Chapter 6
“You’re going where with Laird MacCurtney!?” Joan exclaimed so loudly that the entire chamber reverberated with her voice.
Avery was strangely quiet, so her friend’s echo mirrored her own.
“I know this is all sudden and unexpected,” Keira admitted as she stopped packing her belongings for a moment. She was still holding her hairbrush, and it hung in midair.
The weight of her agreement with Raphael pressed heavily on her, but with each passing moment, that weight felt lighter and lighter. In fact, it was becoming a weight she wanted to carry.
“Keira, are you sure about this?” Joan asked, her voice tinged with worry. “You’ve only met the man, and you’ve agreed to go to his castle? I mean, this doesn’t sound like you at all.”
“Well, it isn’t like I’ll be all alone with him,” Keira reminded them both, although such prospects did not escape her mind.
Wisely, she decided not to share them with her friends.
“Besides, I’ve been contemplating my choices, my future.
This is a chance for adventure, for experiencing something beyond the familiar. ”
Avery and Joan exchanged a meaningful glance, but neither said anything.
Instead, they allowed Keira to gather her thoughts and share them without any fear of being judged.
Keira knew that this was a safe place for her.
These were her two closest friends in the world, and she kept no secrets from them.
She knew that this could not become the first secret she would keep from them, but at the same time, she also knew that she would receive understanding from them. Still, that didn’t mean that they weren’t worried about her, and she appreciated that more than she could express it.
“I’ve only ever heard of these feelings of longing and desire from you two,” Keira admitted.
“I’ve never experienced them myself. From the looks of it, I will marry a man who does not stir anything in me, not even the slightest bit of curiosity, let alone affection.
I understand that I am considered a spinster already in the eyes of the ton.
My parents have explained that to me. And I have come to terms with what my life will be like after I marry.
But something happened here, something I cannot quite explain. ”
“What happened?” Avery and Joan asked at the same time.
“I felt something in me awaken,” Keira said. “When I first laid eyes on that man, and afterwards, that sensation only became stronger and stronger.”
“That is exactly what I’m afraid of,” Avery admitted, shaking her head in a way Keira didn’t like. “He is a very handsome man. What if you fall in love with him?”
“Yes,” Joan agreed. “It seems to me that it’s impossible not to get yourself emotionally entangled with this man, and then what? You might end up heartbroken.”
Keira smirked, trying to lighten the mood as she continued to pack slowly, one thing at a time. “Oh, you girls worry too much. Raphael is far too arrogant for my liking. Falling in love with him is highly unlikely.”
Joan couldn’t help but chuckle. “That is quite a statement.”
“He is undeniably handsome, you’ve both admitted it,” Keira continued. “Which makes him handsome enough for my little experiment. But anything more is out of the question.”
Avery and Joan exchanged knowing glances.
Avery sighed. “Well, just be careful, all right? Hearts are delicate, and even the best-laid plans can change in the face of unexpected emotions.”
Keira nodded, appreciating her friend’s concern. “I know, Avery. I’ll tread carefully. This is a journey of self-discovery, and I’ll ensure I don’t lose sight of that.”
Joan stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on Keira’s shoulder. “We understand your longing for adventure, but have you thought about the implications? Your family, the commitments you’ve made… What if they find out eventually?”
Keira sighed, torn between her desire for adventure and her responsibilities. “I’ve considered the consequences, but sometimes, you have to take a leap. I need to understand my own heart before I commit to a future that might not align with who I truly am.”
She looked at her friends, her eyes reflecting determination. “I appreciate your concern, but this is something I need to do for myself. I’m not walking away from my responsibilities, just taking a moment to explore and gain some clarity.”
Both her friends could understand the depths of her conviction. They certainly knew that they could not dissuade her, but they also knew that they needed to support her. They always had, and they would now, too. She could see it in their eyes.
Joan finally spoke, her voice gentle. “All right, Keira. If this is what you truly need, we’ll stand by you. We just want you to be happy and sure of your choices.”
Avery nodded in agreement, offering a comforting smile. “We’re here for you, no matter what. Just promise us you’ll write to us and consider all aspects before making any life-changing decisions.”
“I will make no such decisions, believe me,” Keira assured them with a dismissive wave of the hand.
“There is absolutely no fear of that happening. I promise to keep you informed of everything. I know this is completely unlike me. This adventure is a leap, but it’s one I’m willing to take. You can understand that, can’t you?”
Both of her friends nodded at the same time with reassuring smiles.
In a heartwarming display of camaraderie and support, the three friends embraced each other tightly.
Their hug symbolized the bond they shared, a bond that transcended any uncertainties and differences.
Keira felt a rush of gratitude and love for her dear friends.
Their support meant the world to her, giving her the strength and courage to leap into the unknown.
When they pulled away from one another, Joan’s face suddenly turned grave. “Before you go, it is crucial that we discuss practicalities.”
Avery frowned. “Practicalities? Like what?”
Joan shrugged. “Well… for example, what if Keira’s parents write to her here? What should we do?”
Keira looked around the chamber and noticed two unused pieces of paper on the writing table by the window.
She walked over there and silently penned two letters to her family.
She mentioned going horseback riding through the picturesque Scottish Highlands, something she actually hoped to do soon, so it wouldn’t be a complete lie.
She also mentioned how much she loved her family and how much she was enjoying the adventure of visiting her two best friends in Scotland. She mentioned trying out new food and enjoying the crisp, fresh air.
Once the letters were complete, Keira signed each with love and care. She sealed them in envelopes and addressed them.
“Here.” She handed the letters to Joan, who, just like Avery, had been silent throughout the entire time Keira had taken to finish her two letters. “Send one letter this week, and another one the following week. That should maintain the illusion that I’m here, with you.”
“All right.” Joan nodded, accepting the letters and holding them tightly.
At that moment, Keira felt a mix of emotions—nervousness, excitement, and a pang of guilt for not being completely honest with her loved ones. What she was about to do was utterly mad. What on earth was she thinking?
And that was exactly the heart of the problem: she wasn’t thinking.
Not with her head, at least. She was unapologetically excited to be whisked off by a handsome Scot to his castle and spend a fortnight with him there, without her family being none the wiser.
It was as if the old Keira had stepped aside and allowed someone else to take the reins of this journey.
And that was the most exciting part. She was doing what she had never thought was possible, and loved every minute of it.
“Also, you are, of course, to read the letters they send me,” Keira continued. “If there is any emergency, you will forward those letters to me, and I shall decide what to do. I hope no such emergency will take place, but one can only hope.”
“It is only two weeks,” Avery reminded her.
“Yes.” Keira smiled. “I know that these two weeks might feel like two years, at some point, and also like two days at another.”
Avery chuckled. “It is quite an adventure you’ve decided to embark on, Keira. I can barely recognize this part of you!”
Keira laughed as well. “I know,” she admitted.
“I am both excited and petrified, and it is the strangest mixture of emotions I have ever felt. But I want to go through with this. I don’t remember wanting anything this badly.
We’ve agreed on a kiss, and honestly, the very thought of kissing this man… ”
The moment she said those words, she felt her cheeks burn, which didn’t escape her friends’ attention.
“All this for a kiss?” Avery asked playfully.
“It’s not just the kiss,” Keira admitted, taking the same gown out of her valise and folding it again, which made Joan chuckle upon noticing.
“It is the way he makes me feel when he looks at me. The shivers, the trembles—it’s like my whole body awakens.
This is the feeling I look forward to for the next two weeks, and then, after they expire, I can go back to the plan that others have outlined for my life. ”
Her eyes were still burning with strange passion as she finished her little monologue, speaking a little faster than she was usually accustomed to.
She felt as if words were coming out of her mouth like an avalanche, and she couldn’t do anything to stop them, just like she couldn’t do anything to stop herself from going away with Raphael.