Page 38 of The Story of his Highland Bride
“I trust ye ken what a starling is?” The witch addressed Eloise, who nodded slowly.
“All too well. Why couldn’t it be an owl or a crow—something less terrifying?”
The witch arched an eyebrow. “Ye’d rather face a band of owls? I can tell ye’ve never actually seen an owl, else ye’d ken how foolish that is. Starlings harbor the magic of the old ways. I daenae ken what else to tell ye.”
“Well, thank you,” Eloise said quietly. “I guess I’ll… uh… wait for the starlings and go to the Cairns, when the time comes.”
The witch chuckled. “Daenae sound too happy about it.”
“I’m just absorbing it all,” Eloise explained, her voice tight. “Really, thank you. When Father Hepburn said he was coming to catch you, I thought I’d be stuck here indefinitely.”
With a curious smile, the witch tilted her head to one side. “And ye’re certain that isnae what yer heart might secretly, or nae so secretly, want?”
“Thank you for your guidance,” was all Eloise said, ignoring the question, and leaving Jackson’s unanswered.
WhatdidEloise want? And with Father Hepburn’s threat looming over them both, did what they wanted really matter?
21
The following day, duties took Jackson away from the castle and the short time that he had left with Eloise. To make matters worse, he had not spent the night with her, as he had grown accustomed to; she had asked for an evening alone with her thoughts, and though he had understood, he had missed her presence terribly.
Indeed, it was evening by the time he returned to Castle Faulkner, weary and aching after tending to the collapse of a farmhouse to the east.
“Will ye join me for a dram of somethin’?” he asked Lennox, as the two men left the stables.
Lennox offered an apologetic look, wringing his hands like he had a secret. “I cannae tonight, M’Laird. I have other duties to attend to, but we could have us a wee drink on the morrow, perhaps?”
“Ye’re goin’ to spend the night at Jane’s bedside again, are ye nae?” Jackson could not help but smile, for it had been a long time since he had seen his friend so dedicated to anything other than his work.
Lennox smiled shyly. “She’s been wakin’ more and more, and I daenae want to miss it when she does. I ken I wasnae the man she deserved when we were courtin’ before, but if she’ll have me, I willnae make that mistake again.”
“Go on with ye.” Jackson gave his friend a light shove. “Enjoy her sweet words, if she has any to offer ye.”
Lennox grinned. “I will, M’Laird, and the same to ye.” He tapped the side of his nose. “Daenae think I daenae ken about yer flirtations with Miss Eloise. After all, someone has to guard yer hallway at night, and I wasnae goin’ to let just anyone do it. I wouldn’ae want anyone gossipin’.”
Before he could get a chiding, Lennox darted away from his Laird and disappeared into the castle, leaving Jackson at a loss. His heart wanted to guide him up to Eloise’s chamber, to ask to hear more of her story, and to kiss her until the anguish of what was to come faded into nothing. His mind thought it best if he kept away, until she sent for him.
In the end, his mind won, sending him off in search of the most potent drink he could find. How else was he supposed to endure a long, cold night without her in his arms?
In the distance, church bells chimed out twelve peals, announcing midnight to the slumbering world, as Jackson stumbled up narrow staircase after narrow staircase, climbing his way to Eloise. It had taken hours of diligent drinking to reach the heights of merry, but not quite inebriated, that gave his heart the advantage over his head. Now, just like the witch in the woods had said, he was letting his heart guide him.
Reaching her door, he hesitated for a moment, pressing his ear to the varnished wood. Inside, he heard an odd, scratching sound, accompanied by the gentle hum of Eloise singing something under her breath.
She’s still awake. Maybe, she’s been waitin’ for me.Spurred on by the thought, he knocked.
Within seconds, she answered, greeting him with wide eyes and a confused expression.
“What time do you call this?” she asked, clasping a hand to her chest. “I thought I was going to have to saddle a horse and come looking for you, and you know I don’t like riding alone. I wouldn’t know how to, to be honest. I’d probably just hold on as tightly as possible and hope I didn’t fall off.”
He smiled at her as he stepped over the threshold and pulled her into his arms. “I dinnae ken if ye wanted to see me, or if yewanted to be alone with yer thoughts again. I wouldn’ae blame ye if ye did. There’s… a lot to think about. Too much.”
“Of course I wanted to see you,” she gasped, holding him tightly. “I wanted to see you last night, but after I’d made such a fuss about being on my own to let everything marinate, I couldn’t find the nerve to come to you. I mean, it’s not like we can waste time, is it?”
He buried his face in her neck, pressing a tender kiss to the pulse that throbbed there. “Nay, it’s nae, but daenae remind me.”
“Have you been drinking?” She chuckled, smoothing her hand through his hair. “You smell like spiced wine.”
He drew his head back and pulled an apologetic face. “Just a wee bit. I was frozen without ye to hold, so I needed somethin’ else to warm me.” He brought his hands to her face, gazing down into her sweet, beautiful eyes, trying to put them to memory. “I daenae reckon I’ll ever be warm again, when ye leave. Me heart willnae, anyway.”
