Page 41 of Love with a Scottish Outlaw
“Already told me they will not help.”
“Then another way will present itself.” Her eyes focused on Robby, who’d disappeared behind the well. She held out Alice, her little blanket drooping, her head still tipped forward in sleep.
Duncan leaned back on the bench as Muriel put the babe on his chest.
She lifted her skirts and strode to where her son had disappeared. “Robby! Stop right there!”
Alice barely felt like any weight at all, as if Duncan lifted even one hand, she could blow away in a light breeze. Tilting his head down, he watched her yawn with those tiny, perfectly formed lips, then settle right back against his chest into a deeper sleep.
For several long minutes, he could hear Muriel giving a low scolding to Robby, but Duncan was alone with Alice. The bairn was as needy of her mum as his clan was of him. He felt the responsibility of that position—did the Earl of Aberfoyle feel the same for Catriona? Then why wasn’t the man looking for her?
Chapter 10
It had been easy for Catherine to go for a stroll, to stretch her legs and escape the smell of so many bodies, cooking fires, and a recent batch of meat that had gone bad. Angus, her shadow, was still with her, but after she promised she would only roam the area around the cave, he didn’t protest when she walked past the paddock and found a path heading up the cliff side, to the castle, she hoped. When he called her name, she paused, her mind scrambling for a way to persuade him, but all he said was that the way was steep.
“I’m ready for the challenge,” she called back.
She heard him telling another man where they were going, but she only lengthened her stride before Ivor or someone had second thoughts about letting her walk alone.
The way was steep, but Cat felt energized using her muscles and breathing deeply of the heather-scented air. Though the castle above was deserted, someone walked this path regularly, and she guessed that it was probably Duncan. He felt powerfully responsible for his clan, and she imagined he felt a duty to the castle as well. He was an honorable man, the kind any woman would be proud to be with.
Soon her rambling thoughts faded as her breath huffed and sweat broke out on her forehead. She tripped over a rock once and came down hard on one knee, but she didn’t let that stop her. It was a rare blue-sky day, and the sun beat down on her mercilessly.
She turned a rocky corner, and the castle seemed to rise up as if by magic. It was made of uneven-sized stone, fit together by a master mason. The outer walls were square in shape, with towers at each corner. The walls had been breached in several places, and there was no gate lowered in the gatehouse. The road leading up to it was high with weeds, and Catherine picked her way up it, trying to watch her footing and still gape at the romantic reminder of a wealthier time for Clan Carlyle.
She was just approaching the gates when someone called her name. She looked back and saw Duncan coming toward her, his expression ominous. She caught a final glimpse of Angus giving her a pained look of sympathy as he headed back down the path.
Catherine stopped and waited for Duncan to approach.
“I did not give ye permission to roam the countryside,” he said coldly.
A week ago, she might have been afraid of that voice, but not anymore. The chief would be hard on his enemies, but not her.
She gave him her happiest smile. “I know,” she said, with conciliation in her voice. “But you allowed me to walk around the cave area, and this is . . . around the cave. Angus was with me as well.”
He scowled down at her. “Ye dragged the man into your misbehavior.”
“It just felt so good to be moving about, using my legs, breathing the country air. Plus, I’d had a revelation, and could hardly contain myself.”
“What revelation?” he asked dubiously.
“When Ivor told me you’d gone to visit your sister, I had a sudden memory. I have a brother!”
His expression turned blank.
“I know, it’s shocking,” she said happily. “I remember nothing about him, can’t even picture him, but I know in my heart I have a brother.” She put a hand on his arm. “This is more proof that my memory is slowly returning. I feel so much better, although I remind myself that at this pace, it might take a year to remember everything. But I hope not,” she added, feeling wistful.
Duncan said nothing.
“How is your sister?”
“Well, thank ye.”
“Well? It sounds as if it’s only duty that keeps you visiting. I’m sorry to hear that.”
“’Tis not duty. I appreciate that she offers wise counsel. Sometimes.”
He added that last word in a tone she couldn’t quite read.
