Page 105 of The Highlander's Virgin Widow
“Ye came,” Keira said, returning his smile.
Part of her had prayed that she wouldn’t have to make this journey on her own.
“Aye.” Hudson nodded. “Ye didnae think I would let ye travel back to yer cousin alone now, did ye?”
The door creaked behind him, coming only slightly to a close as he approached her, each step sending a resoundingclackthrough the floor.
“How are ye?” he asked.
“Sad,” Keira responded, wrapping her arms around herself.
For some reason, the evening cold was suddenly beginning to get to her.
“Dinnae worry.” Hudson moved closer still. “It’ll all be over soon.”
35
Evander hurried back into his room, Rory hot on his heels.
“M’Laird?” Rory called, his voice thick with concern.
“If ye’re trying to convince me nae to go, ‘tis nae going to work, Rory,” Evander insisted, a note of finality lacing his voice.
“’Tis dangerous out there, M’Laird. Ye cannae possibly think I’ll let ye go on yer?—”
“’Tis exactly what ye’re going to do,” Evander grunted. He took off his rumpled shirt and grabbed a fresh one. “Ye are going to stay here”—he pulled the clean shirt over his head, impatience coursing through him as he tugged it down his neck—“and watch the castle while I find Keira and bring her back home.”
Rory sucked on his teeth, watching Evander put on a clean pair of trousers as well. “At least let me come with ye.”
Evander grabbed his sword belt, wrapped it around his waist, and proceeded out of the room, his boots clicking hard against the wooden floor as he moved.
“If the Laird and Lady of the castle are both away, the next in command is their man-at-arms. Stay here and man the castle until I return with her.”
They walked into the Great Hall, taking a shortcut that led straight to the courtyard instead of the passage by the dining hall, which was often crowded. Maids and stable boys lingered around the halls, all watching Evander cross the floor toward the other side, Rory following right behind him.
Evander could hear them again. The whispers, the murmurs that surrounded him. Was this what Keira had to deal with in the past four days?
“M’Laird, there is nay reason to bring back that killer. ‘Tis a good thing she left of her own accord too and didn’t wait to be thrown out.”
Evander skidded to a halt. He turned on his heels, but what Rory had not seen was the fist swinging toward his face. Evander’s knuckles slammed into his chin, sending him stumbling back a few steps. Loud gasps rang out from almost all sides of the hall.
“Call me wife a killer again, and the last thing ye will have to worry about is a broken jaw.” Evander remained standing, watching Rory’s face turn red as he pushed himself off the floor. “Ye should be ashamed of yerself.”
He looked up, staring at the servants still lingering around the hall.
“Ye should all be ashamed of yerselves! Yer lady has been nothing but good to ye. Good toallof ye! And this is how ye all repay her? By turning on her when she needed ye the most? I am quite certain ye are nae stupid enough to believe that a woman like her is capable of murder—and if ye all do, then I am quite disappointed.”
Silence fell over the hall, thick enough that one could slice through it with a knife.
Rory rubbed his aching jaw.
“The lady put her trust in all of ye, and in one fell swoop—onetrying moment—ye all revoked yer trust in her. What happened to loyalty? To the benefit of the doubt? Ye all made me life a living hell when I first arrived herebecauseye were all loyal toher. Her orders always trumped mine because ye were all loyal toher. What in the devil’s name changed in the past few days? Ye all really think she killed her former husband and intended to kill me? I am severely disappointed in all of yeMallachd ort!”Evander spat.
The thickening silence could have assumed a physical form if he had let it linger for too long. Instead, he shook his head and dropped his hand to the hilt of his sword, the anger on his face unwavering.
“Ye should all apologize to her when we get back,” he barked. “And aye, we will be coming back,together.”
“M’Laird—” Rory tried, but Evander was already gone.
