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“I suppose I ought to put on this gown,” she rallied quickly, fixing a tight smile onto her face.
Meredith frowned. “We can do it later. There’s nay rush.”
“Nay, I should get it over with. Ye never ken, it might be an omen—if it fits, all will be well. If it doesnae, I should run for the hills.” Edwina tried to laugh, but tears came instead, dropping onto her cheeks.
She brushed them away before anyone could notice, but the cause remained—tomorrow, she was going to marry a man who would never love her. A man who she wanted to believe, with every fiber of her being, but for what purpose if he could not love her? Maybe, it was easier to think of him as a rogue, using his “betrayal” as an excuse to distance and protect herself even if she did not think he had done that awful thing. She did not know how much of herself she could give, if there was no hope of having his heart in return. A kiss might already have been too much.
Perhaps, mourning clothes would be more fittin’.
CHAPTER16
Up in the tower,Felix stood by the window that faced north, watching the road that cut through the forest between his Castle and Castle Millar. He did not know if Edwina would return before the wedding, but he would continue to hope, even when the sun went down, and darkness fell.
At least John is watchin’ her. Nay brigands will steal her away.He had instructed his Man-at-Arms to provide a discreet escort to his future wife, otherwise there was no way that his sisters would have been able to shoo him from Castle Millar.
Just then, a knock came at the door.
“Come in,” Felix said flatly, expecting a report from Quint about the ongoing chase to catch the McMorrow wretches.
To his surprise, John entered. “I saw the torch burnin’, M’Laird, and thought ye’d want to ken that Her Ladyship has returned safely. She doesnae ken I followed her.”
“What?” Felix stared at him in disbelief. “I’ve been watchin’ the road for hours. How can ye be here? Nay, how can she be here without me seein’?”
John smiled. “I think she had an inklin’ that the road was bein’ watched, M’Laird. She rode along the older trail, comin’ into the Castle through the back gates.”
“Och, does she nae value her life at all?” Felix puffed out a stressed breath and wondered if scolding her would make the slightest bit of difference. Or, if kissing her had.
John folded his hand behind his back. “When people are hurt, M’Laird, they do strange things. Forgive me, but I’d say ye’re testament to that.”
“Daenae give me yer sage wisdom now, John. If ye speak harsh truths, it might just fell me.”
John bowed his head. “As ye wish, M’Laird. If ye have nay further use for me this evenin’, I’ll retire.”
He made to leave, but inspiration brought his name to Felix’s lips. “Nay, John. Wait.” He paused. “Might ye have the stablemaster saddle two horses?”
John bowed his head. “Aye, M’Laird.”
“Actually, before ye have those horses saddled, I need ye to help me.” Felix grinned, as a plan began to form. “Then, I swear ye can retire to yer room for the night.”
John furrowed his brow. “Very well, M’Laird. What is it ye need, exactly?”
“Ye’ll see.” Squeezing past John, Felix took off down the staircase, for with the wedding a day away, there was no time to waste.
* * *
“Who is it?” Edwina braced, fearful of who might be behind the door that had just been knocked upon.
She both hoped and dreaded that it might be Felix, for she had almost wept when she had seen herself in the “thistle gown.” It was such a beautiful dress, cooed over by Elspeth, Miriam, Melissa, and Meredith, and it saddened Edwina that it was to be squandered on a sham of a wedding. She no longer believed the betrayal, but his inability to give his heart to her was a far greater disloyalty, especially if he demanded more of her.
“May I enter?” The voice did not belong to Felix. Instead, it belonged to John, which was almost the same.
“You may,” she replied reluctantly.
John stepped into the chamber with his head bowed, as if he was too proper to even look upon the private realm of the future Lady. “His Lairdship has requested your presence at dinner.”
“And how, pray tell, is His Lairdship even aware of my return?” Edwina cursed inwardly. She had thought herself sneaky in evading John, but evidently not sneaky enough. “Is it yer hawk eyes I ought to blame? Ye really do see everythin’ that’s afoot in this Castle, do ye nae?”
John smiled. “I often turn a blind eye, too.”
