Page 92 of The Highlander's Virgin Widow
“Trust me, this isnae exciting for me, either.”
“Ye can leave if ye want,” Hudson suggested. “I will leave with ye and find a place for ye. A place far away from here.”
Keira stopped and turned to him, the same bitter smile returning to her face. She reached for his cheek and stroked it gently with her thumb. “I want ye to believe me, Hudson, when I tell ye that yer loyalty hasnae gone unnoticed.”
Hudson reached for her hand, an earnest look on his face. “Then let me be loyal to ye till the end, Keira.”
Her breath hitched at the mention of her name, but she didn’t acknowledge it.
“Let me help ye escape.”
“Dinnae worry, ye have done quite enough for me. And I appreciate ye,” Keira murmured.
She turned back and made her way to the castle, leaving him and her disaster of a wedding behind. She hurried to her room, her feet quickening across the floor. She just needed a moment of peace. A moment of complete silence to herself, where she didn’thave to fake a smile for anyone or respond to subtly jealous clanswomen.
She pushed the door to her room open and froze at the sight that greeted her. Her eyes swept over the space before her, as that was what it was now—just space. Everything was gone. Her clothes, her dresser, her trinkets. The only thing left in the room was the bed, now stripped bare of its covers.
A maid stepped out of the bathing chamber, carrying vials of bathing oils and towels. Keira gave her a quizzical look.
“M’Lady,” the maid greeted, bobbing a short curtsy.
“What the devil happened here?” Keira asked, disbelief written all over her face as she continued staring at the empty room.
“The Laird ordered that all yer things be moved to his quarters, as that is where ye shall sleep from now on.”
Keira swallowed as the maid made her way out of the room, leaving her to her racing thoughts and memories evoked by the scent of bathing oils.
Everything was happening too fast.Way too fast.
She stood there for a few more minutes, staring out the window at the distant mountains and the sun dipping beneath the horizon. The scene beyond her window looked more alluringthan the castle. The growing longing she felt as she continued to watch made her heart pound.
On the other side of this world was freedom. The ability to do whatever she wanted without being persecuted. Without being accused of murder at every corner. She could grow several gardens and rear a thousand animals.
She would be free.
Hudson’s words replayed in her mind, over and over again.
Ye can leave if ye want.
It made wonder if running away was truly the worst idea. She didn’t think too hard about it. Instead, she made her way to the Laird’s quarters, watching the maids rearrange the last of her things in the room.
She was back in her old room now, but with a manandat a cost. One she was not certain she was willing to pay.
As the last of the maids finally filed out of the room, leaving her alone once again, Evander stepped inside, his eyes immediately landing on her.
“Ye’re here already.”
Keira swept her hand across the room. “Apparently.”
A tense silence descended between them, and it was clear neither of them knew what to say.
Keira sighed and reached for the laces at her back. Slowly, she pulled at them, and her corset loosened. She exhaled slowly.
“Ye ken, I should be helping ye do that.”
“Now is nae the time for jokes, Evander.”
“Who said I was joking?”
