Page 68 of Rescued By the Highland Warrior
“Edin,” she said, trying her best to cover her shock, “what brings ye here?”
Moira looked around cautiously, but there was no one else there, and she wondered how she had managed to get through.
She suddenly realized that she’d also been sloppy—of course, Edin wouldn’t be using her given name.
She nearly cursed beneath her breath. She knew that all this time with Roderick had likely weakened her skills. She was already becoming soft.
“It is great tae see ye,” Moira said.
“Aye an’ ye,” Edin smiled, “although that look on yer face seems tae tell me otherwise.”
“Nay,” Moira stuttered, “that isnae true. I am just surprised, is all. I apologize.”
Moira took Edin quickly into a tight embrace.
Itwasgood to see her, but at the same time, Edin was a reminder of a life Moira had no desire to return to, and she found it hard to disguise that response.
“I have an urgent message fer Laird Fraser,” she said. “Dae ye ken where I might be able tae find him?”
Moira swallowed a deep breath. She had assumed that she might be in trouble, but had she now gotten Roderick in trouble too?
Her heart clenched, and her words caught in the back of her throat. She didn’t know whether to start pleading, or whether that would only make things worse. Edin was close to her, but still, the Triad and its rule were above everything else.
“I think he is tendin’ tae his duties, is there anythin’ I can pass on?”
Edin’s face broke out into an expression she couldn’t quite make out. It was as if she were in on some grand joke that Moira had yet to understand. And in true Edin fashion, she met Moira’s gaze with a wry, knowing smile.
“It is a letter dear, so I dae need tae pass it on tae him.”
“Aye,” Moira nodded, “of course. I’ll just go find out exactly where he is, please excuse me.”
“That is nay bother,” Edin said. “I’ll come wi’ ye, the castle looks beautiful.”
Moira forced a smile, “O’ course,” she said, keeping her voice light. “Follow me.”
As she led Edin through winding halls, her mind raced. She had to get to Roderick first, to give him some sort of warning, but she didn’t know that anything she could say would truly help. She thought hard about her options, searching for a way that she could escape the fate laid before her. She’d been wracking her brain all these days, but she still had nothing.
“Ye seem well,” Edin remarked, glancing sideways at Moira. “Almost settled.”
Moira swallowed. “Aye, Castle Fraser has been kind tae me.”
“That’s good,” Edin mused. “It would be a shame if anythin’ were tae change that.”
Edin was teasing her, and although that was simply the way she was, Moira couldn’t understand how Edin could be so lighthearted about something so terrible for her. But of course, Edin couldn’t have known all that was happening in Moira’s heart.
Moira’s breath caught when she saw Roderick ahead. He was speaking with one of his men, but the moment his gaze landed on her, his lips curled into a smile, brief and fleeting.
Moira watched as he excused himself from his conversation. He came toward them, and her heart jolted. As he neared her, she took in his face—rugged, strong, achingly familiar. The thought struck her like a blade: this could be their last moment together. Oh! But how was she to let him go?
Even in her distress Moira realized that if these were indeed their last moments together, despite the pain she would have to endure, she didn’t want to be cold with him. Her heart had opened, and every bit of agony would be worth the love Roderick gave her.
She’d choose it all over again if she had to.
“Moira,” he greeted her, his voice warm but edged with curiosity. His sharp gaze flicked to Edin. “An’ welcome, ye must be from...”
“Yes, clan Wilson sent me,” she said shortly, playing into the ruse that had become all too familiar to Moira. “I think ye will want tae be somewhere private fer this. I have an urgent message.”
“Aye, of course,” Roderick said, “just follow me this way.”
