Page 61 of How to Heal a Highland Heart
“Well,” Kinsey said, her mouth tugging into a secretive smile, “I’m trying to gain the attention of one of the men in the guard.”
“Oh,” was all Patience could manage through her surprise. Since coming to the castle, she never noticed Kinsey giving particular attention to any man.
“Who?” Jane asked, looking and sounding as stunned as Patience.
Kinsey bit her lip. “I’d rather nae say unless I manage to succeed. I’m too embarrassed.”
“Here.” Patience held the gown out to her friend. “I hope all yer wishes come true tonight.”
“Ye’re nae giving up on the laird, are ye?” Jane asked.
Patience shook her head. She wasn’t going to give in that easy, but she didn’t particularly want to set herself up for another disappointment today. Her emotions felt raw, her heart tender, and her confidence lacking since hearing how beautiful the woman he’d loved had been.
Kinsey patted her on the arm. “The simple gown ye have on suits ye,” she said sweetly as she tugged off her own gown while the supper bell rang. She turned her back to Patience and the other women, and held up her hair. “Will one of ye lace me?”
Patience stepped forward and quickly laced the gown. “Finished,” she said.
Kinsey turned and linked her arm with Patience’s, surprising her. “Come,” Kinsey said brightly, “let’s go to supper together, but first we must take the mead bucket back to the kitchens. We will make quite the entrance!”
Patience wanted to decline, but Kinsey gave her such a hopeful look that Patience agreed and all the women made their way out of her bedchamber and the main keep and to the kitchens. Once Kinsey deposited the mead bucket, and they helped get the food on the serving platters, Mari waved them both away.
“Ye two scurry and make a grand entrance. We’ll bring the food.”
Patience nodded.
“After ye,” Kinsey said and waved Patience in front of her.
They made their way from the kitchens to the courtyard, which was deserted because everyone had already gone to the great hall. In the distance, Patience could hear the laughter of men in the gardens, likely the archers still practicing. They always were last to supper. Kinsey was rambling about the gown, the weather, and the upcoming tournament.
“Oh!” Kinsey suddenly exclaimed and bent down. “I’ve a rock lodged in my slipper.” Patience started toward her, but Kinsey waved her on. “I’ll catch up. Ye dunnae wish to make yer husband vexed by being late for supper yet again.”
Shamefully glad not to have to listen to any more chatter, so she could think in peace on Brodee, Patience said, “All right. I’ll see ye in there.” She got halfway across the courtyard when Fergus called out, “My lady!”
With a glance around, she located him coming from a path just behind her and to the left.
“My lady,” he said, huffing with his effort to reach her, “I was sent—” Suddenly his eyes went wide as something hissed by her head.
“Holy God,” Fergus bellowed, pointing in the direction of the gardens which were behind her.
She turned toward the gardens where the men were still busily training. “What was it?”
“An arrow,” he croaked. “An arrow nearly hit ye in the head. Someone must have misfired.”
“Those damnable fools!” Kinsey said, pointing toward the gardens. “I saw the arrow coming from the garden, but I was frozen with fear! Good thing whoever shot dunnae have true aim.”
“Aye,” he said, wiping his brow. “The laird sent me to find ye, my lady. He’s vexed with me for letting ye out of my sight.”
“Oh, Fergus, I’m sorry,” Patience said, reaching out a trembling hand to pat the man’s arm.
“The laird will likely kill someone for this,” Fergus said.
Patience gasped. “What?”
He laughed. “’Tis an expression, my lady. Everyone will keep their lives, I vow it. But it will nae help his mood which is sour.”
Mayhap his bad temperament had something to do with his trying to resist her. The thought gave her hope. “Let’s nae mention it,” she blurted, not wanting him to become grumpier and not wanting anyone to get into trouble on account of the incident.
“But—”
