’ll see there’s more here than the cold stone walls.”
Madison's eyes darted to the door, then back to him. The wariness in her expression was clear.
Theodore softened his tone. "Listen, lass. Eliza will stay with ye from now on as yer personal maid. We'll only go for some fresh air and return, and she will be right here waitin’ fer ye."
Relief flooded Madison's face, her shoulders visibly relaxing. He watched the two lasses exchange looks, while Eliza smiled reassuringly at Madison. Having Eliza near clearly eased something in her.
“And ye trust me nae to run?”
Theodore smirked, “Ye’re nae a prisoner. Ye can leave whenever ye wish. But by the looks of ye, ye might want to put on a few more pounds before ye go trekkin’ in the wild alone. Ye’ll nae even be enough for the bears to pick at ye.”
“Then they shouldnae want me,” she answered back. There was a hint of a playfulness returning to her tone.
"That may be true," Theodore said with a smirk. "But that doesnae answer the question—are ye comin' with me, or nae?"