Page 10 of It Began With A Kiss
Opening her eyes revealed nothing but the path ahead of her and her disappointment knew no bounds. Ewan was gone from her life forever. She had loved him to the best of her ability, but she had never beeninlove with him and maybe this was the reason for the anger that rose within her. She should have loved him in her heart. Yet one look at the conquering hero that now took up residence in what was once her home caused her heart to flutter madly in her chest. Would she be ready to proclaim her undying love for this man next? Iona scoffed at the idea. The thought was not only ludicrous but downright wrong. She refused to think she could give her heart away to this man so easily.
She continued her way through the village, nodding to several people who stopped what they were doing to either bow or curtsey to her, calling her milady. She nodded in return, plastering a smile upon her face, but inwardly she once more sighed. Going back to being one of them was going to be harder than she thought.
She came upon the small spit of ground separating the mainland from the seaside cliff that Dunborough was perched. Two unfamiliar knights stood guard when she approached one of two gates. She waved to the men above the barbican gate and they allowed her to pass. ’Twas obvious they knew she was expected, and she began to wonder what other changes had occurred in her brief absence.
Iona did not have to ponder her question for long, since the answer was apparent once she came through the gate into the inner bailey. Another two guards came to escort her to the keep and one pounded on the metal door to seek entrance. Once she entered, there were more knights on the other side; one she remembered seeing but yesterday with the new laird. He bowed before her, and she took notice of his tawny-colored hair and green eyes. Who was this man and why did it seem that all the men accompanying the new laird were just as handsome?
“Lady Iona,” his deep rich Scottish accent hinted at his origin, “I am Finlay, lately of Berwyck. I have been asked tae escort ye tae Laird Aiden.” He held out his arm as any knight with manners would do but Iona was reluctant to reach for his offering.
Indecision overwhelmed her. “I am certain I can make my way on my own, good sir.”
A chuckle escaped him. “I have no doubt of that, my lady, but indulge me on my attempt tae put ye at ease.”
“Put me at ease? Are ye jesting with me? How in heaven’s name above could ye possibly put me at ease with anything that is going on in my life?” she asked waving her hand toward the castle interior.
“’Tis but a simple offering, my lady, with no disrespect intended.” He continued to hold his arm out waiting for her decision.
She silently cursed, knowing she was probably appearing scattered and irrational, not that she cared what this invader thought of her. She at last put her hand on his extended arm.
“Very well,” she managed to say through clenched teeth. “Lead the way.”
Iona kept her eyes straight ahead, although she took note that not all that much had changed since she last walked the grounds of her home… his home now. The knights above on the parapet may be different than Ewan’s men but they still guarded the castle just as vigilantly as those who had come before them.
They entered the foyer through the main door and she tried not to get emotional when she glanced into the empty great hall. She would have found it hard to see someone other than her husband and herself sitting on the raised dais or the main chairs set before the hearth. ’Twas clear her audience with the new laird was not to happen in her hall. So where was she meeting him?
Finlay continued to escort her through the foyer until they reached the turret stairs. Upon reaching the fourth floor, Iona stumbled to a halt. There were only so many rooms on this floor that always belonged to the laird and lady of the keep. Surely, she would not be brought to Aiden’s bedchamber.
“Where exactly are you taking me?” she asked in a hushed tone.
“Tae Laird Aiden’s solar, my lady, have no fear,” Finlay replied, as he began to again walk down the passageway.
The solar… thank heavens her first assumption would not come to pass. Still, when they passed what used to be her bedchamber and then Ewan’s, her breath leapt into her throat until they reached the solar door. It opened to reveal Aiden sitting behind Ewan’s desk. The castle steward, Seumas, was by his side whilst they perused the ledgers. To not see her own departed husband behind the desk that portrayed the importance of laird was more of a shock than she expected. Her knees buckled and Finlay grabbed her waist before she fell to the floor.
She was unsure how Aiden moved so quickly to reach her side, only that he scooped her up into his arms and carried her across the room to sit in the very chair she had occupied for many years. In fact, she glanced down to see the bit of sewing she had been working on in a basket. He carefully set her down in her chair and a cry left her at the injustice of her life. She buried her face in her hands until hers were taken into Aiden’s warm ones. Violet eyes filled with concern for her welfare stared down upon her and confused emotions ran amuck inside her head. The heat of his body next to hers as he knelt by the chair was going to be her undoing.
“Wine!” Aiden called out. A chalice was thrust into his waiting palm, and he placed the cup near her lips. “Drink.”
She continued to stare into those hypnotizing eyes until her shaking hands palmed the cup and she did as she was told. The wine slid down her throat and calmed her until she pushed the chalice away. Aiden took it from her and set it down on a table that was near, in case she wanted more.
“Better?” he asked quietly, taking her hand and rubbing his thumb over the back in a circular movement.
“Aye, thank ye,” she managed to whisper, wondering what catastrophe would occur next. Nothing seemed simple anymore and she wondered where the strong woman she knew she was had disappeared to.
“Very well,” Aiden said, before standing and going back to the desk. He shut the ledger and handed the book to Seumas. “I am impressed with your bookkeeping, and all appears in order. I would be pleased if you would continue on as steward, Seumas, if that is acceptable to you.”
Seumas bowed. “As you wish, my laird.”
“Good! Let us meet in another fortnight to go over the books again,” Aiden replied with a nod of approval.
“Until then, my laird,” Seumas said with another bow, before turning and repeating the gesture to Iona. “My lady.”
An odd premonition fell over Iona at the irony of it all. She watched Seumas leave the room until Aiden turned to his knight. “Leave us, Finlay.”
The knight frowned before his gazed fell upon her. “But, Aiden…”
“She is safe in my care, my friend. Leave us,” Aiden ordered whilst Finlay snapped his mouth shut and reluctantly took his leave.
The room came to an eerie silence. Iona swallowed hard, not knowing what was to come next. She should not be alone in the room with this man… this man who could have lied to her when he proclaimed he did not kill her husband. How could she trust him? And yet when his eyes met hers, something in her shifted so suddenly she felt faint. Call it destiny… call it fate… whatever she called it, this insane emotion ran rampant through her heart. Something in her wanted so much to believe him and she did not know why!
