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Angus grimaced at her words, and she chuckled. “Even in illness, you wish to show your disgust at my instructions?”
He tried to smile, but then Charlotte said again, “You must rest, and I have work to do.”
He leaned up slightly, painfully. “But, please tell me ye willnae go, lass. I want tae see ye in the morning.”
She smiled, holding the doorknob. “I will, Angus. I will see you then. Don’t go dying in the night.”
She left her heart light, wondering what on Earth had transpired in that room.
* * *
She was thinking of leaving. The words racked around Angus’ brain painfully as he felt their meaning. She would leave, possibly for good, and then he wouldn’t get the chance to tell her anything. He was a coward. He couldn’t tell her just then why he really wanted her to stay, not when he felt like his head was getting crushed by axes, and his body felt leaden.
He had to wait until he was strong and healthy, and he could do something about it. She actually came. Charlotte Andrews put everything aside, and she came to see him. To see if he was all right. The thought made him happier than he’d been in a long, long time. Maybe there was hope that she had put her anger aside. He knew she cared about human life, but after he saw how hurt she’d been when he read her letter, he had no expectation that she would come back for him.
Thanks to Liam and Mrs. MacLean, she was here. Now all he had to do was get better, and then he would have the strength to bloody do something. He imagined all the things he would do when he felt better if she would allow him, of course. He didn’t want to waste another minute of time, not after his illness, and since she had limited time to visit.
He settled himself to sleep. Bloody Hell, he would sleep if it killed him. He wanted to be ready for her visit come morning. He might even be able to take a bath before she arrived so that he could be presentable. Either way, he was going to say to Charlotte what he needed to say.
* * *
Charlotte left the room and leaned against the cool stone in the hallway just outside Angus’ door. She was smiling. She touched her fingers to her lips. She couldn’t help it. He was alive and well and conscious enough to tell her that he wanted to see her in the morning. He had something he wanted to say to her. At first, when he’d told her that he just wanted her by his side so that she’d heal him, her heart felt like it was breaking.
But why should she care so much whether he felt anything for her or not? She couldn’t marry him. Nothing could come of it. But she confessed to herself that she did want to kiss him again, just one last time. It could be the last time forever, and she wanted to savor it. But, she wasn’t sure that he’d be well enough by the time she had to leave. She decided she would head to her old room and write to her father right away so that the letter could be sent in the morning and be there when he returned from his journey.
She rushed off to find Mrs. MacLean. She was on her way to bring up the cabbage to Angus, but Charlotte stopped her. “Oh, Mrs. MacLean, I am sorry. He has fallen asleep again. But, he was up and talking to me for a few minutes. I’ve sent him to bed, and I hope that with a full night’s sleep, he shall be almost fully healed.”
Mrs. MacLean smiled. “I cannae think what his illness could have been, Mistress Charlotte! How strange! We thought he was upon his deathbed, but ye have been his angel and brought him back from the grave.”
Charlotte smiled without realizing that she beamed. “I do not think he was near death, but it did appear so. I think he’s only exhausted from all that he’s had to do. It’s as if he hasn’t slept in days, and he has so many things on his mind to do with the clan. Is there anything I can do while he is incapacitated? I would like to stay the evening if it’s not too much trouble.”
Mrs. MacLean’s face broke into a large grin. “Of course! I shall send the servants tae prepare yer old quarters, my dear! They shall even draw a bath for ye this evening. And then, we can go visit the villagers if ye like, once ye’ve had a bit of tea tae strengthen ye.”
Charlotte smiled. “Thank you, Mrs. MacLean. That would be lovely. I hope that the vegetables were enough to give to all those who needed them.”
“Oh, my dear, ye should have seen their faces! I went tae see them once they’d received it, and they couldnae have been happier. There is so much! But come, we shall go and see how they fare, although it has only been one day since the vegetables were delivered. Come to the Hall; we shall have tea, and if ye dinnae mind, ye shall tell me all about yer father.”
Charlotte wanted to cry. She had never met such kindness and warmth, and it soothed the emptiness that she felt at the loss of her mother even though it had been so long ago. She waited in the Hall patiently while tea was sought, and she stared into the flames in the hearth. Should she tell Mrs. MacLean of her situation? No, it would not be proper. She shouldn’t tell her of her feelings, either. It would embarrass her, and she might make a fool of herself. But Julia was not here, and Elizabeth could not stay, so perhaps this was the only woman she could confide in, a woman who had known Angus for his entire life.
Mrs. MacLean soon arrived and poured the tea for them both before sitting down. “I do hope it’s nae trouble that I take tea with ye, Mistress.”
“No, not at all. ‘Tis nice to have a bit of company. And besides, these are strange circumstances. Laird and Lady are gone, and the interim laird lies above getting over an illness. Surely we do not need to stand on ceremony.”
Mrs. MacLean laughed. “My thoughts exactly, my dear.” Charlotte enjoyed how the old woman began calling her my dear and not simply mistress. Mistress seemed too cold and impersonal for the warm relationship that was budding between them.
Charlotte took a sip of her tea and then felt like she was going to burst. She put the cup down and then said suddenly, “I’m in love with him, Mrs. MacLean, and I don’t know what to do.”
After the older woman got over her initial shock at such a bold and sudden statement, her face creased into a warm smile. “I thought as much. But what problems could there be? He loves ye, as I’ve said before, and ye love him, so what will hold ye back?”
Charlotte blushed deeply in spite of herself. She looked around, hoping that a nosy servant hadn’t listened in. To her relief, the only other sound in the Hall was the crackling of the fire. “You must forgive me for my stark words. I feel aflutter with all kinds of emotions. I missed him, and I planned on coming to visit. I had felt that I needed to apologize. We spoke harsh words to each other when I left so abruptly. And when I saw him today, I just knew. But it can never be. I would like him to know, to tell him of my feelings, but nothing can come of it. My father would never allow me to marry him. It could never go beyond friendship.”
Mrs. MacLean sighed. “Who has power against true love, my dear? That was something my father always used tae say. I never found it myself, but I have seen it over and over again. ‘Tis different than a passing fancy. I saw it in Calum when he met Julia. He was taken over by his love for her, and it changed him intae the best laird that he could be. And now, with Angus, it has taken root as well, but he might fight against it, thinking that he’s nae worthy. He has never thought himself tae be worthy of anything.”
“But why not? He has so many gifts.”
“Aye, but he always felt second-best tae his brother.”
Charlotte was shocked. Was that why he always acted the way he did? “So perhaps that was why he pushed himself to exhaustion, thinking that he must do right by Calum for the clan. He doesn’t want to make a mistake.”
