Page 70 of Married to the Highland Devil
“What happened?” Elspeth asked as they rushed in. Amelia could tell they were home once she inhaled lavender and felt a warm hand on her shoulder.
“Duncan?” Yvaine asked next.
“Someone tried to shoot Amelia,” Duncan answered roughly. “I knew I shouldnae have taken her out of the castle.”
Amelia was still shaken as they spoke. Her lips stayed parted as she gulped in air. Her mind spun.
“I thought the people liked me now. I thought the feast… I had hoped they will not hate me as much anymore.”
“This isnae about hatin’ ye,” Duncan answered. “This is about tryin’ to hurt me by usin’ ye. I have men scoutin’ the village. They will bring me the shooter this time, and I shall punish him, even if it is the last thin’ I do.” He stormed away after that, leaving Amelia with Elspeth and Yvaine.
She was still shaken, and her insides trembled ever slightly. The shivers coursed through her till she wrapped her arms around herself to suppress them.
This has to be Laird MacGregor.
Only Malcolm would want to hurt Duncan by wanting Amelia dead.
“I am so sorry, Amelia,” Elspeth said to her and took her hand. “Let us get ye to yer chamber for a hot bath, and then I will have the cook make ye soup to calm yer nerves.”
Amelia did not object as they led her to her chamber. Dahlia brought hot water, and after soaking in it for a long time, she sat for Dahlia to brush her hair.
Yvaine came into Amelia’s chamber with a servant carrying a tray of soup and mutton.
“How are ye feelin’?” Yvaine asked before sitting by Amelia’s side. “I overheard some of the guards speakin’. The guards in Kret found the man who shot at ye. He is yet to confess anythin’, but Duncan is interrogatin’ him as we speak.”
Amelia could only nod. “Duncan will blame himself for what happened,” she whispered. “I had hoped that things were starting to get better since Malcolm has not made any move recently.”
“If I ken anythin’ about Laird MacGregor, it is that he shouldnae be trusted. The danger isnae over yet. He is just waitin’ to make us relaxed and weak so that when he strikes again, he can win. He wants the lairdship, and Duncan willnae let him get it no matter what it takes.” Yvaine’s tone was more serious now as she added, “He will protect all of us. It is what he does.”
Yvaine had a lot of faith in her brother, and so did Amelia. He had protected her since she had arrived at McLennan, and she did not doubt that he would this time. The only worry Amelia had was Duncan getting hurt in this fight.
She had feared losing him once, and she did not want to feel that desperate ache that had eaten at her again.
It is too much to bear.
* * *
Duncan came to her briefly that night, and he brought flowers.
“How do ye feel now?” he asked gently when he sat on her bed and smoothed a hand down her back.
Amelia rolled over to her other side, so she could face him, and she sighed. “I am all right. The healer gave me something to help me sleep, so I am fine.”
“I shallnae be here tonight,” he told her after handing her the single flower. Amelia lifted it to her nostrils, inhaled its dew-like scent, and basked in the freshness before asking, “Thistle?”
“Nay,” Duncan answered. “This is a Scottish bluebell. They have started to bloom in a field just outside the castle. I wanted to take ye to the field before we got attacked.”
“Thank you.” Amelia inhaled the flower’s scent as she twirled it around her fingers, and Duncan stroked her cheek gently before she added, “What happened today was not your fault. You could not have known.”
“Aye,” he agreed. “I couldnae have kenned, but I should have been more careful. If anythin’ had happened to ye, Amelia, I…” he trailed off, and Amelia’s heart began hammering in her chest because she suspected he was about to confess his feelings to her.
She held her breath, waiting to hear what he had to say.
“I dinnae think I can handle loosin’ ye, Amelia. I dinnae want to think of it happenin’ ever.”
Amelia swallowed hard to push down the lump that formed in her throat, and she smiled before stilling her shaky insides. Duncan kissed her lips then her forehead, and his lips lingered on her skin for a while before he finally drew away.
“I shall see ye by the morrow,” he told her. “Sleep well.”
