He increased his pace to meet her, when he reached her side, he saw the defensive expression rise up. From the way she clutched her side, she was in pain. He couldn’t understand why she would exert herself, simply to get away from everyone else.
“You took the girls for a walk?” he confirmed, nodding toward his daughters, who were tormenting poor Dougal with their chatter.
“Aye. You wanted me to keep them away from the fortress.”
“I meant for you to rest and keep them with you.” He’d wanted her to have time to recover and be safe.
The more he thought of it, the more he realized that they’d been gone for several hours outside. It was freezing and a thin layer of ice coated the loch. Laren wouldn’t expose the girls to that kind of cold. When he studied his daughters, he noted that they didn’t appear in any sort of discomfort. Their cheeks were rosy, their smiles bright.
“Where did you take the girls?”
She looked startled, as if she hadn’t expected him to confront her. “Just on a walk. Nowhere, really.”
“For several hours?” He moved closer, his gaze narrowed.
“Well, I—“
He reached out to touch the back of her neck and, upon her skin, he felt warmth and a slight perspiration. The aroma of wood smoke clung to her hair. “You went inside somewhere, didn’t you?”
Laren colored, but didn’t deny it. “Yes. We went to Father Nolan’s cavern.” She backed away from his touch and he let his hand fall to his side. From the fear in her eyes, he knew there was far more that she hadn’t said.
“Why?” The cavern had been abandoned for several years, ever since the old priest had died.
“I—I’ll tell you later,” she stammered. “But not here.”
He heard the tremor in her voice, and her blue eyes were downcast. It startled him to see her so uncertain, almost as if she were guilty about something. What was she hiding?
“Send the girls to Vanora and Ross tonight,” he gritted out, releasing her from his grasp. “I want to talk to you alone.”
Her face flushed with uneasiness. “I have to prepare food for the girls. They need a meal before they go to sleep.”
It was a feeble excuse not to go. But then his gaze moved down to her hands and he caught the traces of blood upon them.
“You’re bleeding again.” It was a foolish observation and it infuriated him that she refused to stop and take care of herself.
“It will stop,” she whispered. “I’ll rest and it will be fine.”
He softened his tone. “Let Vanora take care of the girls. And let me take care of you.” Without waiting for the refusal he knew would come, he left Laren’s side and went to the older matron. Ross’s wife sent him a pointed look, but she agreed to look after their daughters.
The afternoon sky darkened, Alex gave orders for Dougal to bring him a horse and supplies for the night. Laren’s gaze was focused upon the girls. When she understood that he wasn’t giving her a choice, her displeasure was evident.
He didn’t care. Right now, he needed to confront his wife, to understand what she was hiding from him.
The more he thought of it, the more he realized that she had never confided in him. Over the past two years, she’d hidden herself away, keeping her own secrets.
Tonight, he intended to learn exactly what they were.
AlexhelpedLarenontothe horse, bringing a torch with him as he led the animal into the forest. The light dappled the edges of the leaves, filtering the golden sun amid the oaks and fir trees. She didn’t speak to him throughout the half-hour journey, and when at last he brought the horse to a stop, Laren stared at the circle of stones, her face stricken.
“Why did you bring me here?”
“You know why.” He wanted her to remember the way things had once been between them. The circle was where they had first fallen in love. It seemed like the best place to begin again.
Laren walked forwards, resting her hand upon one of the stones. “It’s been a long time since we were here.”
He’d brought her here every Beltaine, and they had celebrated the feast in each other’s arms in remembrance of their wedding night. But after the children were born, it had become more difficult to get away. Laren was reluctant to leave Mairin and, over time, their circle had been forgotten.
When he turned back to her, he saw that she’d sat down. Her gloved hands rested upon her skirts, as the dying sunlight sank below the horizon.
