Page 22 of Unforgotten
Her vision misted as the pain just under her breastbone built. “I should have come home to say farewell.”
Brushing away the tears that now trickled down her face, Ella heaved in a deep breath. She had visited the chapel for solace, yet she should have known that memories would resurface. Innis had been gone for nearly two years—but her presence was still strong in this place.
Removing the crucifix from her belt, Ella entwined her fingers through the beaded wooden necklace and clasped her hands before her. Then, she closed her eyes and began to pray.
Almost immediately a sense of peace settled over her, calming the churning grief and gnawing guilt. All Ella’s cares and worries slid away.
Time lost all meaning in the chapel. It was only when Ella’s knees started to hurt that she realized she’d been kneeling for a long while. Around her the tallow candles continued to burn. There was no sign of the priest who oversaw this chapel. He’d likely retired for the night, for it was now growing very late.
It was time for Ella to find her own bed. Servants had taken her satchel up earlier, but she would have to ask one of them to lead her to her lodgings. She’d been too occupied since her arrival at Scorrybreac Castle to seek out her bed-chamber herself.
Wincing, Ella rose to her feet. She rubbed her sore knees and looped her crucifix through her belt.
Despite the grief that had surfaced over her sister, she was glad she’d come to the chapel. Being around so many folk, after years of the peace at Kilbride, had put her on edge. She’d felt overwhelmed, yet her time at prayer and the Virgin’s soothing company made her feel stronger—and she knew she’d need strength in the days to come.
She left the chapel, stepping out into the cool night air. Descending the steps, Ella slowed her pace, alarm flickering through her.
She wasn’t alone.
Up ahead she spied a man’s shadow looming across the cobbles in the light of a flaming torch that was chained to the side of the keep.
Her breathing hitched as Gavin MacNichol stepped into the torchlight.
Ella raised a hand, placing it over her pounding heart. “Heavens,” she gasped. “Ye gave me a fright.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare ye.” The clan-chief stopped and raised his chin to look up at her. “I’ve been waiting to escort ye to yer lodgings.”
Ella stared back at him, the alarm that had just settled rising once more. “Ye don’t need to do that … I can ask a servant.”
He inclined his head. “I don’t need to, but I’d like to … if I may?”
Ella tensed. There was no suggestion or flirtatious tone to his words, yet she didn’t like them nonetheless. “After our conversation on the journey here, I don’t think we have much to say to each other,” she said when the silence between them became uncomfortable.
His mouth curved. “I’d like to apologize for my mother’s rudeness earlier … it was inexcusable.”
Ella huffed. “Everyone else in this keep has changed somewhat with the years but not Lady MacNichol.”
“Ye are mistaken … my mother has changed. The years have whetted her tongue like a blade. She’s even more of a viper than she was when ye lived with us.”
Ella raised her eyebrows but didn’t respond. Instead, she continued her path down the steps and started across the inner bailey. Gavin walked beside her.
“We shouldn’t be alone,” she said quietly. “It isn’t proper.”
“We were alone on the journey here,” he pointed out.
“Aye … but I had no choice about that. Here at Scorrybreac there are sharp eyes and flapping ears and tongues.”
Gavin snorted. “I wouldn’t worry about that … I don’t give the gossips in this keep a second thought.”
Ella cast Gavin a swift glance. “When we met at Kilbride, I thought ye hadn’t altered much with the years … but I now see ye have.”
His eyes gleamed as his gaze met hers. “How so?”
“Ye have a harder edge to ye … and ye certainly wouldn’t have told yer mother off like ye did at supper.”
Gavin gave a soft laugh. It was a low, pleasant sound that caused an unexpected warmth to seep across Ella’s breast. She’d forgotten his laugh, and how much she’d loved it.
“My mother overstepped … something she does frequently these days,” he replied. “Gordana thinks I should pack her off to live with kin upon the Isle of Raasay. That way, we’d all be rid of her.”
