He found Jamie sitting alone by the loch, skipping stones across the dark water.
“Leaving again?”Jamie asked without looking up.
Liam sat beside him.“How did you know?”
“Seen that look before.My dad had it every time he walked out.”Jamie’s voice was carefully neutral.“Difference is, you’re saying goodbye.”
“I’m not your father, Jamie.This isn’t about not caring.”
“I know.”Jamie looked at him.“Doesn’t make it hurt less.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Are you coming back?”
“Probably not.”
Jamie nodded and went back to throwing stones.“Thanks for not lying about it.”
At nine-thirty, Liam slipped out of the castle through the servants’ entrance, his single bag slung over his shoulder.The car was waiting, engine running quietly in the darkness.
As they pulled away, he caught one last glimpse of the castle’s lit windows.Somewhere inside, Sienna was probably still looking for him, wondering where he’d gone.
By morning, she’d have her answer.
And he’d be nothing but a memory.
Chapter 23
“Gone?”SiennastaredatNiall and Suzie, a cold weight sinking to the pit of her stomach.“What do you mean, gone?”
“Liam flew home last night,” Niall said.
Denial rose sharp in her, hurt and pride warring within.“He didn’t…he didn’t say goodbye.”
“Liam asked us not to wake you,” Suzie said, her earlier hostility replaced by something that might have been sympathy.“He thought it would be easier.”
Easier for whom?Sienna’s hands trembled as she processed this.After everything they’d been through together, he’d left without a word.
“Do you have his number?I need to—”
“He specifically asked us not to give it to you,” Niall said, his expression telling her he wouldn’t break his word to Liam.
Sienna turned and walked outside, needing air and space to think.Her brothers were sitting by the fountain, and from their neutral expressions, it was clear they’d heard the news.
“You knew he was leaving.”It wasn’t a question.
“He came to say goodbye,” Jago confirmed.“He asked us to thank Ma and Pa for their kindness.”
“But not me.”The words came out smaller than she’d intended.
Kitto eyed her with an expression far too mature for his years.“What did you expect, Sienna?You’ve been pushing him away since we left Cornwall.”
“I have not.”
“You moved out of the tent you were sharing and started sleeping separately.Some days you barely spoke to him unless it was about practical things,” Calan said.
“You blamed him for getting sick and slowing us down,” Jago added.“We could see it in your face every time you looked at him.”
