Page 69 of Sinbound to the Highlander
Something resounded in Evan’s ear—Freya’s tone. Something was not right about it. He knew how his love spoke, her ‘I’s’ were softer, heavily rural, and sounded more like ‘Ahs’ than the proper word. Still, he shook the notion off—she was shocked by her sister, that had to affect her in ways he could not count.
Running his arm down the length of her spine, Evan did his best to assure her, “Me men are down at the loch with yer Faither’s and are searching for her too. If we dinnae find her tonight, me men will come back on the morrow and keep searching until we do.”
Her hand clutched at his clothes, “But…but what…what if she’s dead?”
With no words to answer her question with, Evan could only hold her close, until Laird Lobhdain came back and opened the door. The tightness on his face told Evan that they still had not found Elspeth. “Sir?”
“Take Freya to yer home, Son,” the older man said. “I ken she needs ye more than she needs me or her Maither tonight.”
“But Faither—” Freya started, and again, Evan felt the subtle spark in his mind. Freya never called the Laird her father; it was always Laird Aidan.
“Nay buts, Freya,” the man said strictly. “It is late, and ye’re distraught. Go with Saunderson and, Son, keep her with ye. Tonight, has already been rough on her. Take the carriage back to yer home, and I’ll send another maid, as her old maid Miriam is slightly unwell, to help her on the morrow.”
“Aye, sir,” Evan nodded.
“I cannae promise ye, Freya, but I’ll do me best to save yer sister,” Laird Lobhdain said, before he closed the door and ordered the driver to take them to the Ruthven Castle.
Freya sank in his arms and closed her eyes, the tight knot in her brows and clench of her hands on her skirt, showing her distress. The journey to his home was filled with uneasy quiet between them, and arriving at the still-active castle, Evan helped Freya out—and her palms were smooth.
“Yer hands,” he said, “they’re smooth.”
“Oh,” Freya said, “Elspeth gave me a trick, to use raw sugar and olive oil to remove the calluses. I kent it would better for me as yer Lady to nay look so…unrefined.”
“Ye dinnae have to do that,” Evan said as he ushered her inside, “I like ye as ye were, callused hands and all.”
A few people passed by them, but only once did Evan stop, and that was to ask if his mother was in bed. After getting an affirmative, he guided Freya to his rooms. “Do ye want a bath, Love? I ken it's late, but I can have them fill the tub.”
“I…” Freya’s eyes drifted around the room, “I ken that would be best. I’m cold and very unsettled.”
“I can only imagine,” Evan said, smoothing his hand over her arm, “I’ll send for ye water.”
While she went toward the bed and tugged her fur coat off, Evan went to summon a servant. With the order given for the water, he found Freya perched at the window, and her face turned toward the direction of the Lobhdain Castle, worry painted on her face.
Evan went behind her and rested his chin on her temple, “They’ll find her, love. They have to.”
Freya’s head rested just under his chin, and her lashes fluttered, “I pray so.”
After staring at the falling snow, he kissed where his lips rested, “I’ll have the oil in the water for ye.”
“Join me?” she asked.
“Nay this time,” Evan said, kindly. “Take all the time ye need. I have to speak with some of me men. A few of them are hardy enough to dive the loch without risking their lives, and I have to sort out the rotation they’ll have to take in searching for Elspeth.”
Her smile was thin, and Freya nodded solemnly as he left the room. He braved the snow and went to his guard’s house and spoke with the co-captain of the forces on how the search for Elspeth was going. He got the names of the men who could dive and ordered the captain to make plans with them on where to search at dawn.
“Have faith; we’ll find her,” were his parting words as he left the room.
When Evan got back to the room, he saw that Freya had not gotten out of the bath yet, and laid out a long white léine on the bed for her to dress in when she did. Leaving again, he found a passing servant and asked her to get warm milk, pieces of bread, cheese, and sweet fruit preserves for a late supper.
Lingering in the corridor, Evan allowed the events of the day to settle on his soul. He felt blindsided, and if he was still digesting his shock, he could only assume how Freya was feeling. Rubbing his face, Evan went back inside to see Freya dressed in the léine he had left out for her, and was laying on the bed.
The thick fabric still draped over her curves, and her hair slipping over her shoulder was compelling, but for another situation, one where all was fine in their lives. Evan perched on the edge of the bed and smoothed her hair away, “I’ve sent for some food, maybe ye’ll feel a little better when ye’ve eaten somethin’.”
“Nae hungry,” Freya mumbled.
“Come on, Love,” he coaxed. “Ye need to eat something.”
She shook her head, “That willnae make me feel better.”
