“All I can do is try.” Mila hesitated before turning for the door. “Shall I help ye back to yer bed?”
The somber matriarch leaned against the windowpane, her gaze lifted to the sky. “No, child. I believe I shall rest here a while and enjoy the view of the Highlands.”
Still uneasy about leaving the woman alone, Mila took a chair from the small desk in the corner and butted it up against the narrow window seat. She passed off the precaution with a smile. “In case ye get rambunctious. I dinna want ye spilling out into the floor.”
Lady MacDonald kept her gaze locked on the clouds. “Save my grandson,” she whispered. A tear rolled down her wrinkled cheek. “Make haste, aye?”
“Aye.” Mila couldn’t resist giving the sad elder a quick hug. “I will keep ye informed.”
Blinking away her own tears, she rushed out and nearly toppled Bethia. “She is sitting at the window, but I put a chair beside it to keep her from falling.”
Alarm filled the maid’s face. She rushed into the bedroom and closed the door firmly behind her.
Mila blew out a heavy sigh. This visit had been a waste of time when she had none to spare. She made her way back to her chambers, retracing her steps through the passage rather than going downstairs and crossing the hall. Before passing through her rooms and returning to Teague, she checked to see if Robbie was still abed. As she anticipated, the lad had already risen, dressed, and disappeared. He was ever the early riser.
As she closed his door and crossed the sitting room to her bedchamber, Grissa entered from the hallway.
Mila shooed her away. “Ye should still be asleep. It has not been that long since ye went to bed.”
The maid shook her head. “My worries wouldna leave me be. I thought to come and lay out yer clothes while ye rested.”
“I understand about the worries.” Mila motioned for the lass to follow her. “Help me change into something fit for chores, aye? It looks to be a busy day.”
“Working in the garden often soothes the soul.” The girl hurried to the wardrobe and started gathering fresh things.
“More like riding. I think it would do himself and me some good to get out into the Highlands for a few hours.” She refused to share the destination with anyone. Maybe not even Calder. She hadn’t decided for certain. “What do ye think?”
Grissa frowned and shook her head. “Himself just left the kitchens. Filled a sack with oatcakes and ordered one of the lads to fetch him a flask of whisky and two skins of fresh water, and bring them to him at the stable. He only does that when planning a long trip. Are ye going with him?”
“What?” Mila stared at the girl, unable to accept what she just said.
“I said—”
“I heard what ye said. I meant… Oh, never mind!” She turned and started toward the door, then realized she had stripped down to nothing but her shift. “A cloak, Grissa! Hurry!”
“Ye canna go out in yer shift!” the girl squeaked. “It wouldna be proper.”
“I dinna give a rat’s arse about proper right now. Either give me a cloak or I’ll grab a blanket on my way through the sitting room and wear that instead.”
Grissa’s eyes bulged wide, then she sprang to the wardrobe for the cloak. “Himself willna be pleased,” she said as she tossed it around Mila’s shoulders. “What about yer shoes?”
“I dinna need shoes. I need to catch him before he leaves.” She ran for the door, then paused. “Find the lad fetching his water and whisky and stall him, ye ken?”
“But himself—”
“Just do it!” Without waiting for further laments and excuses from Grissa, Mila ran as fast she could, wishing elevators or escalators existed in the eighteenth century. Right now she would even settle for a railing or banister to slide down.
By the time she burst through the front doors, Teague stood in front of the stable, glaring at the keep. His scowl shifted to a look of surprise when he spotted her. “Ye are not even dressed! I thought ye had gone to yer room to change yer gown.”
She ignored the stares as she came to a halt in front of him and poked him in the chest. “And yet ye didna have the courtesy or caring to come and tell me where ye were going?” She jabbed him again. “Ye planned to leave without telling me? What the devil is wrong with ye? Ye have never treated me with such thoughtlessness. Why would ye do so now?”
After an irritated glance at the gathering onlookers, he grabbed her hand before she could poke him again and yanked her into the stables. Once inside, he pointed at Iagan and his son. “Out! Now!”
She braced herself, determined to meet his fury head-on. “I dinna ken what ye plan, but ye must not do it alone.”
“For yer information, my stubborn dove, Calder is coming with me.”
“Where are ye going?” His hesitation made her mind whirl with the worst possibilities. “I have a right to know. Tell me what this is about.” She clenched her teeth so hard her jaw ached. No amount of blinking or deep breaths held back the tears fueled by frustration, anger, and love. “Tell me, damn ye! I have a right to know!”
