Page 64 of The Cruel Highlander's Healer
Kate didn’t answer Eliza, opting instead to turn her eyes back out towards the hills beyond.
Eliza wasn’t sure what made her do it. Perhaps she caught a flicker of something from the corner of her eye. Or maybe it was just something that she sensed.
Whatever the reason, her eyes flicked behind her, landing squarely on Eliot. This time, he did not notice her looking.
No, his gaze was solely focused on Kate. His eyes were soft and filled with a yearning that tugged on a piece of Eliza’s soul.
Eliza turned her attention back to Kate, not wanting to study him for too long. She didn’t want him to see her witnessing that private of a moment. Not when his emotions were so clearly only simmering just below the surface.
He loves her.
“I think ye willnae have long to worry,” Eliza said to Kate, keeping her voice low and gentle. “Even if that guard cannae see what he had before him, someone will. I have nay doubt that a man will come, and he will love ye so fully. Mayhaps, he’s even closer than ye think.”
Kate didn’t answer, just hummed her acknowledgement as the two fell into a companionable silence. Eliza could feel Eliot’s on them, but she did not turn to glance at them.
The two women finished their meals, and Eliza considered what she said to Kate. She believed that her friend deserved love. And even though the shame of what had happened with the Laird was still fresh, Eliza was beginning to wonder if maybe she should extend a little bit of that hope to herself, as well.
* * *
After their lunch beneath the sun, Eliza and Kate went back to the children. Even more of them were awake and alert now, and it was becoming more apparent that the majority of them were ready to go home.
“I’ll alert the Laird in the mornin’,” she told Kate as they got to work giving the sick ones their next round of tonic. “That way we can have word drafted for their parents.”
Kate nodded as the pair set to work. Time passed quickly, and by the time they were done Eliza was well and truly exhausted. Her feet felt like lead with every step that she took.
“Are ye goin’ to be comin' to dinner?” Kate asked as they turned the corner away from the hall where the sick children were being held.
“I daenae think I have it in me,” Eliza explained, her stomach clenching at the thought of seeing Conall again. “I may turn in early, see if someone can bring supper up to me room.”
Kate nodded. “I’ll have it sent up for ye.”
Eliza gave her a grateful smile before Kate hurried away. Eliot was still there, lingering in the hall glancing in the direction that Kate had just disappeared.
“Ye can follow after her,” Eliza said with a chuckle. “I’ll only be goin’ to me rooms. I’ll be safe there. There’s nay one here who wishes me harm.”
Eliot’s throat bobbed as he considered his words, shifting anxiously from foot to foot as he stared at her. Eliza knew he likely wanted to follow after Kate not just to keep her safe, but to continue to be in her presence.
She didn’t blame him.
Eventually, the guard nodded. Despite his hesitations, Eliot’s care for Kate had won out, and the thought brought a smile to her lips as she turned and made for her rooms.
The journey to Eliza’s chambers typically took her no time at all. But she was so exhausted that each step felt like it took her days to complete. Eventually, though, she rounded the corner that led to her chambers, relief flooding her body.
The relief, however, was short-lived. As she approached her door, reaching forward with a shaking hand, hurried footsteps sounded from down the hall.
She whirled in their direction, finding no one there. They were getting closer, though, and soon Alistair’s gnarled form came into view as he turned a corner.
“Lady Eliza,” he said, his dull grey eyes landing on her immediately.
“Alistair,” Eliza greeted with the dip of her head.
She waited at the door, not moving toward him. She was reluctant to move away from her chambers, afraid that if she did, she might collapse from exhaustion.
Please, Lord, daenae have him request anythin’ of me right now. I daenae think I can bare it.
“I am sorry to be botherin’ ye,” Alistair apologized as he got closer, his slightly stooped shoulders bowing deeper in greeting. “But ye see, there’s an injured foal out in the stables. I fear if we daenae help him, he’ll have to be put down. The stable hands looked at him and said they cannae help. But I thought, mayhaps ye can, since ye seem so skilled with healin’?”
He looked at her expectantly, steely gaze shining as he stared at her. Eliza exhaled. Her prayer, it would seem, had fallen on deaf ears.
