Page 41 of The Veiled Wish of a Highland Bride

Mia awoke from her slumber when she heard her door gently creak. She drew her hand to her face, shielding her eyes from the sun's piercing rays. It took all but a moment for the memories of the previous day to flood her.

It was dawn now; what on earth had happened to Archie?

The door opened a bit wider revealing hazel eyes and dark hair that could easily have been mistaken for Bram's. It was Clyde. Flashing a huge grin at her, he walked in, carefully shutting the door behind him.

“Clyde,” she whimpered, rubbing the last slivers of sleep from her eyes.

“Aye, it's me,” he replied, lifting the chair from where it sat in front of the mirror and bringing it to the side of her bed. “How are ye feeling? I heard about what happened. Well frankly, the noise ye all made was loud enough to awaken the entire clan.”

Mia sat up, resting her back against the headboard.

“How did ye get in? Ye got the keys from Bram?”

Clyde ignored her question but instead asked a question of his own. “Why did ye do it, Mia? How did Bram find out?”

She frowned. “Are ye here to help or blame me, Clyde?”

“Help? Ye ken fully well that I cannae go against Bram. He is the Laird, and my brother too. I didnae want to be roped into all of this,” he asserted, not failing to give her an empathetic look.

“Why did ye come then? Ye ought to just leave me to my sorrows,” said Mia, turning away from him.

“Mia, ye ken that I am yer friend. I could never just leave ye to yer pain.”

“I’ll get ye into trouble, Clyde. I want to get out, and if I’m nae let to do so I’ll find a way on my own.” Mia had already begun thinking of ways she could wrestle Clyde to the ground and run out of the room, but she was certain she would not get far with the men on guard around the keep.

“Mia.” He sighed. “I am the war chief… What would my men say if they hear or see me letting ye escape?”

The more Clyde spoke, the more resigned she felt. He was her only friend in the castle. Her only hope of escaping. Yet here he was, ripping her hope to shreds. Fitzhugh was the only other person she knew who could be trusted,but the womanhad no idea what was going on.

“I am worried about him, Clyde. About Archie. How do I ken that he is nae dead or wounded somewhere? How do I ken that?” She had gotten out of her bed and had begun to pace again, her palm resting on her chest, over her heart.

Mia could feel its gentle beating, as though it was missing a crucial part of itself to be strong:Archibald.

That silly seducer got me in so much trouble… She couldn’t help but smile at her thoughts instead of being angry.But damn, it was worth it.

She considered her options.

“Breathe, lass. Laird Macnab is definitely nae dead nor wounded. Bram never left the castle yesterday, and as far as I ken, he sent nae warrior out to find the Laird. Who else would ken better than I of such things?”

“But what if he still intends to hurt him?”

“Then, ye will be the first to ken,” replied Clyde. “I will come find ye and I will tell ye what he plans to do.”

“Oh, Clyde. Thank ye! I am in yer debt,” she exclaimed, going round the bed to where he sat to embrace him.

Mia still knew she needed to see Archibald. She wanted—no, sheneededto see for herself that he was safe. Bram was not to be trusted, no matter how much she believed Clyde's words. She refused to take any chances.

“Mia,” Clyde said, a grimace coloring his face. “Do ye ken why I still want to help ye? Despite the fact that ye're betraying my brother, the man who I am sworn to by blood and by sword?”

Mia was confused. Clyde never looked this serious before.

“Nae, I dinnae.”

“I will tell ye today. Sit, Mia.” He gestured to her bed. “This is important.”

Mia said nothing while she slowly settled herself down.

“Ye asked me once if I have ever been in love. It was a long time ago… when you had just recently moved into the castle as a new wife to Bram.” He looked out the open window, gazing at the clouds and watching the curlews fly past. “I evaded the question then, but I will answer ye now.”

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