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Elaine was about to resist when she suddenly realized she didn't want to. Finn had been a good friend since her arrival, if a little too familiar at times. Maybe she could talk to Finn but not tell him the whole truth. Perhaps she could speak as if it were her friend who was in such distress.
He isnae a fool!
No, of course he wasn’t and yet, she still let him lead her anyway. The idea of a drink and some company did not sound so very unappealing under the circumstances. Her head was spinning, and unsure what to do, she knew only two things were for certain right now.
Firstly, she was in love with Duncan. There was no doubt in her mind that her heart had been lost to him and whether she liked it or not, there was little she could do about it.
Secondly, she could not, under absolutely any circumstances, even under the threat of her sister’s life, take another man’s life, and certainly not that of the man she was so deeply in love with.
Elaine found herself following Finn, leaving the sound of the music and the boisterous men that had flowed out of the Great Hall far behind. In a short time, they found themselves in the library. It was a place she had visited only once. The huge room with its grand fireplace, roaring fire, and walls full of books of every size quite took her breath away now as it did the first time.
“Come, ye sit down and I will fix us both a drink,” Finn said.
Elaine let himlower her into a hugewooden chair in front of the fireplace, and it was only then that she realized she was freezing. With all the other emotions racing through her body, she probably hadn't noticed, but the heat from the fire was a welcome reprieve, and she held her hands out to the crackling flames absently.
With drinks in hand, and now sat beside her, he once more pressed her to tell her what had upset her so. “I ken it hasnae been easy for ye, Elaine, for I too have eyes,” he nodded knowingly. “But I cannae see ye this way,” he said gently, with a heavy frown. “Will ye nae tell me what happened?”
She looked at him with a sense of uncertainty. If she relayed her true reason for being at the castle, how could she trust him not to tell Duncan? They were the closest of friends. And even if she pleaded with him to keep her secret, she could not see how he would be able to, given their long-term companionship. And yet, she needed to figure a way out of this situation. No matter which way she looked at it, she was going to lose. Perhaps, coming clean and telling Duncan everything was her only option.
Taking a sip of the amber liquid in the goblet and then a deep breath, Elaine made a decision. She could no longer hold onto this dreadful situation and needed another to help her carry the burden. She would have to deal with the consequences later, but at that moment, she needed a friend.
“What I am about tae tell ye Finn, will nae please ye, but I want ye tae wait until the end, before ye say anything. Can ye dae that?”
Though he frowned at her words, he nodded. “Of course, I can.”
“All right, then I suppose I ought tae start from the beginning.”
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
Elaine had no complaints. Despite raising his eyebrows on a few occasions, he did as he said and remained silent throughout everything she told him. It was easier to start from the beginning. Though she wasn't sure how much she should tell him, it wouldn't make sense unless she told him everything.
Her face bloomed red with the shame of her deception. And even when it felt too hard to continue, she pressed on. Relief mixed with disgrace swelled in her being as she rid herself of such a heavy burden. Eventually, she concluded her story without being able to look at him.
“So, that’s where I am now,” she said, staring intently at the whiteness of her hands that she had clasped and unclasped throughout the telling. “I told him,” she said, referring to the masked man she had just finished talking about, “that I would dae as he asked. It’s what he wanted tae hear and I was desperate tae get away from him. But I have nae intention of going through with it, Finn. There’s nae way I could ever kill anyone, and especially nae Duncan.”
“But if ye dinnae, he’s going tae kill yer sister,” Finn stated.
Elaine only nodded, for there was now nothing left to say.
For a while, silence fell over them, and with it, Elaine's worry grew. A tight, squeezing sensation gripped her starting from her chest. And she could only guess what Finn thought of her based on his lack of response. She was no longer the innocent mistress of the laird, but a fraud, liar, and potential thief. She'd duped everyone around her, with some even feeling sorry for her, as Finn had. Even though her situation was dire, she knew there was only one way out.
“Well,” Finn eventually said, his tone heavy, but not judgmental. In fact, Elaine could hardly believe it, but she even sensed sympathy, causing her to lift her eyes and look at him. He was looking at her with a slight sadness, and shrugging his shoulders, he continued. “Ye’ve quite a dilemma, Elaine. But ye ken what ye have tae dae,” he said. “If we dinnae ken who this man is,” he paused and looked at her inquiringly, “and ye have nae clue, sure ye dinnae?”
Elaine shook her head, feeling the weight of what was coming next.
“Then, we can neither stop him nor can we find him. We have nae idea either, where he is keeping yer sister tae try and save her from this madman,” Finn huffed. “What a mess.”
“I didnae want any of this, Finn. Believe me, if I could have avoided it, I would.”
“Aye,” he sighed. “I can only imagine ye would, Elaine. I’ve kent from the very beginning that ye were different than other lasses claiming tae be ladies o’ pleasure. There was just something about ye. Maybe it’s yer beauty, maybe it’s yer kindness. I couldnae put my finger on it, but I kent. But that matters for naething now. We need tae deal with the situation before us, and ye have nae choice but tae tell Duncan. He’ll be angry, mind. I’m nae going tae tell ye otherwise. Ye’ve lied tae him and tricked him.”
“I ken,” Elaine whispered.
“Aye, but that being said, ye’ve been forced tae dae it, Elaine. I dinnae have a sister. I cannae imagine what it’s been like for ye, worrying about her all this time. I can say this for ye though. Ye certainly fooled me.”
“I’m so sorry, Finn,” Elaine said with a heavy sadness. “Ye’ve been very kind tae me since I arrived at the castle, and I have never thanked ye for it. But I want ye tae ken how grateful I am tae ye.”
She had fooled them all. And apart from Samuel and Duncan, everyone else had treated her like a pariah. All but Finn. He was the only one who had bothered to speak to her and make her feel welcome. From the time he sat with her to eat when everyone else ignored her, even after Duncan humiliated him in front of everyone watching, he had always been pleasant and tried to cheer her up. And how did she repay his generosity?By lying to his face.
