Page 36 of The Highlander's Virgin Nun
“Oh, mornin’, Michaela,” she greeted with a sigh.
She was glad to see that it was only Michaela, as what harm could this nice older lady wish upon her? But still, she hoped to move on quickly. She desperately needed to be alone.
“Mornin’, lass. Ye are glowin’ today.”
“I am?” She touched a hand to her cheek, certain now that some remnants of her pleasure from the night before were visible on her skin.
“Aye. I ken why.”
Rosaline panicked. She held her breath and tried to school her features, so as not to reveal any more than she somehow already had.
“Ye will be at the peak of yer cycle in three days. The perfect time for a bairn to make its home in yer belly. Women always glow more than the sun at such a magical time.”
Rosaline’s eyes widened. Her mind went blank, and she could think of not a single reasonable word to say to the woman.
“Dinnae be so scared, lass. It willnae get there without ye kennin’ about it.” Michaela laughed as she continued down the stairs, finally leaving Rosaline with even more thoughts than she already had.
Just go to yer room.
She put one foot in front of the other until she finally reached her bedroom and leaned back against the door as it closed. She exhaled, her hands on her cheeks, checking she was still alive.
What on earth is happenin’?
* * *
“Jayden, follow me,” Caelan called into the Great Hall, where Jayden was sitting, eating his morning meal.
At the sight of his Laird, who had been mysteriously missing all night, Jayden jumped up to his feet.
“Me Laird, where have ye been?” Jayden had to yell to be heard as he dashed to the door because Caelan was already back on the move, marching towards his study.
“Caelan, wait!” Jayden shouted, trying to catch up with the Laird.
Caelan held the door to his study open for him once he finally arrived and went straight to sit at his desk.
“Ye were gone all night—we were worried sick,” Jayden panted.
“Nae sick enough to stop ye from eatin’ breakfast.”
Jayden dipped his chin. “I was out lookin’ for ye all night. I came back to check if ye had returned and was just fuelin’ up for the day’s search.”
“I’m only kiddin’ with ye, Jayden. Sit.”
Jayden rolled his eyes but obeyed, sitting across from Caelan’s desk and placing his hands on his knees. “Where were ye?”
“I took Rosaline to town to buy her some dresses.”
“That doesnae take an entire day and night, Me Laird.”
Caelan was tired. He sighed before continuing, less bothered with explaining his absence and more so wanting to get to the point he was trying to make.
“We rode through the village on the way back, and we had to take a detour through the woods, as the crowds were fillin’ the streets.”
“Caelan, ye ken?—”
“Hush. I can journey through me own woodlands,” Caelan cut in before Jayden could complain any further. “Men followed us into the woods. I heard them immediately, and we outran them by a mile. They never even got close. I decided to take shelter in a cave in the woods, rather than give them more distance to track us back to the castle.”
Jayden dropped his forehead into his palm, shaking his head. “I hate it, but probably a wise call.”
