“Put it on your eye. It might help reduce the swelling, although it’s already a mess. How’s the cut?” She took the cloth from him and examined his face. “I think you might need stitches.”
“Nae. I must speak with Helene.”
“I’m not sure she wants to speak with you. She’s pretty upset about all of this.”
Logan put an arm around Dougall and guided him to a chair. “Sit. I’ll see if I can find her.”
Both Logan and Sara left him. He couldn’t remember ever feeling this down trodden, except perhaps when he was a young lad, before he was mercifully sent to foster with the MacKenzie clan. Dougall was a mirror image of his mother. Her beauty was unsurpassed and Dougall’s father thought that because he wore his mother’s beauty on his own face that he would be less than a man. He was forced to spar with his father on an almost daily basis and often came away from it cut and bruised. It was a wonder he lived through it all and when the day came that he was finally blessed enough to be sent off to Breaghacraig, all of that stopped. At this moment he felt much as he had back then. Bruised and battered, but this time it was of his own doing. Zeke hadn’t wished to fight him, but Dougall had insisted and now he was paying the price. It was a rare day when Dougall met an opponent who could best him. He had a newly found respect for Zeke Barrett.
“There you are.” Sara came into Zeke’s office, where Helene sat, hands over her face and sniffling. Sara grabbed a tissue from the desk and then wrapped Helene in a hug.
“Aye.” Was all Helene could manage to say. Her eyes were filled with tears.
“Dougall wanted me to come find you,” Sara said, her voice a soft whisper.
“I cannae speak to him.” Helene pulled away from Sara, wiping her nose with the tissue.
“Helene, he came all the way here, to this time, which he obviously hates, just to find you. It’s clear to me he loves you. He’s hurt, both mentally and physically.”
“He must leave. He must go back home.” Helene said, sounding to herself as if she almost believed it.
“Why? Is there something you aren’t telling me?” Sara asked.
“Nae. ’Tis as I’ve said. I cannae trust him to stay with me.”He left me alone to fend fer meself at Castle Treun.
“I don’t think that was all his fault. His father had a lot to do with it.”
“I ken it. He must go home. He’s to be laird of his clan and I cannae be a part of that,” she bitterly said.
“Why not?” Sara obviously didn’t understand, if she did she’d understand Helene couldn’t possibly go back with Dougall.
“I’m only a lady’s maid. ’Tis nae acceptable for him to be with someone like me.” Helene hung her head in shame.
“Does he feel that way?”
“He willnae say it, but he knows ’tis the way of it. I would only be allowed to be his mistress. I cannae do that.” Despite her tears, the strength in her voice had returned. She may only be a lowly servant, but she would never lower herself to the point where she would do something so obviously wrong.
“Well, of course, you can’t. But are you sure that’s what’s going to happen?”
”Tis the wish of his family that he marry a lass from a rival clan. If he wishes to be laird someday, he must do as he’s told.” Helene sniffled and Sara handed her another tissue. “He wishes to be laird. I will only cause him troubles.”
“I’m so sorry, Helene.”
“I need yer help. I cannae let Dougall see that I still love him. He’ll nae return without me.” Helene gazed directly into Sara’s eyes. She had to convince her that she was doing the right thing.
“Okay. I don’t know what I can do, but I’ll help as much as I can.” Sara took Helene’s hands in hers as an obvious sadness came over her.
“Thank ye, Sara. Yer a good friend.”
Chapter 18
Zeke pulledinto the urgent care clinic parking lot. Helene sat in the front seat next to him and much to Dougall’s dismay, she never once spoke to him or looked back at him.
“You can leave us here. We’ll get a cab home,” Sara said as she stepped from the car.
“You sure?” Zeke asked.
“Yeah. I’ll talk to you later.” She held the door open and Logan stepped out next.
