Page 17 of Highlander's Caged Rose
“I will,” Moira answered, with a weary smile.
Glennie stood up, then leaned over to plant a soft kiss on Moira’s cheek. “Get well soon,” she said fondly, then left.
Moira breathed a huge sigh of relief, glad to be alone again, but her reprieve did not last long.
Only minutes later, another knock sounded at the door, but this time the person who wanted to gain admittance simply walked in. It was Gerald McNicholl, who was carrying a pot of tea on a tray. It was a drink that had just been brought to Scotland and was gaining popularity.
The old man approached Moira’s bed and set the tea down on the table beside the bed. He looked both sad and angry at the same time as he said, “Moira, please forgive me. I should nothave told you about the loch. You do not know this place well, and I did not give clear directions. I never thought you’d want to go there. Please forgive me.”
Moira pasted on a smile. “Of course I do, it was my fault for riding out after dark,” she said at once.
The old man put his hand on his chest in a gesture of relief. “The Laird was furious with me,” he said. “But I deserved it. I never should have suggested that you go to the loch. I tend to think everyone knows this place as well as I do. How are you feeling?”
“Much better than I did last night, thank you,” Moira replied. “Sandie has been taking care of me, and she is a wonderful healer.”
“The best there is,” Gerald agreed, smiling. He poured the tea for her, then asked, “Is there anything I can do for you?”
“No, thank you, Gerald,” Moira replied. “I just need to rest.”
Niall had been on his way to see Moira, so, seeing Gerald coming out of her chamber, he went to inquire how she was.
“She is tired,” Gerald replied. “She is pale and looks exhausted. I would not trouble her at the moment.”
Niall stood, thinking, trying to make up his mind as to whether to heed Gerald’s advice or do as he had intended to do. He badly wanted to see Moira, not only to reassure himself that she was all right, but also to fulfil a desperate need inside himself just to look at her again. He was desperate to lay his eyes on her porcelain skin again, to look into her pale blue eyes.
Gerald went on, “If I were in such a state, I would want peace and quiet, My Laird. Think of what she has been through.” He stopped to put his hands on Niall’s shoulders and looked into hiseyes with a concerned frown. “I understand your concern, but let her recover a wee bit.”
Niall sighed and nodded slowly. “Thank you, Gerald.”
Gerald smiled and patted Niall’s shoulder. “Moira is a strong lady, but she will never be as strong as a man. Let her rest.” Then he turned and walked away, leaving Niall alone.
Niall had been so lost in thought, he didn’t realise he had walked towards the door to Moira’s chamber, and opened the door. He closed it softly, then stood looking at the bed for a moment before slowly walking towards it.
Moira’s eyes were closed, her breathing soft and even, and Niall stood looking down at her for a long moment. However, gazing at her was not what he wanted to do at all. He wanted to scoop Moira up in his arms, press her against him and kiss her till they were both senseless. That was not all he wanted to do, of course, but he dared not let his thoughts go any further.
Niall sighed and reached out a hand to touch her cheek. Her skin felt as soft as he had imagined, and he smiled, then whispered, “You look beautiful in your sleep, Moira.”
He was about to bend down and kiss her forehead when Moira’s eyes fluttered open, and she looked straight into his.
“I-I’m sorry,” Niall said regretfully. “I did not mean to wake you.”
“I wasn’t really asleep,” she replied. “Just dozing.”
He sat down again. “How do you feel?”
“Strange,” Moira replied. “As if the whole thing happened to someone else.”
She shook her head slowly, rubbing her eyes, then tried to sit up. However, when Niall leaned forward to help her, she shrank away, frowning.
“I’m sorry.” His voice was quiet, but had a trace of bitterness in it. Could he do nothing right for this woman? “Can I get you some warm ale?”
“Thank you,” Moira answered, and Niall got up to summon a servant to bring the drink, then he walked over to the window to look out. It was a wet and miserable day; the wind was howling through the trees, and rain was lashing the walls of the castle, being driven almost horizontally by the force of the gale.
Niall wished he could wave a magic wand and make this horrible storm go away. At the same time, he wanted to make the atmosphere in the room warm and calm, instead of full of the icy tension that filled it at that moment.
When the ale arrived, Niall sat down at the side of the bed and took a sip of the beer, looking at Moira all the while. She was studiously avoiding his gaze, however, until he said, “Why did you go into the loch if you cannot swim? That takes a great deal of courage, especially at this time of year when it is absolutely freezing.”
Moira looked up at him, mystified. “I had no intention of swimming. I just wanted to sit and relax for a while. I would be really foolish to try swimming in the dark. I ended up there accidentally, my horse was startled by the howl of a wolf.”
