Page 30 of Her Highland Prophecy
It was only when she was once again in his arms, warm against the elements that his words penetrated the fog of exhaustion. They would be arriving at the Castle the next day.
A small ball of unease settled in her stomach, knowing that her very life depended on how well she could play her role.
Gordain, no doubt sensing her disquiet, pulled her closer to him in the darkness. She instantly felt calmer. Experimenting with the unexpected feeling, she turned and pushed her face on his shoulder. His arm closed around her tightly and a feeling of complete safety encompassed her.
She had no doubt that as long as he was near, no one would harm her.
But what if you are separated?
She batted the question away like a fly and closed her eyes, falling in to slumber almost instantly.
11
Gordain was once again awake at first light with Diana nestled tightly against him. He had been surprised when she had asked to sleep near him the previous night, but it was welcome, especially after realizing that he wanted her to stay in the past with him.
He could find another way to make money for the Clan, but he was certain that he would never find another woman like her.
Breakfast was also a simpler affair. Unlike the roast rabbit from yesterday, they had bought bannocks and some cheese in Beauly to eat. Though Diana did look a little ill when he also had a piece of the meat with the cheese.
“Do ye still want to see Castle Lovat?” he asked once they had gathered up their camp.
“Yes, please,” she said. “It’s completely destroyed in my time. There isn’t even rubble. I am curious to see what it looks like when it’s standing.”
He smiled at her excitement and helped her mount on Taranis.
“All right, then. It’s only a couple of miles from here.”
They took off at a brisk pace. The day was unusually warm and sunny, a rarity in the Highlands, but it suited his mood that morning. He was looking forward to returning home.
“Will you tell me more about your family, Gordain?” she asked after a few minutes. “I should know more about them before I meet them, especially as your betrothed.”
“That isnae a bad idea,a nighean. And maybe we should decide what we are going to tell them about yer family.”
“All right, but you first,” she said.
He wondered where he should begin. His family was rather large and once the members of the Clan were included…she would be overwhelmed very quickly.
“I told ye that I have three sisters, remember.” At her nod he continued. “Ye will most likely meet all three of them, though Eleanor lives with her husband and the bairns.”
“And the other two?” she asked, and he could hear the apprehension in her voice.
“They willnae cause ye trouble, Diana. Mabel and Joan are about ten years younger than me and they’re bonnie lasses, sweet as pie.”
She was worrying her bottom lip with her teeth as he spoke. He pushed away the urge to use his thumb to free it as he waited for her to ask the question he knew was coming.
“Do you think they will like me?” she finally asked. “I mean, I will only be here for a few weeks, so it probably doesn’t matter, but I would prefer if they didn’t hate me.”
“Dinna fash, Princess. They will like ye well enough. Ye just need to be careful to nay use any funny words when ye are with them. I trust me sisters, but they are wee lasses. They might say something to the wrong person, and it would end badly for ye.”
She shivered in his arms.
Unfortunately, it was a real concern. She said things that were so strange sometimes and she did not know simple things that even a child would know. Some things they could explain as her being English, but he could easily see some of the older and more superstitious people accusing her of witchcraft.
“I’ll be careful,” she promised.
“I’ll help ye as much as I can, but I cannae be with ye all the time.”
She looked satisfied at that and for a while, the only noise around them was the calling of the birds in the trees. He took a deep breath smelling the sap of the pine trees. They were the sounds and the smells that he had known since childhood and he was excited to be nearing home.
