Page 38 of Heirs and Graces at Highland Hall
He nodded. ‘Yes. Duncan was the one to put you in them, though. You know, to preserve your dignity and everything.’
It was clearly not a conversation he wanted to have and to be fair, neither did she. So she said something else instead.
‘I thought you didn’t like animals as pets,’ she said, gesturing down to Ruby. ‘And certainly not on the bed.’
A smile flickered on Kieron’s lips and, for the first time since she had seen him standing there, that twinkle returned to his eyes. ‘Well, I thought an exception could be made for this one. After all, I’m not sure I’d have found you without her. You gave us a hell of a scare.’
‘I scared myself a bit,’ she admitted.
His eyes locked on to her. ‘You’ve no idea how glad I am to see you okay,’ he whispered.
A lump filled Bex’s throat as she nodded in response, only now realising that his hand was resting on hers.
Hurriedly, she pulled it away. ‘I’m so sorry. I don’t even know what time it is. I’ve wasted so much of your day. I should get going. Get dressed. Get to work. Get… Get…’ She wasn’t exactly sure what she should be doing, other than not sitting in the large double bed in Kieron’s pyjamas staring into his eyes as he held her hand. Yet as she pushed Ruby to the side and went to stand, the blood rushed from her head. It wasn’t just dizziness; her whole body felt woozy.
With her heart racing, she dropped back onto the bed.
‘You’re not going anywhere for a while yet,’ Kieron said firmly. ‘You’re staying exactly where you are. Let me get you something to drink. And as for work, we’re putting whatever it is you and Gordon are doing on hold for the foreseeable future.’
Bex didn’t have the strength to argue. Instead, she nodded, then sank herself down into the pillow as Ruby nestled back beside her.
Ruby had saved her. Ruby was the reason she was alive.
As Bex slung her arm back over her dog, she let out a yawn. Her eyelids were heavy again. Desperate to close. But the sound of voices in the corridor caused them to ping open.
‘I heard you talking to her. If she’s awake, I need to see her. Now.’ It was Duncan’s voice. Her heart fluttered. Duncan was out there.
‘She needs to rest,’ Kieron replied.
‘I need to see her. I swear to God, Kieron, either you move out of my way, or?—’
‘It’s fine,’ Bex called out, pushing herself back up. ‘It’s okay, Kieron. Let him in.’
A moment later, the door opened, and Duncan stepped inside. His whole face was grey and sallow. Though she wouldn’t have thought it possible, he looked worse than when she had first arrived at the castle.
A feeling rose through her as she remembered the minutes before she had passed out. The desperate need to tell him, just one more time, that she loved him. To let him know, in no uncertain terms, that he was the love of her life and if there was a way, any way, that they could work it out between them, then they had to try. She knew it now. She knew without a doubt. That was why Fergus had wanted her to come back here, because he’d not wanted them to go through what he’d gone through, losing his one true love. Not when there was no need for that to happen.
But as she opened her mouth, ready to say it all, Duncan’s expression changed. A thundercloud rolled across his face as harsh and cold as the snow that had fallen outside.
‘How the hell could you be so stupid?’ he yelled.
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All the words Bex had been feeling only moments ago were swallowed into the ether. She had seen Duncan angry before. He tended to lose his temper over things like people mistreating animals or being careless. But she had never seen him like this. So utterly thunderous. And she hadcertainlynever seen it directed at her. Even Ruby shrank back as he strode across towards her.
‘Do you have any idea what could have happened?’ he glowered. ‘What the hell were you thinking?’
‘I wasn’t thinking,’ she said, wishing her voice wasn’t cracking.
‘You don’t need to tell me that,’ he snapped. ‘I’m well aware you weren’t thinking. Gordon was out there looking for you.Gordon!He’s in his sixties! Do you realise what could’ve happened? Do you?’
She sat up in bed, her heart pounding. ‘Of course I realise what could’ve happened!’
‘Of all the bloody irresponsible things?—’
‘I made a mistake! I know that! You think I don’t know that?’
She was inches away from him. Close enough to feel the rage radiating from his body. To see the way his breaths were heaving with fury. But she was furious too. All she’d wanted was for him to pull her into him. To hold her against his chest, and instead, he was yelling at her. Not that she didn’t deserve it. No, she deserved every harsh word that came her way.
