Page 59 of The Eagle

The door opened slowly to show Lady Mariel holding a candlestick. The woman slipped inside and closed the door. “Ye have everyone frantic searching for ye. Guards have been sent to the cottage to see if ye went there.”

“Is it Stuart?” Cait whispered.

“Aye, it is,” Lady Mariel replied. “I take it ye do not wish to see him at the moment?”

“I am not prepared,” Cait replied. “I cannot.”

“Very well. Remain here I will reassure everyone ye are unharmed and insist he does not seek ye out until tomorrow at the soonest.” Lady Mariel pressed a kiss to Cait’s brow. “All will be well. Do not fret dear.” She placed the candlestick on a small table and walked out.

A long time later, the door opened, and once again Cait started. This time it was Cora with a tray of food. She placed the tray on the same table and pushed it closer to Cait. Then Cora lowered to a chair and watched her.

“He is unhappy.”

Cait lifted a piece of bread and bit off a small piece. “Why?”

“It seems he is upset that ye will not see him.”

“I cannot. I am scared he will confirm my fears and will let me go,” Cait admitted.

Cora nodded. “He looks so different. Like a wild man.”

“Where is he now?”

“In the study with the laird and Mister Caelan.”

The study was down the hall. Cait would have to pass it to get to the stairs. “How can I get to my bedchamber?”

“Lady Mariel is going to wait for him to go to bed and fetch ye. However, she did say if he does not, then ye can sleep in here,” Cora said in a normal tone.

“Lower yer voice,” Cait admonished, her eyes flying to the door.

Cora blew out a breath and whispered. “I would be nervous to see him after so long as well, if I were in yer shoes.”

It seemed an eternity before Lady Mariel finally sent for her. She and Cora hurried up the stairs and then to the room she now inhabited. It was at the opposite end of the corridor from Stuart’s room.

With the door closed and the key in the lock, finally Cait let out a breath. Cora had tried to stay with her, but Cait had sent her away to find her mother.

“Please tell my mother I will speak with her in the morning. And assure her I am well, just a bit confused.”

Cait just couldn’t talk to anyone, needing to be alone. What she wanted to do was think about how exactly she’d react to seeing Stuart face-to-face the next day. What would she say to him?

She undressed, washed up at the basin, and donned a clean nightgown. Once that was done, Cait brushed out her hair and braided it. Then she slipped between the blankets. It was a long time before she was able to fall asleep.

Loud voices woke her with a start. It was clearly Stuart who spoke. “Tell me where she is Mother.”

Lady Mariel’s voice was stern. “She will see ye today. Go downstairs for first meal. I will speak to her and ensure she meets with ye.”

“Meets?” Stuart said in a tone that sounded furious. “She is my betrothed. I demand to speak to her right now.”

There was silence. Then a grunt and retreating footsteps.

Cait opened the door slowly to find an angry Lady Mariel glaring in the direction of the stairwell. “I do not think to have ever seen him so angry.”

“I do apologize for the distress this is causing ye. I will dress and speak with him immediately.”

Lady Mariel’s smile was soft. “I believe it is best that ye should speak to one another. I admit to being worried about Stuart’s reaction if ye do not marry him. He is not as strong as he seems dear.”

When Lady Mariel walked away, as if magically conjured, Cora appeared. She helped Cait pick out a gown. She chose a simple blue dress that suited her complexion. Once dressed, she ran a brush through her long hair, then twisted the strands together and pinned them at the nape of her neck allowing small whisps to escape around her face. Once that was complete, she let out a breath and walked out of her bedchamber.