Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Ailis had long since stopped pretending she knew where she was going. She did not even know how she had gotten here. Somehow, she had wandered too far from the main village and had lost track of the path she had taken.
Her feet ached with every step, the pain shooting through her soles whenever she put her weight on them. Her skirts were damp at the hem, and the evening chill had seeped through the thin fabric until she could feel it in her bones.
She had walked too far. Farther than she had intended. And every turning had only carried her deeper into unfamiliar lanes.
“I should have stayed with Mistress Harriet,” she whispered miserably, her feet aching, and eyes too tired to stay fully open.
The words vanished into the cold evening air.
She hugged her arms around herself and kept walking.
I need water, or I might die.
Her tongue felt dry against the roof of her mouth, and each breath scraped her throat. She swallowed repeatedly, but it did nothing to ease the desperate dryness.
Her mind, exhausted and frightened, betrayed her.
For a fleeting moment, she imagined Gordon appearing over the rise.
He would see her. He would know immediately that something was wrong. Then he would stride toward her with that fierce look in his eyes, sweep her into his arms as though she weighed nothing, and carry her back without a word.
The image was so vivid that her chest tightened.
Will he look for me, or will he assume I ran away?
Sorcha and Marion would worry about her, she was certain, if only she could find a way to locate the castle… She had wandered for hours through vast lands and had not even seen a single soul.
Where am I?
She finally approached a clearing and spotted the first store she had seen after walking for hours.
Ahead, through the darkness, a small orange glow appeared.
A fire.
Relief flickered through her as she realized she had finally found the main village. Perhaps there were villagers there. Someone who could tell her the way back.
She quickened her steps despite the ache in her feet. As she drew closer, she saw a man beside the fire watching her.
At first, Ailis thought he might help. Then he smiled, and there was something wrong with the expression.
“Ye lost, lass?”
Ailis stopped several paces away from him. “I am tryin’ to find the village seamstress or the path that leads to the castle.”
The man’s gaze traveled over her clothes. The sneer of a smile on his face widened.
“Aye? And what would a lady like ye be doin’ out here alone? Why do ye need to find the castle?”
“I need only directions, sir. If ye will be kind enough to help point me in the right path, I will be out of yer hair in nay time.”
He chuckled then took a step toward her. “Perhaps. Got any coins?”
Ailis’ stomach tightened as he drew even closer to her. “Nay.”
His smile disappeared. “Nothin’?”
Her voice trembled now. “I have nothin’ to give ye, sir.”
“Then perhaps ye can give me somethin’ else.”
Fear prickled along her arms, and Ailis took a step backward, evading his hands when he reached for her.
“I think I shall continue on me way.”
She turned with speed, but the man moved in front of her and grabbed her by the shoulders. “Nae so fast.”
She struggled to break free from him now. “Let go.”
“Give me what ye have.”
“I told ye, I have nothin’.”
He shoved her. Ailis stumbled, her foot catching on the uneven ground before she fell hard onto her hands.
Pain shot through her palms. “Stop!”
The man lunged for her, but Ailis kicked wildly, catching him in the leg. He cursed, and she managed to break free, scrambling backward.
Just before he reached for her again, Ailis heard a roar. The man was yanked away from her so violently that he crashed onto the ground.
Gordon.
For a moment, Ailis could only stare, her heart leaping into her throat from the shock of seeing him. He stood over the man, fury written across every hard line of his face as he hammered a fist into the man’s face then held him by the neck.
“Daenae ever try to hurt a woman. Do ye understand me?”
His voice was terrifying.
The man tried to scramble away. Gordon caught him by the front of his tunic and hauled him upright.
“Please—” he pleaded, but another blow sent him staggering.
Ailis flinched at the sight of his raw anger.
“Do ye understand me?” Gordon growled again.
“Aye… aye, Me Laird,” the man sobbed before Gordon shoved him aside.
Guards rushed toward them and seized the man.
Then Gordon turned to her, and everything in her broke as she lurched toward him. “Gordon.”
She did not think about anything else as relief flooded through her. She simply ran to him. He caught her as she flung herself into his arms. His arms closed around her immediately, crushing her against his chest.
“Ye are all right,” he murmured while stroking a hand down her hair.
Ailis clung to him. She could feel his heart pounding beneath her cheek.
“I was so frightened.”
“I ken.” His hand moved slowly over her back. “I have ye.”
Her fingers tightened around his coat as she inhaled his scent and let it whoosh through her till she started to relax.
She had been angry with him and was still angry with him, but none of it mattered now.
I am more grateful that he is here.
Gordon’s hand moved to the back of her head, smoothing her tangled hair. “Ye are safe.”
Ailis closed her eyes. For one fleeting moment, she felt something warm brush the top of her head.
A kiss.
Or perhaps she only imagined it. She did not care.
When Gordon drew back, his hands remained on her shoulders.
“Are ye hurt?” His eyes searched hers as his hands moved down her arm.
“Nay.”
He looked at her scraped palms then glanced down at her feet.
His expression darkened as he rasped, “Ye are comin’ home.”
Before she could protest, he bent and lifted her into his arms. Ailis gasped softly then instinctively wrapped both arms around his neck.
Her exhaustion finally overcame her as she clung to him. Her eyes grew heavy as the darkness took her, and for the first time all evening, she was not afraid.
She simply let herself enjoy his warmth.
The next time Ailis opened her eyes again, she saw four worried faces staring down at her. Sorcha, Marion, Jane, and even Lileas, clutching Brochan against her chest, all stared at her with wide eyes.
Ailis blinked. “Where am I…?”
“Yer chamber,” Sorcha breathed.
Ailis tried to sit up, but Sorcha immediately pressed a hand against her shoulder.
“Slowly.”
Ailis looked around. Her own blankets surrounded her. The fire burned low in the hearth. Someone had changed her damp clothing, and a bowl of soup sat upon the table.
Lileas’ eyes were enormous and filled with tears. Ailis’ heart twisted at the sight. The little girl climbed carefully onto the edge of the bed.
“I thought ye were gone.”
Ailis reached for her.
“I daenae mean to frighten ye.”
Sorcha’s eyes filled with tears too as she whispered. “Ye frightened all of us.”
“I daenae mean to run. I merely wanted to clear me head, and then I lost me way, and the more I walked, the more lost I got, and I just…”
Her words ended on a sob as Sorcha took her one hand and Marion took the other.
“Ye are all right now,” Marion whispered to her. “Ye are safe. Gordon found ye and brought ye back to the keep. All ye need do now is eat and rest.”
Ailis swallowed to push down the lump in her throat and asked the question burning on her mind. “Did he come to see me?”
Hope fluttered in her chest like a freed bird, but it did not last long.
Silence slipped into the moment and lasted for a long second.
Sorcha’s gaze dropped, and Marion suddenly found the hedgehog so interesting that she took it from Lileas and began to stroke it gently.
Even Jane looked toward the window to avoid her gaze.
Ailis’ stomach sank. “Oh.”
The single word came out quietly. They did not need to reply to her. She already knew he did not come.
And why would he?
Gordon had already made his feelings clear.
He did not want her.
Carryin’ me home was merely his duty as laird.
“I see,” she whispered before sinking deeper into her pillows and letting her eyes drift closed.
The ache in her chest grew heavier as she closed her eyes, pretending to sleep, but she knew not to let it swallow her whole.
Gordon spent the next morning convincing himself that finding Kerr mattered more than seeing Ailis.
It was a lie, and he knew it.
Every time he opened his mouth to issue another order, his thoughts returned to the same place.
Is she awake? Is she still frightened? How hurt is she?
He worried endlessly and did not think he could bring himself to look her in the eye if he went to her chambers.
She might nae want to see me either.
He did not think that she would. Not after he had asked her to leave.
Gordon could still remember the weight of her against his chest, her arms locked around his neck, her cheek resting against him as though she trusted him despite everything he had done to send her away.
He wanted to see her and to hold her again. Gordon longed to feel her warm body pressed into his and the heat of her breath on his neck as she clung to him for support. If he held her close, he could be certain that she was safe.
Gods help me, he wanted it badly.
But he had no idea what he would say when he stood before her.
So, he buried himself in the search for Kerr.
By midday, the keep had begun to recover from the panic of the previous night.
Children ran through the corridors again, and servants moved between the kitchens and the great hall.
The little girl who had been ill for days was finally well enough to join Lileas, and the two raced through the courtyard with Brochan waddling indignantly behind them.
Gordon stopped when he saw them and admired their freedom as they laughed and made their nurse chase after them.
Lileas was clutching a handful of flowers when she raced toward him and stopped. She beamed the moment she looked up at him, and his heart warmed at the sight.