Page 29 of The Highlander's Temporary Bride
Or perhaps go home.
A wave of dizziness hit her at the thought, and she bit her lip. Part of her had hoped that the wild tale of Agnes, her long-lost twin sister, and her marriage to the Beast of Briorn had been just that—a clever, strange story to protect the Queen and her family.
It sounded like something Father would conjure up.
She let out another long breath and pressed her fist to her stomach. Had he truly hidden her sister away? Butwhy?
Deep down, though, Emma had always known that her father, for all that he loved her and her mother, had a ruthlessness about him that sometimes made her quail. For he would do anything, anythingfor them, he often said. To which Emmawanted to say,You don’t have to. Do not sell your soul just to win,Father.
Only, it seemed that Matthew Wells already had.
And perhaps Emma had some of that ruthlessness. For if Agnes had fulfilled the Queen’s Edict, what did that mean for Emma? Was she free?
She hated asking those questions, for they made her stomach twist and her heart burn with agony. Yet, she could not stop them.
Would my family take me back? Can I leave Banrose and have the life I always wanted?
CHAPTER 13
A gentle knocksounded at the door, and Emma hurried over, glad for the respite from such questions.
She’d slept late, so she did not know if someone had already stopped by, and her stomach now growled with hunger. Quickly, she unlocked the door and tried not to think how she’d never had a door she could lock before.
Briefly, she wondered if Laird Ronson knew and wanted to put her at ease by giving her such power.
Not that the door would hold him back.
Emma remembered the hard lines of his muscles and his height, and the way he’d prowled toward her, that intense glimmer in his green eyes?—
Hastily, she yanked open the door, admitting two maids bearing trays and, surprisingly, Kyla.
“Oh!” she exclaimed as the healer came in, her gait as smooth as any noblewoman’s. “Good morning.”
“Good mornin’,” Kyla said as she watched the maids set down the trays, then glanced around the room. “Lovely. I’m glad he put ye here.”
Her fair hair was arranged in an immaculate braid around her head, looking like a halo.
“Me too,” Emma said warmly, and Kyla gave her a soft smile.
“We shall be back, Me Lady,” announced one of the maids as they finished. “Ye let us ken if ye need anythin’ else.”
“Oh, thank you, but this seems more than enough,” Emma said as she gazed at the array of eggs, beans, sausages, bacon, fried mushrooms and tomatoes, and a full basket of bread. A pot of water stood at the ready, too, with an array of tea blends. “I-I think I shall be fed till next month.”
The maids giggled before Kyla shooed them out. She motioned for Emma to sit at the table while she remained standing.
“Before ye eat, I’d like to check ye over,” she said.
“Of course.”
After Emma sat down, Kyla took her pulse and looked into her eyes. Then, she pulled her up and gave her a shove.
Emma squawked as she stumbled forward, and she fixed the woman with a glare. “Well, that was quite rude.”
“Ye didnae fall, did ye?” Kyla asked dryly. “Yer balance is fine. So, it seems the dizziness went away. And one good meal seems to have done ye well, but ye should eat more. Ye arenae a simperin’ English rose, Emma Wells. And these days on the road have been too much for ye.”
Emma’s mouth dropped open, but she could think of no response, so she nodded and sat back down again.
“Would you like to join me?” she asked as Kyla remained standing, seemingly lost in thought.
