Page 104 of The Highlander's Virgin Widow
“M’Laird—” Lesley began.
“Please dinnae try to convince me of anything. Where did Keira go?”
“The inn,” Hudson offered. “One of me men escorted her there. She plans to leave for the Lowlands tomorrow.”
“The Lowl—” Evander exhaled and took a step back.
“M’Laird, yer health—” Lesley tried again, but Evander had already left.
He was gone before they could try to reach him or stop him from doing anything.
“Do ye see what ye have caused?” Hudson growled, snatching at Lesley’s wrist and squeezing it hard. “Ye had one job. Lesley.One.Now ye have managed to ruin everything—like ye always do.”
“I did what ye asked,” Lesley protested, her voice on the verge of tears. “I gave him the root that stopped his heart. That was what ye wanted, was it nae?”
“He was supposed tostaydead. The plan would have worked if ye havenae decided to bring the bastard back to life.”
Lesley sniffled. “I couldnae do it. I couldnae watch another man die. Again.”
Hudson rubbed a hand over his face. “God, ye ruined everything. Now I have to go to the inn meself and finish it.”
Lesley swallowed. “Are ye mad? Ye cannae kill her. She’s our friend. She’s me best friend.”
A harsh chuckle escaped Hudson’s lips. “Well, if ye had killed the Laird like ye were supposed to, we wouldnae have come to this, would we? This was supposed to be simple, Lesley. Ye were supposed to let his heart fail.And thenlet himdie. Ye had nay problem doing it to the former Laird.”
Lesley, in her anger and frustration, lifted her free hand and slapped him hard across the face. The sound reverberated through the halls.
“Ye bastard. How dare ye?! I only agreed with yer plan because Fletcher was abusive. I was doing everyone in the castle a favor by poisoning him.”
Hudson leaned in, his lips curled into a sneer. “Is that what ye tell yerself to sleep at night?”
“Ye’re such a disgrace of a braither,” Lesley hissed. “With each passing day, ye become more and more like Fletcher.”
Hudson absorbed her words, and for a minute, Lesley thought he was going to retaliate physically. Instead, he stepped back, adjusting the hilt of his sword.
“I ken exactly what to do with ye. But I dinnae have the time. I have to get to her before the Laird does. And I have to finish this once and for all.”
Lesley reached out a hand to him in utter despair. “Hudson, please, dinnae kill her. She did nothing to nay one. Ye cannae do this to her.”
Hudson regarded her for a moment, a malevolent look on his face. “If I cannae have her, nay one else will.”
Keira stared out the window at the endless flora below. The view was nothing like the one her room in the castle offered. Instead of overlooking the courtyard, the window overlooked the woods instead.
Nothing could be seen for miles except stretches of forests and trees. On the horizon, on the other hand, were mountains.
The sun had completely set by now, and she stared forlornly at the mountains looming beyond the window. The thought of starting a new life away from her home crept into her mind. But first, she must return to her old one.
The thought sent a shudder down her spine. Even though she didn’t want to do it, even though every fiber of her being was telling her not to, she must return to her father’s clan first. That meant facing her cousin, who had warned her to never set foot in the castle again.
She had never planned to return, but the circumstances had changed. And she needed to change with them as well.
Her room at the inn was half the size of her room at the castle. It was dingy and only equipped with the necessary items such as candles, bedcovers, and a dusty desk that sat close to the wall.
By first light, she must leave this village. She must put everything behind her and say goodbye forever.
A knock on the door pulled her out of her momentary reverie. She turned around and watched her man-at-arms walk in, a small smile on his face.
“Ye shouldnae stay so close to the window, M’Lady,” Hudson cautioned. “’Tis dangerous.”
