Page 59 of Hunted By the Hard Highlander

“Saints,” she whispered under her breath, smiling politely as she moved through the clusters of allies making plans and women gossiping about their castles. “This is much more than I was expectin'."

She scanned the room, searching for Hendry’s face amongst the gathered men. The ladies had already drifted back to their own husbands, joining in the social fold of the day. Troublingly, she did not see him anywhere, not even standing at the edges of the room nor in the darkest corners.

After confirming that he had not tucked himself away in one of the alcoves, Aurora accepted the fact that Hendry was simply avoiding the guests. She likely would not see him again until the binding.

Well, if he doesnae have to socialize before then, I daenae need to either.

With that thought in mind, she threaded her way through all of the people, politely exchanging greetings with those that stopped her. When the sunlight hit her face, she released a breath that she had not realized she was holding. The air here was much less oppressive, the sounds of the gathering much less deafening.

After taking a moment to center herself, Aurora wandered toward the sounds of children playing. The gardens came into view, the plants swaying in the breeze. And, in the center, all of the children who had grown bored of the adults’ version of fun had come for refuge.

“They seem to ken entertainment better than the people inside,” she murmured, a smile tugging at her lips. “Perhaps I should have come out here sooner.”

The children did not seem to notice her approach. The large group of boys playing with wooden swords was too absorbed in playing fierce Highland warriors to concern themselves with any watchful eyes. Further away, she spotted Adair racing across the grass with a boy who bore a familial resemblance to Sebastian. He was likely a cousin or a nephew.

Careful not to disturb the children’s play, she walked over to a great oak tree that was casting enticing shade. As she settled, she made note of the presence of the guards. By her estimates, they had doubled, and they were making their presence unavoidable.

It was Hendry’s orders, that she was sure of. The man was prepared for any eventuality. Though she did not want to believe that they would be attacked, the ball of anxiety in her chest loosened significantly at the realization that they would not be caught unaware.

I should have kent that he wouldnae leave this up to chance.

“Ye cannae catch me!” Adair’s wee voice called, carrying over the wind.

“Daenae be so sure!” the other boy exclaimed, darting after him.

Aurora could not help but laugh at their antics, at the carefree nature of them. She thanked God for the stolen moment of peace, the way her brother was behaving as a child and not as a tiny little version of the Laird he would one day become. If it were not for Hendry, she knew that this would have never come to pass.

They would likely still be on the run, and that was only if Adair had managed to pull through with Aurora’s limited healing supplies.

“It is good to see him behavin’ as a boy,” she murmured, unable to keep from speaking her graciousness aloud.

For a long while, she did nothing but observe. The boys that were taking turns with the wooden swords passed them off, allowing others to take part in the game. Adair and the other child did not seem to tire in the slightest, taking turns chasing one another before they decided that they would prefer foot races.

After nearly half an hour of quiet observation, someone along the furthest wall in the distance caught her eye. It was a guard that she had never seen before, standing at attention and never moving. Though she knew she should not be surprised that she was still seeing new faces within the castle, something about this particular man felt off.

Perhaps I am just bein’ paranoid. I have been lookin’ over me shoulder for so long that I daenae ken how to do anythin’ but.

She did not look away from the man, her eyes steady on him as though she could either deduce who he was through looks alone or deter him from acting against the people who had gathered. He was unflinching, either unaware of Aurora’s attention or unbothered by it. She was not sure which she preferred, if she would rather the guard be unaware or have a purpose that required focus on something unknown and unseen to her.

Eventually, time passed without Aurora even realizing it, the guard stepped back. His movements were smooth, unnervingly so. It was almost as if he was not expecting to be watched, as if he did not want to draw any attention to himself.

He disappeared into the orchard, his body concealed by the rows of fragrant fruit trees. If she had not seen him move, there would have been no indication that there had been a man there at all. She wondered if it was not a tactical decision, one put in place by Hendry. Perhaps the man had seen her and decided that his position was compromised.

It would not be a far-fetched assumption that there were men who were meant to maintain their cover. Her own father had employed the tactics before. The best way to catch an intruder or an enemy would be to let him think his presence was undetected and unaccounted for.

“But…” Aurora whispered, her hand coming up to her chest in an attempt to still the swell of unease that returned much sharper than before. “Are we truly safe from me uncle?”

She sat with the feeling, letting herself experience the nerves for a few moments. Then, she dismissed it. She was not sure if she could trust the anxiety that bubbled inside her. The day had already proved to be a test of her tolerance.

It will all be all right. I must trust Hendry. And I must focus on the day ahead of me.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Saints, ye are covered in grass,” Mrs. Duncan said, fussing over Aurora just inside the castle’s open doors.

The wedding bells were chiming across the grounds, signaling to the guests who were still socializing within the castle that the binding would start within the hour. Many of them were still speaking to one another, finishing their conversations with laughs and promises that they would continue after the ceremony. They were blissfully unaware of the stress that had settled itself upon Aurora’s shoulders.

“I thought that I would enjoy a bit of fresh air before everythin’ began,” Aurora said, though the defense felt thin as Mrs. Duncan clicked her tongue and continued picking blades of dried grass from her skirt.