Page 63 of The Highlander's Virgin Widow
Without waiting for a response, he rode out of the courtyard and straight into the woods, the cold morning mist gathering across his face in droplets.
22
Her eyes flew open with the sun, and so did all the memories of what had happened the previous night. She was in her bed, and the ghastly sun rays were beginning to filter into the room through her window, bathing the room in a yellowish hue.
She was awake, yet for some reason, she felt like she needed to remain asleep as long as possible. She didn’t feel like leaving her bed or even taking a bath, but she had to do it. Her maids would come knocking anytime soon, and while their concern came from a good place, she knew she wouldn’t be able to take questions from them.
As she rose from the bed, memories of the night before and even more flashed across her mind. The heated discussion she had with Evander, the slow realization that they were both helpless and there was nothing either of them could do about it.
She was surprised that she had even managed to get a few hours of sleep after being overcome with emotion throughout the previous night. Her head throbbed as she headed to the bathing chamber, a sign of a poor night’s sleep.
Like clockwork, her door slid open, and Stella walked in slowly, her hands politely folded before her.
“Good morning, M’Lady,” she greeted, her voice low and somewhat soft. “I apologize if I ruined yer sleep last night. It was never me intention to?—”
“I ken what ye meant to do last night, Stella. It is quite all right.”
Stella nodded.
A tense silence descended between them, punctuated only by hoofbeats and the sound of livestock from below the castle, before Keira broke it again.
“How is the food supply coming along?”
“Going quite well, M’Lady. We just need to sort out a few more things and we will be good to go.”
“That is quite wonderful,” she responded.
“Let me run yer bath quickly.” Stella offered and hurried into the other room. Keira sat on one side of her bed, watching hermaid get to work. Stella moved seamlessly across the tub and she couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if Fletcher had lived. She didn’t even know why her thoughts wandered to him, but they did. Would he have killed her as well?
A mild shudder swept down her body. Part of her wondered as well if Fletcher would have even killed her if she had been unable to bear him children.
“I am done, M’Lady,” Stella announced, drawing her out of the horrific reverie.
Keira gave her a grateful glance right before taking off her shift.
“Do ye need me help with that? I can?—”
“’Tis quite all right, Stella.” Keira laughed.
She tossed the shift onto her bed and watched the young maid head to her wardrobe, rifling through her dresses.
“Is there anyone I need to see today?”
“Nae yet, M’Lady. Well, nae later in the day.”
Keira frowned and stared at Stella. “What do ye mean by that?”
“The Laird’s sister-in-law, Lady Kincaid, and her son, asked after ye at breakfast.”
“Oh, did they, now? Was the Laird nae enough entertainment for them?” she asked as she approached the tub, peering into the water.
“The Laird was also nae in attendance, M’Lady.” Stella’s voice cut through the momentary relief she had felt from staring at the water.
Keira frowned and turned around. “What did ye say?”
“The Laird wasnae at breakfast,” Stella repeated.
Keira swallowed. Did he think she was going to be at the dining hall and had refused to come out just to avoid talking to her?
