Page 46 of Highland Hero
“And ’twas nae all that cold before the wind picked up,” Greer said.
“True.” Aileen nodded. “We oft go from the castle to the granary or vegetable shed in the winter without putting on cloaks and such.”
Juliana knew they were trying to make her feel better, but she still felt like an idiot—Rory would call her aneejit—for suggesting such foolishness. Now she had put all three of them in peril since she wasalsothe one who’d pulled the handle off the door.
She stared at the loose knob and broken knife lying beside them. They’d almost succeeded before it had snapped in two. They’d tried to use the broken half to push the latch back again, but that had only resulted in Aileen getting her thumb cut. Juliana glanced at the injured hand. The cold air had kept it from bleeding too much, but the blood that had surfaced had an icy crust to it. The sight of that made her see just how serious their situation had become. Greer may have been right. They could well freeze to death before they were found.
How long before someone realized they were missing? After that strange conversation at breakfast, Rory had gone off with the laird and the girls’ father to the library. If the MacDonnell men were like the MacGregors, they could be in there for hours, discussing options about what to do. Even if Rory came out sooner, he wouldn’t necessarily think anything of not seeing her or the sisters. Most men just assumed women spent their time in the solar or in their chambers. Sima was busy running the household. She probably wouldn’t even wonder where they were.
Juliana took a deep breath and immediately regretted it, since the cold air burned her lungs. Even if Rory—or Sima—took notice that they were gone and started searching, why would anyone even think of the tower? Aileen had closed the heavy door behind them before they’d started ascending the stairs.
They could literally be up on the roof for hours, and that might well be too long.
“I think we should try shouting again.”
“We already did that and are nearly hoarse,” Greer managed to mumble. “And nae one heard us.”
“And with the snow falling this hard, nae one can see us this high up, either,” Aileen said. “’Tis better we stay as warm as we can by huddling together, rather than stand by the embrasures again.”
Juliana saw the sense in that, but the icy crust on Aileen’s cut was a reminder of just how cold it was, and she didn’t know how much more time they had. “You two stay here and keep warm. I am going to try one more time.”
They both looked up, and she saw how pale their faces were and how bloodless their lips.
“Doona take too long,” Greer said.
Juliana nodded as she rose and then stumbled as her legs almost gave way. They were numb, and she awkwardly shuffled forward. She hoped it was from sitting crouched as long as they had and not because of frostbite… She pushed the thought away.No.They were not going to die up here.
As she reached the crenellations along the perimeter of the tower, she reluctantly withdrew her hands that had been wrapped inside her sleeves. She could hardly feel them, either, but she needed to brace herself on the merlons on either side of her.
She could see nothing but swirling whiteness, and for a moment she felt disoriented and dizzy. The rough feel of stone on each side of her steadied her a bit. She took a breath, trying not to breathe in too much cold air and yet have enough to be able to shout and then thrust her head and shoulders over the edge of the embrasure.
“Help!” she called. “Help me! Helpus!”
…
Rory emerged from the passageway he’d been searching, immersed in cobwebs and with enough mice—more likely rat—droppings covering his boots to know that no one had been in that passage for years, possibly decades. Nor had there been any lingering smell of pitch or smoke from a torch other than his own. He’d not seen any priest-holes or walkways that went off in other directions, either.
He took a wash cloth from beside the basin on the dresser and took a moment to scrape the mess from his boots. Then he looked around, recognizing the dress Juliana had purchased folded over a chair. So this was the guest chamber she’d been given then. Instinctively, he glanced over to the bed.
Her night rail lay neatly folded across the counterpane. Without thinking, his feet led him to the bed. The night rail was made of rather heavy, unbleached linen without adornments, save for the ribbon that tied it closed at the neckline. A garment meant for Highland winter nights that she’d probably purchased while they were in Fort William. He picked it up, catching the faint scent of heather soap as he held it to his nose. She had used the same soap at Strae Castle, so the scent was familiar, but he thought he also caught a whiff of something that was uniquely her.
He looked back at the bed. It was definitely large enough for two, although an entwined couple didn’t need that much room. How did she sleep? On her side curled up like a bairn? Or on her stomach like a babe? Or perhaps on her back, making it easy for him to slide a leg over… He pushed the thought away abruptly. This was not the time to be entertaining lecherous thoughts of her sprawled naked under him, night rail tossed aside. He looked at the garment as though it were the cause for his lust and laid it back on the bed. Then he glanced around once more.
The open wardrobe—through the back of which he’d entered the hidden passageway—held only the breeches and oversize shirt she’d worn to ride in. Her sturdy half boots were neatly placed side by side next to the chair, which meant she must be wearing slippers and had not intended to go outside. The only things on the dresser besides the pitcher and basin were a hairbrush and the wash cloth he’d just used. None of the furniture seemed out of place, and there was no sign of a struggle anywhere.
So where in the hell was she? And where were the MacDonnell lasses? They certainly wouldn’t have gotten lost in their own home.
He left Juliana’s chamber and went down the stairs to the library, where they’d all agreed to meet once they’d finished searching their individual passages. Perhaps someone else had found them.
But he knew he was wrong when he caught sight of the laird’s and his brother’s faces. He shook his head at their unspoken question.
“Mayhap Sima’s found…” Calum began and then stopped as his wife walked into the room. No one needed to ask if she’d been successful, either.
“They canna have just disappeared,” Rory said. “Ye are sure every room has been searched?”
Sima nodded tearfully. “I gave the instructions myself.”
“And I ordered the stable lads to check every outbuilding as well,” Calum said.
