She and Tyra had not gone far before Edmund was beside them. She looked up thankfully as, without a word, he proffered hisarm to them both. She took it readily and was warmed to note that Tyra, after a moment’s hesitation, took the other.
When they reached Tyra’s bedchamber, Annora whispered to Edmund. “Can ye look inside the chamber and make sure there’s nay one waiting there.”
She was unable to rid herself of the image of MacDonald’s face twisted in rage.
He nodded and slipped into the room only to return moments later. “The chamber is empty.”
Annora led Tyra inside, leaving Edmund to wait in the passageway.
There was a large, comfortable chair in front of the fire and she waited until Tyra had slumped into the seat and then arranged soft cushions around her. She found a small fur coverlet and covered Tyra’s legs. The lass’s woebegone expression made her heart sore.
She stoked the fire and placed two more logs on it. When she turned back to Tyra, she was gratified to see the color was returning to her pale cheeks.
“Tyra, lass, ye deserve so much more.”
Tyra smiled wanly and clutched her hand. “I’ll be all right now. Ye’ve nay need tae stay wi’ me.”
“Are ye certain ye’ll be all right alone here? They are sending ye up some supper.”
Tyra nodded, managing a brief smile. “I shall answer the door tae nay one but the kitchen maids.”
Annora patted her hands. “If ye need me, our bedchamber is only a few doors further along the passage. Please dinnae hesitate tae call on us if ye need tae.”
Tyra nodded.
Once Annora had slipped back into the passage, she waited with to hear the inside latch click.
Her hands were trembling and ice-cold as Edmund enfolded one in his.
“I can only pray she daesnae open the door if Harris should knock. She is very distressed.”
He patted the hand he was holding. “Ye did what was right, lass, but we cannae protect her. She is Harris’s betrothed, and he was right, what happens between them is nae our business.”
She turned to face him, shaking her head. “That may be. But I cannae stand by and speak nay words when I see a person mistreated as the Lady Tyra was.”
He nodded. “Now Harris has made his position clear. Tae him I am a usurper and any claim I may have tae the lairdship is nae legitimate.”
No sooner had they entered their bedchamber and Edmund started stoking the fire, there came a knock at the door.
They looked at each other in alarm.
Edmund shook his head. “Ne’er be afeared. ‘Tis nae Harris. He’s off licking his wounds somewhere. We’ll nae see him again this night.”
He went to the door and opened it and two kitchen maids scurried in bearing trenchers, soup, roasted fowl, honeyed carrots and neaps with bowls of raspberries and cream.
They put the food on the table. “Lord Tormod bade us bring yer supper.”
Edmund breathed a quiet “Thank ye,” as the first maid bobbed a curtsey and they hurried off.
They ate their supper, saying little, both lost in thought.
The events of the evening weighed on her thoughts. MacDonald’s boorish behavior was what she’d come to expect. But what her mind turned to again and again – although she made every effort to push the stray thoughts away – was the kiss she and Edmund had shared earlier.
She could no longer deny it to herself. Edmund Sinclair MacNeacail was becoming more to her than she’d ever imagined. She’d only accompanied him to Scorrybreac because she had nay other place to go and he was her best hope of escape.
Yet now she had no stomach for her plan to leave him in Norway or France or any other place on The Continent.
She was forced to face the unpleasant possibility that with every passing day, it became more likely that her father would be closer to finding out where she’d gone. After all, she’d scarcely hidden her tracks when she had left her aunt and uncle at Castle Tioram and taken to the sea so recklessly.
