“Me Lady?” came Leah’s voice. “I came to say goodbye. I… I heard that ye were leaving.”
Skye swallowed her ungrateful disappointment and made herself smile. “Aye, I’m going back to Keep MacCrimmon. Evander thinks it’s best.”
“Do ye think it’s best?”
She flinched at the bold question. “Does it matter?”
“I reckon it does.”
Skye didn’t answer. Instead, she turned, staring up at the keep.
At this hour of the morning, many people would still be asleep. The councilmen, for instance, would still be snoring in their beds. Lower servants would be up, getting the fires ready, scrubbing the grates, and preparing breakfast. Luckier, more senior servants might get to sleep longer.
Skye could sleep as long as she liked once she got home.
Will Hunter be pleased to see me, or will he consider that I’ve failed? What about the others in the keep? They’ll all ken what’s happened. Will I be damaged goods? A crazy woman with half of her memories gone? Or will I simply be Skye again, a talkative spinster who speaks too sharply?
Leah darted forward, dragging her into a tight hug.
“Thank ye for speaking up for Mason,” she whispered. “He… He adores ye, really. I ken ye wouldnae believe it.”
“He was always me friend,” Skye murmured. “I cannae forget what he did, but I understand it.”
Leah pulled back, misty-eyed. “I didnae ken. Ye must believe me. I had no idea what was happening or what danger ye were in. Mason acted strangely once ye had gone, but I thought it was just worry, fear that ye were being hurt. I?—”
“It’s all right,” Skye soothed, placing a hand on her arm. “Daenae blame yerself. I certainly daenae, and nor does Evander. LairdBryden,” she corrected, reddening. He wouldn’t beEvanderto her now, would he?
A tall man stepped out of the keep doorway. Skye turned to face him, her heart leaping.
He’s come to stay goodbye, after all. Or maybe even to tell me that he’s changed his mind, that?—
The light fell on Fergus’s red hair, and Skye’s stomach plummeted.
“Time to go, me Lady,” he said gently, regarding her with something like sympathy. “Ye have a long journey ahead of ye. Yer braither is expecting ye, and he’ll worry if ye are late.”
Skye clenched her jaw. “I’ll say goodbye to Evander first. Where is he? Why hasnae he come down?”
Fergus bit his lip, glancing away.
He’s been expecting this question,Skye realized.And he hasnae been looking forward to it.
“I daenae believe that Laird Bryden is coming down,” he said.
Skye blinked. “Surely nae. Surely he cannae be so cowardly.”
“It’s nae cowardice. He’s a busy man. The prospect of war drives lairds into early graves, remember? Maybe that’s something ye should bear in mind when ye get back to yer clan. War does nobody any good.”
Skye took a moment to compose herself.
“I see,” she said.
“I can fetch him for ye, if ye have something to say to him.”
“I have nothing to say,” she snapped. “I’ll write to him.”
At that moment, a black-furred blur came streaking out of the keep, meowing wildly.
Skye’s heart fluttered in relief.
