Page 47 of A Two-Faced Laird
“I-I’m so sorry,” Edina stuttered. “I was not looking where I was going.”
The woman smiled kindly. “We have all done the same at one time or another,” she told her. “Are you all right? Are you hurt?”
“Only my dignity, thank you,” Edina replied, feeling herself flushing hotly. “That really was stupid of me.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” the woman told her. “What is your name? I am Fenella.”
Edina already knew who the woman was, but it was still very unnerving to be standing, speaking to Aidan’s betrothed like this.
“I am Edina,” she replied.
“Ah!” Fenella said. “The advisor’s daughter.”
Her tone was no less polite, but a good deal less friendly than before. Was it just because Edina’s social standing was lower than her own, or because she had heard about Aidan and her?
“Yes, I am,” she replied, tilting her chin up defiantly. “Now, if you will excuse me, I must go and bathe.” She nodded politely and left, practically running up the stairs in her haste to be away.
Edina looked back at the top of the staircase to find that Fenella was still watching her. She thanked heaven that dinner was over and that she would not have to make polite small talk at the table—not yet, anyway. That was the nightmare she would have to endure at breakfast tomorrow.
With her spirit thoroughly broken, she trudged along the passage to the door of her bedroom, and was about to open the door when a familiar deep voice said, “Edina.”
Edina turned and smiled a huge, relieved smile as Aidan came forward and enveloped her in a tight embrace before kissing her hungrily, and she gave herself up to it, loving the caress of his lips.
When they drew apart, she opened the door, and they went into the bedroom. Mairi had long since been apprised of their secret, and had kept it completely to herself, proving her trustworthiness.
“I just met Fenella,” Edina told him as they sat down on the sofa by the fireplace.
“I know.” Aidan’s tone was resigned and he sighed. “I was watching you from the top of the stairs. That’s why I waited for you. This is the last time we can be together, because I intend to honour my marriage vows. I will not be an adulterer.”
“I would expect nothing less of you, my love,” she whispered.
Edina was consumed by sadness and burst into tears on his shoulder, while Aidan held her tight, his heart breaking.
They made love tenderly and slowly after that, both of them knowing that this would never happen again.
Afterwards, he asked, “Will you be coming to the wedding, sweetheart?”
Edina shook her head. “No, Aidan,” she answered sadly. “I have been invited, but I will have to think of an excuse not to go. I simply cannot bear to see you being married to someone else.”
Aidan kissed her forehead and rose from bed, giving her another glimpse of his magnificent male body before dressing. He came back to plant one more soft kiss on her lips, then left.
17
There were still four weeks left till the wedding, when Edina left to live in Drumnaird. Fenella was a constant visitor to the castle, but there was an unspoken agreement between them that they would be polite but cool to one another, which suited them both very well.
Edina did not look back as the carriage rattled over the bridge and down the road to Drumnaird. She must look on this as a new start, she thought. Aidan was part of her past now—who knew what the future might bring?
The house that Laird Findlay had provided was a tidy little place with three bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and a stable outside. It was big enough for her parents to spend the night with her every Sunday, and for Mairi to have a room of her own. Edina brought some of her ornaments, paintings and furniture, and as soon as she stepped into it for the first time, it felt like home.
Edina was happy to see the delight and surprise on Mairi’s face as she opened the door. As a servant, she had never had a room of her own before. However, Edina was not only happy forher, but extremely glad for her company. She had a horror of living alone.
Their first morning in the village was a dull grey one, but Edina found herself cheering up when she went into the town hall, which was in the process of being made into a school house. There she met all the children, and looking into their excited faces, she saw new hope. Every one of these little people was a new life and a new future—how could she not be happy?
She had brought a selection of books with her from the castle, and was teaching Mairi to read, while she, in turn, was teaching Edina to knit. This exchange of skills pleased them both enormously, as did the hour or so before bed when Edina would read aloud, and they would both have a glass of wine. Edina had been surprised to find out that teaching was one of her finest skills.
It was a very inappropriate relationship between mistress and servant, but neither cared. As Edina came to know the villagers better, the castle of Achnabreck seemed to become more and more distant. However, Aidan’s wedding was now only two weeks away, and she was longing to see him before he became utterly unattainable.
She had written him several letters, all of them quite casual, asking after his and his family’s welfare, and how the plans for the wedding were progressing. Although she had never received a single answer, and had almost given up, she decided to try one last time. Soon he would be Fenella’s husband and it would be too late.
