Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Laird Fraser.”
Darragh turned away from his conversation with Ewan. His gaze swept over the man in front of him with the scar on his lip and the serious black eyes. He stepped toward the man, giving him a welcoming smile.
“Laird MacLeod,” Darragh said, grabbing onto the man’s hand in greeting. “I’m pleased to see ye made it. The ride wasnae too difficult?”
“Ran into bandits as we were ridin’ east, but it was nothin’ me men couldnae handle,” Laird MacLeod said. “I’m quite relieved that Madison had nae interest in leavin’ the castle. Said somethin’ about some pastry she’s been tryin’ to perfect.”
Darragh chuckled under his breath. “Amelia is fond of helpin’ me cook as well, and I doubt Madison would have enjoyed herself. There arenae many Ladies in attendance.”
“And is Amelia doin’ well with everythin’?” Laird MacLeod asked, dropping his voice lower. “Laird McGowan informed us that ye found a last victim of the hunt. Has she been adjustin’?”
“She’s been adjustin’ as well as one can expect her to.” Darragh’s eyes flitted to where Amelia stood in the courtyard. Isla was at her side, chattering about something that she must have felt was very important.
“Ach, that’s a fair point,” Laird MacLeod said sympathetically. “Madison took so long to trust anyone that I wasnae sure she’d be able to ever again. And I cannae say that I’d blame her for doin’ so.”
Darragh’s eyes stayed on Amelia. She was even more beautiful in the sunlight than she was last night in the flickering glow of the candles.
There was a stiffness in the way she stood, but she was smiling, laughing at something Isla said.
The fact that she’d allowed herself to be forced into attendance was a milestone that he hadn’t thought possible when he first saw her in that tower.
“They’re doin’ what they can to defend themselves,” he said, finally returning his attention to Laird MacLeod. “I cannae say I always understand it, though.”
“Ach, I daenae believe it’s our duty to understand it,” the other man said. “It’s our duty to make them feel like they daenae need to defend themselves around us. It’s much more difficult than understandin’.”
“Ye’re right about that,” Darragh huffed, shaking his head. “But she will be fine. I will see to it.” Amelia’s eye caught his from across the courtyard, almost as if she sensed that she was being spoken about. “Me staff will take ye to yer quarters. There will be a feast tonight after sunset.”
“I appreciate yer attentiveness,” Laird MacLeod said, but Darragh was already crossing through the throng of people and merriment to get to Amelia.
“Can we help ye, Me Laird?” Isla said, standing up straighter.
I daenae think I will ever meet another child that behaves in such a bizarre manner.
“That’s what I was comin’ to ask the two of ye,” he replied, though his eyes never left Amelia’s. “I noticed that ye seem to be quite occupied with somethin’.”
“Aye,” Amelia said, her voice cracking slightly from disuse. She cleared her throat slightly then added, “Isla has discovered that a delivery for the healin’ room is a wee bit late. She’s… ensurin’ that we daenae miss its arrival.”
The groom closest to Isla looked exasperated. Darragh thought that a more apt description of what the child was doing would be accosting the staff. He wouldn’t do a thing to stop it, though. Not when there was a hint of amusement in the way Amelia spoke about her antics.
“If the stores arenae stocked, we willnae be able to treat any potential injuries,” Isla insisted. “And Mrs. Rowan told me that she needed more herbs to restock her tinctures. It’s imperative we receive the delivery.”
“I can do a bit of investigatin’ for ye,” Darragh offered, carefully keeping his face a mask of seriousness. “I wouldnae want anythin’ important gettin’ misplaced in this chaos.”
Palpable relief went through the child, and a genuine giggle escaped Amelia’s lips before she was able to stop it. She covered the noise with a cough, holding her fist over her mouth to keep Isla from seeing her laughter. Her voice muffled, she said, “Saints, it’s terribly dusty out here.”
“It’s from all the horses,” Isla observed, her eyes narrowing as she glanced around at all the sources of filth in the air. “I dinnae consider how this may irritate yer injuries.” She looked at Amelia, sharply determined. “I’m givin’ ye orders to get back into the castle and rest.”
Amelia shook her head stubbornly. “Nay. I’ve been tasked with assistin’ ye. I will rest after we get the healin’ supplies.”
“Laird Fraser can assist me,” Isla declared, her expression informing him that he was not to argue. “Ye care about Amelia’s recovery, aye?”
“I do,” he replied gravely, crossing his arms. He watched Amelia carefully, wanting to ensure she was listening to his next words. “Her recovery and well-bein’ are the most important things to me.”
The easy smile on Amelia’s face faltered for a moment before being replaced with a shy turn of her lips. She ducked her head, her face flaming. The behavior was so unlike the normal challenges that she raised with him that he nearly grabbed hold of her and kissed her right there.
“Then I suppose I should return to me chambers for a bit,” Amelia said after a beat, her usual confidence firmly back in place. “I’m sure that Laird Fraser will be a great help to ye, Isla.”
“Aye,” Isla replied, eyeing Darragh curiously as Amelia began walking toward the front doors. “Ye ken how to accept orders, daenae ye?”
“Of course, I do,” he replied, finally looking down at Isla after Amelia made it inside. “I’m the Laird after all.”
“I ken ye’re the Laird,” Isla said, sounding a bit exasperated. “But that doesnae mean ye ken how to do the tasks of yer servants. If ye’re nae sure how to oversee a delivery, I can show ye how. I’ve gotten quite skilled at it.”
He couldn’t help but smirk at the genuine offer. Deciding that humoring the girl was likely the easiest route, he said, “Then I’d like ye to show me precisely how ye oversee deliveries. I’m sure ye’ll get it done much faster than I would.”
“Ye’re right,” she agreed, narrowing her eyes as she scanned the carts and carriages arriving.
“I’m goin’ to keep helpin’ ye,” Darragh said, nodding at a laird who was approaching the two of them. “But I’ve also got to greet our guests. Perhaps ye could watch and learn a bit.”
Isla looked at him as though he’d just said something incredibly stupid. Then, slowly, she said, “Why would I need to learn how to greet anyone?”
* * *
As soon as Amelia stepped into the castle, she had to tuck herself into an alcove. It had been a long time since she’d experienced a laird’s hunt, and her last experience with the sport had been horrifying. Her father had stopped hosting them nearly two years before she’d been sold.
And he could arrive at any moment.
With her hand on her chest, she forced herself to breathe. She couldn’t lose her composure here. There were far too many people here. If there was one thing that she believed, it was that she couldn’t show anyone weakness.
“All I have to do is get to me chambers,” she whispered to herself.
Giving herself the command verbally seemed to force the directive to take hold.
Her heart, while still pounding wildly, mellowed.
The chatter around her lost its sharp edge, and she was able to pick out laughter and joy.
There wasn’t a single sound that gave her reason to believe the anxiety in her head.
There is nae danger right now. Everyone’s in excellent spirits, and nae one is lookin’ me way.
She had been correct in thinking that the festivities would lend her anonymity.
If she went through with her plan, she knew she could slip away from Fraser Keep without running into any trouble.
She was well enough now that she could hide herself in small spaces, and her stamina had undoubtedly improved.
“Laird Fraser certainly outdid himself this year,” a booming voice said.
“Aye,” a second masculine voice answered, the two of them passing by the alcove where Amelia was hidden. “I daenae ken when the man rests. Just a week and a half ago I saw him in the village west of me property.”
Amelia stepped out, straining her ears to pick up on the rest of their conversation. She was aware that he’d been taking care of things around the land, but she hadn’t given it much thought. Guilt ate at her for not noticing how thin he’d stretched himself.
He carries it well. And I daenae think he wants me to see how tired he is.
She froze for a beat, the realization that he was doing so much more for her than she could see nearly making her knees buckle. As soon as she gained control of herself once more, she scurried toward the stairs. She nearly ran into a maid, murmuring an apology as she walked down the corridor.
“What am I to do?” she asked the woman in the painting across from her door. “I thought that me decision would make more sense as the time approached to execute it, but now, I’m even more confused than ever.”
The canvas stared back at her, unblinking. Even though she was quite aware that the painting wouldn’t truly give her an answer, she’d taken to speaking with it. If she hadn’t told the woman just how hot her body blazed because of Darragh’s touch, she wouldn’t have slept a single wink.
“He’s assistin’ Isla even though the task is beneath him,” she said, shifting from foot to foot. “And I’ve just heard that he’s been ridin’ all over creation for whatever task he’s given himself. I dinnae realize that he’d been doin’ so much.”
She began to pace in the small area in front of the painting.
Listening for the approach of anyone else, Amelia shook her hands, dispelling as much nervous energy as she could.
It felt as though the woman’s eyes were watching her, weighing the decisions Amelia was making with the unknown choices that she’d made.
“I’ve begun to feel a wee bit… fond of him,” she admitted begrudgingly. She crossed her arms over her chest as she continued to take steady steps. Squeezing her elbows as if the gesture could sharpen her mind, she said, “And I want to trust that he’ll protect me, that he’s goin’ to keep me safe.”
A shudder ran through her, as though the very idea of placing herself in someone else’s hands disagreed with her. Taking a deep breath, she pushed that feeling to the side. If her father was looking for her, he was going to find her. She would rather be comfortable as she waited for the inevitable.
And I must give Darragh a chance to prove me wrong. He’s done it before.
Amelia stopped, looking squarely at the painting again. Quietly, she murmured, “But it would be easier to keep all me secrets close to me chest if I were to leave. It would be protectin’ meself.” Her brow furrowed. “Nay… Nay, it would be protectin’ him.”
It was Darragh’s voice that said the last part, whispering in her head that she was doing herself more harm than good. He already knew far more than she had ever intended him to. If she continued trying to hide, it would only be offering her father more cover.
“I’ve already endured so much pain for him,” she whispered, taking a step closer to the canvas. “And… and Darragh is offerin’ to shoulder some of it.” Her heart skipped a beat, her breath stuttering. “And Saints… I think I want to let him.”
She sighed, resigned. A bitter smile graced her lips, and the pit in her stomach seemed to stretch deeper, but she understood what she needed to do clearly now.
The only path forward is stayin’ here. It doesnae matter how dangerous what follows may be. I have faced worse alone, I’m sure of it.