Page 83 of Hard-Hearted Highlander
AVALINEHADCRIEDuntil she couldn’t possibly shed another tear.
Her father and uncle had departed Killeaven two days after the disaster of her declaring her love to Aulay. She shuddered every time she thought of it. What a fool she’d been! And oh, how she hated Aulay now; hated him with the strength of a thousand suns.
She’d been so certain that he returned her affections! Wasn’t he always at her side? Had he not smiled and complimented her? And then to so cruelly and openly deny her! To allow her lips to touch his then to react as if he’d been bitten by an asp! Twice her age, he’d said, as if that had any bearing. A ship’s captain, he’d said, as if she was not allowed on the sea alongside him.
Yes, Avaline, despised Aulay Mackenzie and Scotland and Killeaven. To think she’d once thought this decrepit pile of rocks could be her home!
She couldn’t wait to leave this place.
Howshe would leave this place was another question entirely.
That question was answered, apparently, when Mr. MacDonald arrived from Balhaire and asked for an audience with Avaline and her mother. “Mr. Cailean Mackenzie has asked me to invite you to sail with him and Mrs. Mackenzie to England. He has asked me to say that he will see you safely home, then.”
“Sail,” Avaline said. “On whose ship?”
“The Mackenzie ship,” Mr. MacDonald said.
“No!”Avaline said instantly, and looked at her mother, incredulous that anyone would suggest such a thing after all she’d been through.
But her mother did not look at her. Her mother said calmly, “Thank you, Mr. MacDonald. When shall we depart?”
Avaline gasped with outrage.“No!”she shouted. “How can you even think of it, Mamma? Youknowwho captains that ship! You saw what he did to me!”
“I also know we have no other means home,” her mother snapped. “When should we be ready to depart, Mr. MacDonald?” she stubbornly demanded.
And so it was set—Avaline would be forced to board that devil’s ship. They had two days to prepare.
Bernadette was desperate to help Avaline, but Avaline didn’t want her help. She might have kept Bernadette’s wretched secret, but she was really rather cross with her. Bernadette had been so distracted by her own affair that she hadn’t been there to help Avaline when she needed her most. If her lady’s maid had been paying closer attention to her, perhaps Avaline would have confided in her. Perhaps Bernadette might have stopped her from making a horrid mistake.
But she hadn’t, and at present, Avaline could scarcely stand the sight of her, either. She left her packing to Bernadette and quit her rooms so she’d not have to look at her at all.
* * *
TWODAYSLATER,with as many of their belongings gathered as they could carry, Avaline and her mother set off for Balhaire.
Bernadette looked rather tearful as she hugged Avaline’s mother goodbye.
She turned to Avaline, and while Avaline leaned forward so that Bernadette could put her arms about her, she refused to look her in the eye.
“Godspeed, darling,” Bernadette said.
“Thank you,” Avaline said coolly, and turned away from her, stepping into the coach.
She couldn’t look at Bernadette then, but she did glance out the window as the coach began to roll forward, and saw Bernadette standing there, watching her, her expression full of sorrow. Avaline had felt tears burning in her eyes. Fortunately, none were shed, as she’d spent them all.
At Balhaire, they were directed straightaway to the cove. They boarded the ship without any greeting whatsoever from the captain, for which Avaline was thankful. They were shown to their cabin and Avaline swore to herself she’d not leave it, she’d hide away here like a stowaway until they reached England’s shores.
Unfortunately, that night, the seas grew rough and her mother grew ill. Avaline could not bear all the retching and gathered her cloak about her. “Are you certain there is nothing I can do for you?” she asked, even though her hand was already on the door latch.
Her mother responded by retching again into the bucket.
With a shiver, Avaline hurried out.
She kept near the forecastle, away from the aft castle, where the captain’s quarters were located. There were seamen roaming about, and Avaline put herself near the railing, as to keep out of their path and not invite any conversation. She stood facing the sea, staring out over the rolling waves, at the faint swath of moonlight the sometimes broke through the clouds.
“You ought not to be about.”
Avaline closed her eyes and prayed for forbearance, then turned around to face Lord Chatwick. “Are youfollowingme?”
