Not that Da would have secrets like that, but if the bookdiddetail such horrible things, Megan would think about hiding it or destroying it. Settling herself down in a chair before the fire, she opened to the first page, a diary entry dated a decade and a half ago. It was a plain description of the day’s work, and a mentionof something funny Ma had said. Megan smiled weakly at that, shaking her head.
Ye always were one for the jokes, Da.
A knock on the door made her flinch. For one breathtaking moment, she was sure that it was Ryder. Then she realized just how unlikely that was, and swallowed back her hope.
“Come in,” Megan called.
The door inched open, and Alaina peered in. Megan got to her feet at once, running to embrace the girl.
“I never came down to see ye,” she gasped. “Are ye well? Are ye hurt? I’m sorry, lass.”
“I’m fine,” Alaina assured her. “With ye and Ryder missin’, Flora suggested that I stay and act as hostess. It was better than sittin’ around and thinkin’ about the fact me own uncle had such a dreadful fate in store for me. In fact,” she lifted her chin, “I think I did very well. Hamish said I was very regal. Ewan and Flora both said that they were proud of me. People are startin’ to leave, and Sophie is goin’ to bed. I wanted to come and see how ye were. Flora said I should let ye be, but somethin’ told me…” She wavered. “I wanted to see ye, that’s all.”
Her gaze dropped to the cut on Megan’s throat, and she paled.
Megan gave a self-conscious laugh, lifting her hand. “Oh, I wouldnae worry about this. It’s only a cut. Could have been worse, eh.”
Alaina swallowed, nodding. “Uncle Logan would have killed ye. And Hamish. And perhaps me, if he couldnae get me to do what he wanted.”
Megan bit her lip. “We daenae ken what he would have done, lass. Has… has someone told ye what’s become of yer uncle?”
Alaina closed her eyes. “I made Hamish go back. I told him that we couldnae run away and leave ye to die, so we returned.”
“Alaina! I told ye to flee! Ye might have run straight into him!”
“Well, I didnae,” Alaina sniffed. “We arrived just after ye and Ryder had gone. I saw Uncle Logan’s body. I ken he’s dead.”
There was a brief silence after that. At last, Megan gestured to the seats before the fire.
“Come. Let’s sit down, eh?”
Alaina nodded weakly and plumped down in one of the seats. Megan sat down in her own chair and waited for Alaina to speak. She knew that something was coming, at least.
“I was so angry,” Alaina said at last, staring at the jumping flames. “I was angry that Uncle Logan had betrayed me so badly, and that… and that I’d been so cruel to Ryder about it all, when Ryder hadn’t really done anythin’ wrong.”
“Alaina…”
“Nay, Iwascruel to him,” Alaina insisted. “I hurt his feelings. I upset Sophie. I made meself look like a stupid wee lass. I’m nae happy that he says I cannae marry Hamish until I’m twenty, but maybe…” She paused, sighing heavily. “Maybe he’s right.”
“Heisright,” Megan corrected. “Nobody is fit to be wed at sixteen. Or seventeen. Or even eighteen, in me opinion.”
Alaina sniffed. “Well, I’m turnin’ over a new leaf. I’m goin’ to act like a proper lady. I’m goin’ to do better. I’ll be kinder to Ryder. I’ll be a better sister to Sophie. I’ll bide me time until I can wed Hamish. I’ll do better, ye will see.”
There was a short silence after that.
“I’m nae sure I’ll see ye do better, lass,” Megan said at last, her voice sticking in her throat. It was like she’d swallowed half-chewed bread, and now it was jammed somewhere between her mouth and her stomach, refusing to go down. It was a heavy, sickening feeling.
“I’m leavin’,” Megan explained when Alaina only looked at her blankly. “I’m sorry, I truly am, but this was always the way things were goin’ to be.”
She waited for tears from Alaina, or perhaps anger, bitterness, or blame. But Alaina only nodded, the corners of her mouth turning down.
“I’ve thought of this a lot,” she admitted. “I thought of what I might say to convince ye to stay. But I imagine that ye have already thought of it.”
“Aye. I reckon I have.”
Alaina swallowed, lifting her hand to dash away a tear. “I wish ye were nae goin’, Megan.”
“So do I,” Megan admitted.
