Page 43 of A Wife for the Highland Villain
Valerie swallowed hard. “He is gone.”
Lily’s heart stuttered. “Who is gone?”
“Alasdair,” Valerie whispered. “Yer husband. He took one of Faither’s boats and fled in the middle of the night.”
The words struck like iron to her chest. Lily froze, gaping, unable to form a reply. Her whole body went cold for a minute, then the disbelief settled in, and she flung back the blankets.
“Is this another one of yer jests?” she scoffed, stumbling out of bed.
Valerie stepped back outside, and Lily followed, the wind tugging at her loose hair. Her eyes settled on her parents near the railing. Captain Blackwood’s face was like stone, his jaw tight with rage and his fists clenched. Her mother’s expression was softer but no less heavy with disappointment.
“Is it true?” Lily asked, her voice trembling.
Her mother turned at once and walked over to her. “Oh, darling.” She pulled Lily into her arms. “I am so sorry.”
But Lily could still hear her father cursing beneath his breath. “And he took one of me best boats as well, the bastard.”
“Surely someone must have heard him in the night,” Lily said, pulling back from her mother.
Valerie looked away. “I did. I thought he was fixing something on the deck. It never crossed me mind that he was leaving.”
Lily’s chest rose and fell as she tried to breathe through the weight pressing down on her.
“I cannae believe it,” she whispered. “Something must have happened. Perhaps he was sent on an errand.” She turned sharply. “Did he go alone?”
Valerie shook her head. “Finn went with him.”
“Well, there ye have it.” Lily’s voice grew brighter with desperate hope. “Those two are inseparable. He will return.”
It was then that Megan emerged from the cabin, her face pale and her eyes lowered.
Valerie frowned at her. “What are ye doing?”
“I searched his room,” Megan said quietly. “I found only this.”
She held out an envelope. Lily took it with trembling fingers and tore it open. Then, she pulled out the slip of paper within and scanned it.
Ye must forgive me.
A.
Her eyes burned as her fingers curled into the edges of the note. The world tilted beneath her, but Valerie caught her arm before she fell.
“He is gone,” Lily whispered, almost in disbelief. As if she had to say it to herself over and over again before the truth sank in. “He is gone.”
Present Day
The knocking stirred her awake, and her eyes opened to the quiet of her chamber, the moonlight casting a soft glow on the floor.
The door creaked open, and Daisy stepped in. She paused, then dipped her head. “Is there anything ye need, me Lady? Shall I draw ye another bath or fetch food from the kitchens?”
Lily let out a small laugh. “Nay, I am fine. Ye may go and rest. Ye have worked enough today.”
The maid hesitated. “But?—”
“Nay,” Lily said gently. “It has been a long day. Ye deserve yer sleep.”
Daisy’s lips curled into a smile, and she glanced at the window. “What did I tell ye, me Lady? The rain didnae fall, after all.”
