Tess allowed herself to be pulled to her feet. Sheclamped down her emotions and, with Fiona’s help, prepared for thefeast being held in her honor. Tonight, she would smile and showher appreciation for this family that had taken her in.
Tomorrow, after she started her journey south, sheknew she would have plenty of time to grieve.
Dinner at Benmore Castle was a grandaffair.
The castle servants bustled about, peopletalked and laughed at the tables, children danced to the music andran about after the dogs. Alexander and James were in constantconversation with the clan folk. The laird and his wife wereperfect hosts. But since the start of dinner, Tess had beenunmindful of everything and everyone but the handsome andexceptionally quiet young man seated beside her.
This was their last night together—the lastmoments. But neither of them had said much. Tess was terrified evento glance in his direction. She hadn’t left, but already she wasmissing him. Her tears were plenty and she was holding them backonly with great difficulty.
A serving man removed a platter of food that she’dleft untouched before her and replaced it with an assortment offruit.
“Not hungry tonight?” Colin asked.
Tess tried to regain her poise and find the voice toanswer him, but all she was able to do was shake her head.
“Not thirsty either?” He leaned near her tocheck her cup. The brush of his hair against her cheek made Tessshiver. “What are you drinking, anyway?”
Tess wrapped her hand around the cup.“Water.”
“Not much nourishment, considering the longdays of travel ahead.”
He didn’t have to remind her. Her chinstarted trembling, and she thought her composure was about tocrumble. Tess started to raise her cup to hide her sadness behindit. Colin’s large hand closed over hers, his fingers holding herscaptive, while his other hand filled her cup from a pitcher. “Areyou cold?”
“Not cold. Sad.” Heat rose into her face at theblurting out the truth of her feelings. In spite of it, Tess daredherself to look at him. His eyes were smoldering embers. “I’mleaving in the morning, and that leaves so little time to saygoodbye to those I have come to care for.”
“This does not have to be a final farewell.” Colinreached up and casually pushed a loose strand of hair from hercheek. His fingers scorched her skin where they brushed so lightlyagainst her face.
“I…I have little hope of ever coming back.”Embarrassed at her own boldness, at sounding as if she was coaxingan invitation, Tess quickly tore her gaze from his face and stareddown at weave of the cloth on the table. She loved him so much thatit hurt. But her pride would not let her fall apart. She would notbeg for his affection. “They say one path always leads on to otherpaths.”
She blinked hard, forcing back the tearsthat were standing out in her eyes.
“Did you get a chance to meet the men yourmother has send to escort you?”
She was grateful for the change in topic ofconversation. “I did.”
“Do you know them? Have you met thembefore?”
She shook her head, keeping her gaze on thetable.
“Wouldn’t you prefer to have someone youknow accompany you?” Colin gently lifted her chin. “Someone youtrust and perhaps even care for? Someone who is eager to meet yourmother so he might seek her approval of him? Wouldn’t you prefersomeone like that to escort you to the Borders?”
Tess couldn’t ignore the sudden thunderingof her heart. “Are you…are you offering your services?”
He gently wiped a droplet from her cheek. “Iam, if you’ll have me.”
She laughed through the tears. “Nothingwould make me happier.”
“Are you sure you don’t want us to followthem?” Alexander asked. He and James and the laird stood on thebattlements of the castle and watched the group of Burnett men,accompanied by Tess and Colin and only a half-dozen Macphersons,departing for the Borders. “What he’s getting himself into may befar more dangerous than being washed off the deck of a ship.”
“He’ll be fine,” the laird said, lookingafter the company riding down the hill from the castle.
“But you saw for yourself how surly those bloodyBurnetts were last night,” Alexander argued, “when they saw howColin and Tess looked at one another.”
“We know he wants to handle this on his own,” Jameschimed in. “But he’ll be outnumbered the minute they leaveMacpherson land. And even if they make it to the Borders, what ifLady Evelyn doesn’t fancy him coming along? The bloody witch couldthrow him into her dungeon or—”
“I thought you two were looking forward tobeing rid of him?”
“We’re serious, father.” Alexander castanother tense glance in the direction of the travelers.
