Page 28 of A Forbidden Night with a Scot
“Is someone in there?”
The voice came from outside the door before Samuel had the chance to assure Alicia that he didn’t find her revolting at all; he only found himself revolting. She flinched in surprise, her hand quickly wiping her cheeks even though the tears hadn’t yet shed, and Samuel rushed to the door, recognizing the voice.
“Gavin?”
“Samuel? What are ye doin’ in there?”
Samuel let his head fall against the door, closing his eyes. Out of all the people who could have found them there, Gavin was probably the worst possible option.
What would he think when he saw Alicia in there with him?
“The door,” Samuel said. “It’s stuck.”
“Wait,” said Gavin from the other side. “I’ll have them open it.”
Within moments, Gavin had gathered what sounded like a small army outside the door, all the men working together to unlock it and pull it open. After some hard shoving, the door flew open and Samuel saw his friend there, along with half a dozen guards, all of them frowning at the sight before them.
“Alicia,” Gavin said, waving an accusatory finger at her. He didn’t seem surprised at all to see her there. “What have I told ye about pranks?”
The guilt that flooded Samuel was now almost unbearable, making his stomach churn. Gavin had not even suspected him at all. His first thought had been that this was just another one of Alicia’s pranks that had gone wrong.
“I’m sorry, Faither,” Alicia said, quickly pushing past them all. Before she could get too far, though, Gavin stopped her and stared at her shoulder.
“Is that nae yers, Samuel?” he asked, pointing at the brooch there—the very same one Samuel had given her. “What have I told ye about askin’ Samuel fer his things?”
“It’s alright, Gavin,” Samuel said before this situation could get even worse. “I gave it tae her. ”
“But she canne?—”
“It’s alright, she didnae ask fer it” Samuel repeated, in a tone that left no room for argument.
Alicia didn’t linger. She took Samuel’s words as a dismissal and left, rushing down the hallway, just as Gavin bemoaned the strangeness of his daughter.
The entire time he watched her leave, Samuel had to keep himself from running after her.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The only good thing to come out of the short time Samuel and Alicia spent in that pantry was that now, Alicia was avoiding him, too. Samuel hadn’t seen her in the two days that had passed since then—not even a glimpse of her at dinner, as she had somehow roped Katherine into eating with her later, despite Gavin’s insistence that they should at least make an appearance at dinner.
Samuel had assured him it was fine if the girls preferred to eat later. If anything, it was a relief that he didn’t have to see her.
On the other hand, he couldn’t help but worry. His concern bubbled up inside him every time he thought about her, which was more often than not those days, though he kept true to his word and didn’t approach her. He only tried to ask Gavin, whenever he thought he could, if she was doing well.
At least the dreams had stopped, he thought, as he woke up that morning. He couldn’t claim to be well-rested. He had tossed and turned all night, sleep evading him for hours and hours until hefinally managed to slip into unconsciousness. When he dressed and caught a glimpse of himself in the looking-glass, he saw the dark circles under his eyes, the fatigue that had settled in his features, the blue of his eyes dulled and lifeless.
I cannae allow this any longer. This is insanity!
He was losing his mind. He was losing his mind over something he shouldn’t have done in the first place. Could it be that he was already paying for the sins he had committed? Could this be divine retribution for what he had done?
Shaking those thoughts out of his head, Samuel made his way to the great hall, knowing that he would either find Gavin there or that he could break his fast while waiting for him to wake. When he walked through the door, though, he saw not only Gavin, but also his advisor, Nerian, the two of them laughing boisterously over a small feast spread on the table.
And they were not alone. Alicia and Katherine were also there, both of them falling quiet when Samuel entered the room.
She has told her sister. O’ course she has. They share everythin’.
Samuel bit the inside of his cheek, trying to hide the tremor in his hands as he took a seat next to Nerian, as far from Alicia as he could. The only thing that gave him some comfort was the fact that Alicia seemed eager to ignore him, acknowledging him with a small bow of her head before she turned back to her sister without saying a word to him.
It was better this way, he told himself. With time, it would all pass for them both.
