Page 100 of The Highlander's Auctioned Virgin
CHAPTER 26
Thomas remained standing,his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “So ye see why I cannae do that?”
Ciaran didn’t bother to sit down. Not after what he had just heard. He should have known.
Why didn’t he consider it?
“What happened?” Thomas asked.
Ciaran exhaled. “We were attacked. Men sent by me braither. I am only trying to keep her safe because if I ken anything about Logan, it is that he willnae stop. He will probably send more men to the castle, and I daenae ken what I will do if I am nae…” he trailed off. “I have to be able to protect her, Thomas.”
Thomas listened attentively, then gave him a brief nod.
“We shall keep watch over her. We willnae restrain her or keep her in her room,” he said in a firm voice, as if his decision was final.
Ciaran nodded.
It was only four days before their wedding. For now, the best way to protect Elinor was to leave her alone.
He did not see her that morning. Or the morning after. It was much safer for her if he kept his distance.
Three days before the wedding, he took his horse out before dawn and rode until the castle walls disappeared behind him. When he reached the edge of the village, he stopped. He could see the line of fields and the low roofs of the houses. Smoke rose from the chimneys.
If Logan were to send men to attack, they would probably come from that part of the village. He needed to post a few more guards here just to be on the lookout.
Two days before the wedding, he met with Thomas and a few other guards in a small chamber by the armory.
“This is the most recent map of the castle I could find,” Thomas began, unfolding a giant scroll across the stone table.
Ciaran rested his hand on the faded ink. His brother’s territory was too close to the borders.
“We need to put some guards here, here, and here,” he stated, pointing at the specific areas on the thick brown parchment.
Thomas nodded. “I shall get right on it, M’Laird.”
Ciaran nodded, a grateful look flashing across his face.
That night, he did not retire to his chambers. He stayed in the stables instead, checking each stall and the cinch of each saddle. They may need to ride out in the middle of the night. He did not want any incident to occur before then.
A day before the wedding, he continued to strategize with the men. He spent the entire day in the training grounds with Thomas, testing the weight of a new blade. They passed it between them without speaking.
When Thomas left, he stayed alone under the eaves. He could not bear to see the look on Elinor’s face. Not now. Not until the wedding.
It was better this way.
Elinor spent the same days in her chamber with Anna and Katherine.
Three days before the wedding, she let them fuss over her gown, the threads, the pale flowers they had gathered from the garden.
“What do ye think about this?” Anna asked, showing her a ribbon she had made.
Elinor’s eyes flicked to the ribbon, and she gave a brief nod. “I daenae have a problem with it.”
Anna showed her even more ribbons, but Elinor kept nodding absent-mindedly. She watched her sister’s mouth but heard none of the words. She tried to imagine herself walking down the aisle, but her mind kept flashing to the angry look on Ciaran’s face after he murdered Jamie in cold blood. She could not see anything else, no matter how hard she tried.
Two evenings before the wedding, she found herself standing near the narrow window, the fabric of her gown clutched between her fingers. She thought if she stared long enough at the courtyard, she might see him come out of the stables.
“I believe what ye need to give him now is a little space. He is dealing with his own demons,” Thomas had told her earlier that morning when she asked about his well-being.
