"I can't stay here, Gavin!" she blurted, unable to keep her frustrations bottled up any longer.
He drew back, appearing stunned for a second. "Why?"
"I feel like a prisoner. I can't go outside without being attacked by a wild animal. I can't even go onto the roof. You leave every day to go who-knows-where, and I'm all alone. The guys are here, but it's not the same. They don't even like me."
"Who?"
"Ewan and the others. I'm nothing but a burden to them. They have to guard me, cook my food, wash my clothes, lug buckets of water." She shook her head. "I'm used to taking care of myself."
"'Tis their duty. They work for you too, now. You're the lady of the castle."
"But what am I supposed todobesides eating and sleeping? Wash clothes on a rubboard? Scrub floors on my hands and knees?"
"Nay! Oversee their duties. Manage the staff. You're nay to labor like a servant."
"I don't like giving orders to people older than I am."
He grinned. "You'll get used to it. Soon, the maids will return, and you'll have even more servants to oversee."
She didn't want more servants; she wanted her husband. "Why did you leave today? It's the first day of our honeymoon."
He looked pained, then murmured, "I had nay choice in the matter, lass."
"Why? Are you working on a job? First and second shift?"
Frowning, he observed her for a long moment. "What do you mean byshift?"
"Eight hours of work."
He shook his head. "'Tis because of Wilona MacRae."
Her name grated at Dani's nerves. "Why do you blame her for everything?"
"She is the cause!"
At her wit's end, Dani shook her head. Nothing made sense around here. "A wolf chased me today, Gavin. I could've died."
"I ken it," he growled.
She imagined Ewan must have told him since he kept him apprised of everything. "If you had been here, I wouldn't have been outside alone. I was looking for you."
"I'm doing the best I can." He let out a tired breath. "Stay inside until we figure out how to stop the witch. The curse is still in force."
"Oh. I thought it had ended," Dani said, surprised.
"I believed so too, but…." He shook his head, mouth downturned.
"How can you tell?"
"Naught has changed. Da is still in the grips of madness. No one from the clan has returned."
"They probably don't know yet. Maybe they will return once they hear the news." As for his father, perhaps he wasn't hexed but instead mentally ill. They had told her she would destroy the evil spell. Had they been wrong?
Gavin shrugged, looking downcast. She couldn't believe how much she'd missed him today. How could she be annoyed with him all day, and then, when she stood in his magnetic presence, all the negativity blew away like fine dust? Now, she only wanted to touch him and hold him. She moved closer and slipped her arms around his waist, his clothes still a bit damp from the rain. His arms enclosed her in a warm and strong embrace.
"I missed you," she confessed in a whisper. "Will you stay with me tomorrow?"
"I would love to, lass," he murmured against her hair. "But 'twill be impossible."
