AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Please give my love to my nieces and nephews. Tell them that I will try and see them again. Although, I’m nae certain if or when I’ll be able to. Gabriel may nae allow me to go anywhere. But then again, tis possible that I could leave and he’d never notice. If only there was someone here for me to talk to. A friendly face to ease the burden of loneliness.
I will nae drag ye down further wit’ my blatherin’. But note I love ye all.
Your Sister,
Elena
Elena re-read the letter as she wiped the tears from her eyes. She couldn’t help but wonder if her sister would ease her plight. A spark of hope flickered within her as she envisioned Anna coming to aid her or at the very least visit to give her a reprieve from the isolation.
Rising, Elena folded the paper neatly and sealed it shut. Moving to the door, she pried it open and made her way down the steps to Gabriel’s study. The door looked ominous and daunting as she stood before it. As she lifted her hand to knock, it opened. Fright filled her as she looked into Jacob’s shocked face.
“Can I help ye, M’Lady?”
“I have a letter I’d like to send,” she explained as she found herself craning her neck to catch a glimpse of Gabriel. He sat behind his desk engaged in a stack of paperwork. Her heart dropped as she noticed he barely glanced at her. Swallowing hard, she returned her attention back to Jacob.
“I’ll see that it is delivered,” Jacob promised, taking the note from her hand. Elena found her chest tightening as the door began to close on her. The small sliver through which she could see Gabriel was closing. Panic shot through her as she stretched her hand out, stopping the door from closing on her.
“Gabriel.” Her voice rose loud enough to cause him to look up from his papers. With her heart pounding in her chest she found herself needing to see him. Even if it was but for a moment more, she realized she missed him. Even his jabs and harsh tones. His eyebrow arched as he stared at her. “Can we speak?”
Jacob glanced over his shoulder to Gabriel ready for his order.
“Let her in,” Gabriel said as he dropped the paper and leaned back in his chair. Elena pulled in a long deep breath to steady her nerves. Uncertain of what she wanted to say, she walked into the room as Jacob slipped out.
“What may I do for ye?” Gabriel asked in a harsh tone that grated on Elena’s heartstrings.
“Why are ye avoidin’ me?”
“And what makes ye think I’m avoidin’ ye?” he asked as he rested his elbows on the table and pressed his fingertips together. His eyes bore into her causing her to nearly lose her nerve to be in the room. She glanced around, finding books lining the back walls, a painting of a lonely tree out on the glen hung over the fireplace catching her attention.
“It seems since we returned, ye’ve either been in here or somewhere else,” she said, returning her attention back to him.
“There is a lot to take care of when yer the Laird.”
“Aye, I understand that. But why take yer dinner separate from mine? Why do ye nae even give me the slightest greetin’ when we see each other in passin’? Yer ignorin’ me and I want to ken why.”
He rose slowly from his chair and moved closer to her. Gabriel reminded her of a hunter stalking his prey as he moved so delicately across the room. His movements were slow and precise as if she startled easily. Lifting his head, he looked down at her. Suddenly, Elena felt very small as he towered over her.
“Is this nae what ye want? Yer uncle wanted ye to be married, so ye are. Ye want yer freedom to do as ye please, and yet yer nae happy wit’ bein’ able to have it. I daenae understand ye at all.”
“Freedom to do what I want?”
“Aye,” Gabriel said. “Yer the Lady here. There is nay one above ye save me and yet ye mope around the castle like a prisoner. Like I have ye tied down. Do I stop ye from takin’ a horse and ridin’ out of here? Nay. Do I have the doors and windows barred so that ye cannae enjoy the day in peace? Nay. I’ve instructed Emily to continue her daily duties runnin’ the house so that yer free to do as ye please. Yet, all I ever see from ye is sadness.”
Elena wanted to protest, but she couldn’t. Every word Gabriel said was true. She was no longer under anyone’s thumb or rule. Her misery stemmed from her own restrictions. She stepped back and chewed her lower lip as Gabriel’s eyes remained locked on her.
“If yer so bored here, perhaps takin’ up a hobby will help ye. Paint, learn a new skill. I daenae care. But I’ll nae be accused of abusin’ ye. Ye made it very clear on how ye feel about me and so all I’ve done is give ye space and time. Have I advanced on ye? Made ye feel unwelcome here? Nay. So why have ye come to me, interruptin’ my work? What is it that ye want?”
“I daenae ken,” Elena shouted back at him. The anger pushed her voice higher as she stumbled back, knocking into the chair beside the fireplace. “Is that what ye want to hear?”
He pursed his lips and crossed his arms over his chest as she righted herself. Smoothing the wrinkles from her skirt she calmed herself.
“What is it ye want?” he asked again. “Do ye want me? Do ye want to be in my company and watch as I toil over borin’ papers ye ken nothin’ about? Do ye want to live separately as we are doin’ now? Because we can. I’ve given ye everythin’ ye could ever desire, but ye daenae see that do ye?”
“Aye,” she snapped as heat rose through her. The stern expression on his face seemed to shift as the light from the fireplace danced over his features. Elena’s heart pounded in her ears as she looked at him. It was as if she had never really seen him before this day. His eyes were not hard or fearless but kind and tender. The line of his lips wasn’t so much taut and rigid but looked as if he was biting and chewing on words he would never say to her.
Elena stepped closer to him, gazing at him. Slowly, she lifted her hand. Now it was he and not her that seemed timid as she ran her fingers through his shaggy hair. Unflinching, he stared at her. In the corner of her eye, she noticed his arm twitch.
What are ye hidin’ from me?
