It would be the first time Helena would be without Alexander since her arrival. She couldn’t decide which was more terrifying, being here alone without him or fear of the unknown.
What would happen if he didnae come back? Could I handle that? How do I feel anyway? This is too confusing…
Tears sprang to her eyes as her thoughts raced.
“Now, now, lass, try nae to look like someone killed yer cat. It’ll be just a few days, and we will be back to drive ye mad again.” He tried to ease her anxiety, hugging her tightly before kissing her goodbye. “I promise, I’ll be back in a few days.”
“Make sure ye keep that promise, ye brute.” She rose on her tiptoes to kiss him again, whispering against his mouth, “Please be careful.”
“I will, lass. I will.”
Alice and Helena clung to one another as they watched the men ride out of the keep, their entire world seemingly going with them.
“How do ye stand it?” Helena asked. “Watchin’ both yer braithers ride out to war. Kennin’ they may nae come back.”
“The same way ye did—with a heavy heart and a lump in me throat.”
Alice realized her mistake immediately, but the damage was done. The words were out.
“But me braither never came home,” Helena whispered, her tears threatening to spill over.
They stood there silently for a long while, listening to the breeze in the trees as the clouds moved in, the heavens threatening to open. Still, they stayed, even when the rain started to fall.
Somberly, they went back into the keep when they could no longer see any sign of the horses in the distance.
Helena excused herself to her room, saying she didn’t feel well—which was true, but the pain was in her heart. She suddenly felt as if there were a gaping hole in her chest in the wake of her husband’s absence.
What was this feeling? What could possibly hurt this much?
She stood at her window for what seemed like hours, watching the rain fall on the courtyard, listening to the drops pelting the roof, her tears falling alongside them. Completely lost.
A soft knock on the door finally pushed her to turn away from the window.
She wiped her eyes before opening the door. She was surprised to find Alice there, her arms full of supplies, paints, raw canvas, brushes, and a plethora of other items.
“Can I come in?”
“Of course! Oh my, where did ye find all of that?” Helena opened the door wide to allow her entry, then closed it behind her and followed her to the table near the window, where she liked to paint.
“Well, I thought we may need a distraction while the men are away, so I started gatherin’ things as soon as Michael told methey planned to ride out. I had to send several servants out to find the various colors and brushes. The canvas was surprisingly the easiest to obtain.”
Just then, Mags jumped up on the shelf, knocking over several brushes. They dropped to the floor, rolling away as Helena tried to set everything on the small table.
“Mischievous cat!” She chuckled, watching him strut around and meow indifferently.
“He certainly is a scamp,” Alice snorted, bending over to pick up the brushes.
“A naughty piglet is what he is,” Helena joked, kneeling down next to Alice to help her pick up the brushes.
“Cook spoils him, ye ken?” Alice winked, watching the cat lick his paws. “He’s a good mouser, so she gives him meat all the time.”
“He was always an excellent hunter, so I’m nae surprised.” Helena grinned, watching the cat for a moment before offering Alice her hand.
Clasping hands, they pulled each other up, then sorted through the supplies, each setting up a small canvas to work on.
“Let’s get to work before Mags decides to knock over more supplies,” Alice urged, smiling at the clueless cat.
They painted for a long while, occasionally splashing one another with paint or having to chase Mags off the table. At one point, he tromped over their color palettes, leaving paw prints all over the floor. They had to chase him to wipe his paws clean.
