Page 48 of A Two-Faced Laird
Accordingly, she wrote another letter, pouring all her heart and soul into the words.
My Dearest Aidan,she wrote.
I have triedto make sure that I am too busy to think of you, but as the day of your wedding comes closer, I am finding it harder and harder. Whenever I have a free moment, your face comes into my mind’s eye, and I look at your lips, so masculine and yet so soft, and I long for them to kiss me again.
I wish with all my heart that we could be together just one last time. Yes. I know we said that the last time we met, but I cannot tell you how much I love you and how much I miss you. You are everything to me, and if I do not see you again, I have no idea how I will cope. I will not try to come between you and Fenella, but she will have you for the rest of your life, and I will lose you soon.
Please come to me. My house is discreetly situated in the village and Mairi will help us. You can come and go without hindrance, and we can make love to each other one more time without being seen. Please come to me, my sweetheart. I need you. Remember how it feels when we give each other everything? I long for that feeling again.
Write back to me as soon as you can, my dear.
All my love,
Edina.
She decidedthat she would give it to one of her guards to post. However, the winter afternoon was darkening, and soon it would be too dark to see. Edina spent an hour in the tavern, then stood up to go home, clutching the letter in her hand.
As she passed the two women who worked behind the bar, she heard them gossiping as they dried glasses. Fortunately, they had their backs to her, and she paused to listen to them for a moment.
“Hear that Lewis Findlay is gettin’ married?” one of them, a short elderly woman, asked.
“I heard,” the other one, who was much younger and taller, answered. “Tae Laird Anderson’s daughter.”
“What is she like?” The other barmaid’s tone was curious. “I have heard the name, but never seen her.”
“They tell me she is no’ bad lookin’, but ye know what I think, Bonnie?”
The barmaid put down a glass and lowered her voice.
Bonnie shook her head. “Tell me, Ina,” she asked curiously.
“I have heard tales that he likes Edina McCarthy better,” Ina replied. “I was chattin’ tae one o’ the guards an’ he told me he would be visitin’ his betrothed at his—what is the name o’ that castle o’ his?”
“Killenbeg,” Bonnie supplied.
“Aye, well, one o’ the guards told me he was goin’ there tonight,” Ina said. “Tae plan the wedding.”
“I wish he was gettin wed tae Edina,” Bonnie said sadly. “There is a rumour goin’ round that he might be interested in her. She is a fine-lookin’ lassie wi’ a good heart that does good things for people. Look at the school in Achnabreck. Soon we will have our own here, thanks tae her. Dae ye think she would be daein’ a’ these things if she was plannin’ tae marry Lewis Findlay?”
Ina nodded somewhat sadly. “They would make a handsome couple,” she said.
“‘Tis goin’ tae be a big fancy affair,” Bonnie remarked. “A’ the toffs fae this town an’ roon aboot will be there. I wish I could be a fly on the wall, so I could see a’ thae lovely dresses!”
“Especially the bride’s dress!” Ina said excitedly. “That will be worth a fortune; it will probably have diamonds sewn intae it!”
They giggled, then got back to work.
Edina smiled and left them to their gossip. It seemed that the connection between her and Aidan had been noticed and gossiped about more than she had supposed. She was warmed by their kind words, however, and they encouraged her. She would build more schools in more villages.
She spent her evening with Mairi, and over a dinner of kippers and potatoes she asked her about what was being said.
“I didnae want tae speak o’ it, Mistress,” Mairi answered, looking troubled. “But it is said that Master Findlay’s betrothed wants tae have your chamber in the castle emptied and the rest o’ your possessions put in storage. I swear I have said nothin’ about your love affair wi’ the young Master tae anybody, but maybe somebody saw ye kissin’ or somethin’.”
“Where did you hear this?”
Mairi flushed. “It is common knowledge, Mistress.”
“And do you know what Lewis is doing about this?” Edina asked.
