Mistress Agnes lookedup from grinding herbs at her table. “The lady will recover fully, Me Laird. The blow was hard but clean—nay lasting damage. However…” She fixed Andrea with a stern look. “She needs rest.Completerest.”
“I feel fine,”Andrea protested, then immediately contradicted herself by pressing a hand to her temple. “Well, mostly fine.”
“Ye scaredten years off me life,” Hector said, settling into the chair beside her bed. “When I saw all that blood…”
“As if I’dlet some gutter rat get the better of me.” Andrea’s eyes flashed with indignation. “Though I suppose he did get the jump on me. Willnae happen again, I can tell ye that.”
Gabriella squeezed Andrea’s hands,guilt twisting in her stomach. “I’m so sorry this happened because of me.”
“Because of ye?”Andrea’s voice rose sharply. “Child, this happened because evil men make evil choices. Dinnae ye dare blame yerself for his actions.”
“Listen to her,”Hector said quietly. “She’s right.”
Gabriella feltsome of her guilt ebb at their words, though it didn’t disappear entirely.
Andrea’s gazeflicked from Hector’s protective stance to Gabriella’s proximity to his chair. “Well then. I suppose we’ll need to postpone the wedding. Give everyone time to recover from this ordeal.”
“Nay,”Gabriella and Hector blurted in unison.
Andrea’s eyebrows rose. “Nay?”
“The wedding will takeplace tomorrow, as planned,” Hector said firmly. “Nothin’ that bastard did will change that.”
“But surely after such trauma—”
“After such trauma,we need each other more than ever.” Gabriella felt certainty settle in her chest like a stone. “I willnae let him ruin our weddin’ day, too.”
She watchedAndrea look between them, and saw the moment understanding dawned in her eyes. The older woman’s expression softened with something that might have been approval.
“I see.”She nodded slowly. “Aye, perhaps ye’re right. Perhaps the best way to defeat evil is to refuse to let it change yer plans.”
“Exactly,”Gabriella said, relief flooding through her.
She couldn’t imagine waitingany longer to be Hector’s wife, couldn’t bear the thought of letting Lewis’s attack delay their happiness.
“Well, then.”Andrea smiled, though her expression was strained with exhaustion. “I suppose I better rest so I can properly see me son married tomorrow.”
The healer clearedher throat pointedly. “Speaking of rest, I think that’s quite enough excitement for one day. Her Ladyship needs sleep if she’s going to attend the wedding tomorrow.”
“Of course.”Hector stood up and pressed a gentle kiss to his mother’s forehead. “Rest well, Maither. We’ll see ye in the morning.”
“See that ye do.”Andrea caught his hand as he straightened. “And Hector? I’m proud of ye. Both of ye. Ye handled this crisis exactly as a laird should—and as a man in love should.”
Gabriella feltwarmth spread through her chest at her words, at being included so naturally in her praise.
“Thank ye, Maither.”
“Now, go.”Andrea shooed them toward the door. “Let an old woman get her beauty sleep before she has to look presentable for half the Highlands.”
As they reached the doorway,Andrea called out softly, “Gabriella?”
“Aye?”
“Welcome to the family,child. Officially welcome.”
Gabriella’s smilewas radiant despite her exhaustion. “Thank ye, Me Lady. For everythin’.”
25
