Page 41 of The Runaway Bride and the Highlander
A knock on her bedchamber door sometime later raised her hopes. But when she opened the door, Skylar felt a little crestfallen for it was not Maxwell at all.
Entirely flustered and looking more than a little frightened, Katherine explained what had happened, and how, if not for the fact the MacTavish clan still remained in the castle, the result might well have been different.
“What news o’ the laird, Katherine?” Skylar blurted. “Is he well? Was he injured?”
Perhaps that was the reason he had not yet come to see her. Perhaps, at that very moment, he was lying in Kendrick’s room with a dreadful wound.
God, I hope he is all right.
“The laird is well, my lady,” Katherine said, looking at Skylar intently. “Has he nae yet come tae see ye?”
“Nae, he hasnae,” she said, now feeling a little confused. The battle had been over hours ago. If he wasn’t injured, why had he not come to see if she was well? Why had he not come to tell her what had happened? It didn’t make any sense.
Katherine looked as confused as Skylar felt, but after a long moment, she shrugged and moved toward the fireplace. “I suppose, after such an occurrence, my lady, he has much tae attend tae, what with the injured and the state the castle has been left in. It’s quite a mess, I can tell ye.”
Skylar suddenly felt selfish. Of course, Maxwell had much to attend to. He was the laird, and when all was said and done, the responsibility of dealing with such aftermath would be left to him. She had been so concerned with her own feelings she had not really considered anything else.
“How many suffered an injury?” Skylar asked, feeling she now ought to show an interest in the condition of the men that had put their lives at risk to save her own, among others.
“Och, I couldnae tell ye, my lady. They’ve all been taken tae the great hall, and many o’ the maids are there, helping Kendrick tae tend tae them.”
“Perhaps I ought tae go and offer my help.”
“Indeed, ye cannae,” Katherine said forcefully, swiftly turning to look at her. “Ye are Lady Macleod now. Such duties are beneath ye.”
Skylar was a little taken aback by her words. Surely, just because she was wife to the laird did not mean she could not lend a hand. She was rather good with a needle and thread, something years at the convent had taught her, and surely, she could help out if a man needed a stitch or two.
Apparently, however, by Katherine’s vehement reply and the stare she now gave her across the room, her assistance would not be suitable at all. Being Lady Macleod was obviously going to be a tricky role, and Skylar would need to make sure she did not cross any invisible boundaries.
“I’m going tae light yer fire, my lady,” Katherine continued. “And then, I think ye could do with a warm bath tae soothe yer troubles.”
* * *
In the end, Maxwell did not come to see her on the day of the battle. In fact, over the following days, he appeared to ignore her as much as possible. On the occasions they happened to be together, such as the evening meal or if they saw each other anywhere else in the castle by chance, he spoke to her as though she were someone he could hardly tolerate or a stranger.
In fact, he was even less friendly than he had been on the night he had saved her from Colum. He acted entirely opposite to the man she had laid with on their wedding night. It made no sense at all, for nothing had happened between them for his change in attitude toward her. Nothing could have happened, for they had hardly spoken since the night of their wedding.
Nor could Skylar discover his reasons for the sudden change toward her, for he would not speak to her to explain it. As time went on, and his belligerence became more apparent, she became increasingly frustrated. How were they to solve a problem as a married couple if Maxwell would not tell her what the problem was, to begin with? His actions made no sense, and his silence was nothing but childish. He may well hold the title of laird, but he certainly was not acting like one.
Discovering Bram in the great hall several mornings later, Skylar pulled him to one side. If Maxwell would not talk to her, perhaps she could determine why he was acting so differently from Bram.
“Have I done something wrong?”
“It isnae ye, Skylar. The problem lies with Maxwell.”
“What does that mean?” she pressed, desperate to resolve this horrible circumstance. “What problem?”
Bram looked uncertain, clearly feeling that speaking to her about Maxwell was a betrayal on his part as a loyal brother. She understood his reticence, for she had witnessed their close relationship, and she did not want to be the thing that might come between them. She simply wanted answers.
“I’m nae asking ye tae tell me something that will cause trouble between ye, Bram,” Skylar said, reading his reaction to the best of her ability. “I ken ye and Maxwell are close, but the truth is, I ken naething about him. By his actions, ‘tis obvious there is something he is holding back from me. I cannae help him if I dinnae ken where tae start from. I only want tae be a good wife, Bram. Is that such a bad thing?”
He shook his head then and smiled sadly. “It isnae a bad thing at all. In my opinion, Maxwell has been lucky tae find ye. But I cannae speak for him, Skylar. It isnae my place to tell ye what troubles him. If he wants ye tae ken anything, he’ll tell ye in his own time. Ye’re right, though. Maxwell hasnae had it easy. He’s suffered more than most. He doesnae talk about it. He never has. ‘Tis just his way.”
“Then tell me how tae get through tae him,” Skylar pleaded.
Bram shrugged and looked at her helplessly. “I cannae tell ye that either. I’m sorry, Skylar. I wish I kent. But I dinnae.”
To take her mind off things, Skylar decided to visit the little boy they had found in the woods. Perhaps it was not just the little boy she desired to see. Knowing how understanding Kendrick had been the last time they had conversed, a part of her likely wanted to speak to someone who might give her some advice.
