Page 70 of Her Highland Prophecy
Mabel spotted her lurking first.
“Diana!” she exclaimed, rushing over to her and reminding her so much of her little sister that she nearly flinched. Instead she smiled.
“Good morning, Mabel. I came to say goodbye to everyone before Gordain and I leave.”
The younger girl’s face fell.
“Do ye have to go?” she asked. Diana nodded.
“I was supposed to meet my family in Ballachulish once the fair started,” she said, repeating the cover story she and Gordain had created. “They will be worried if I am not there. Not to mention, we have not exactly asked their permission to be married. This will be our first opportunity to do so.”
“Do ye think they will be verra angry with ye?” Joan asked timidly. She and Eleanor had come closer to them while she was talking to Mabel.
“Honestly, I don’t know. My Father might be until we tell him that we will be married soon.”
Eleanor placed a hand on her arm. “Ye dinnae think that he will try to take ye back home, do ye? Even if ye are betrothed.”
“Hopefully not,” Diana answered. She didn’t know what else to say. If everything went according to her plan, she would never see them again and her father’s disapproval was what they would blame it on, but even so, she hated the lie.
Two identical red heads and a dark one nodded in understanding.
“I wanted to say ‘thank you’ to each of you before I left, though. Just in case something happens.”
“Nothing will happen,” Mabel said, her jaw set stubbornly. “Ye are coming home with Gordain. Maybe yer family can also come to visit us. And Mither will be back in two weeks. Ye have to meet her!”
Diana smiled sadly.
“Even so, I…you have all helped me so much and taught me so much since I arrived and I can’t tell you how much it all means to me. I can never repay you for all the kindness you have given me.”
“There is nay repayment necessary between family, Diana,” Eleanor said gently. Diana reached over and hugged her tightly in response. Eleanor held her just as fiercely.
“Ye have to come back,” she whispered in her ear. “It will destroy him if ye dinnae return.”
Diana just squeezed her tighter before turning to each of the twins and hugging them as well.
She thought they must have sensed her distress because all four had tears in their eyes when she finally managed to pull away and exit the kitchen, her heart heavy.
She was going to miss them so much more than she could have ever imagined. Despite her apparent oddness, they had welcomed her into their little group, and had been the brightest spot in her stay at the Castle beside Gordain himself.
She wiped her tears on her sleeve as she reached the courtyard, looking around for Gordain. He was not hard to spot. With his red hair and commanding presence there always seemed to be a small commotion around him wherever he was.
At the moment he and Bhaltair were standing near the stables while several clansmen vied for his attention. She approached them and stood next to Bhaltair while Gordain gave instructions regarding planting to one of the Clansmen.
“Are ye ready to see yer family?” Bhaltair asked her in an undertone.
“Yes, though I am not sure what will happen.”
“He won’t let anything happen to ye. And if I ken me Cousin well enough, he will steal ye away before he allows yer Faither to take ye back to England.”
Diana grimaced and looked over at Gordain. He looked intense that morning in a way she had not seen before. There was a tension in his frame that she thought might have nothing to do with the line of people forming and everything to do with their imminent departure.
“Will you do me a favor, Bhaltair?” she asked, turning back to look at the wiry red head.
“Aye. What is it, Lass?”
“If anything happens and I don’t return with him, please take care of him.” She raised her hand to forestall him from talking. “I know that you will. I saw how you protected him after he was shot and how much he relies on you, but I have to ask again for my own peace of mind.”
“He is like a brother to me,” Bhaltair said. “I will do everything I can.”
