Chapter 15
Two days later, Boydand his men finally rode through the gates of MacKinnon Keep just as the sun reached its zenith, their unexpected early return causing a stir among the servants and guards in the courtyard.
"Laird!"Mrs.Anders bustled forward, her face wreathed in surprise."We did not expect ye back for another three weeks at least!"
"Plans changed," Boyd replied, dismounting and handing his reins to a stable hand.His eyes scanned the courtyard even as he spoke, searching for one particular figure."Please see that the men are fed."
"Of course, laird.Will ye be wanting a meal as well?"
"Later."Boyd was already moving toward the Keep's entrance."First, I need a bath."
He could feel the dust and grime of travel clinging to him, smell the sweat of days on the road.He wouldn't seek out Bella looking like a beggar.Whatever conversation they needed to have, whatever truth they needed to uncover, he wanted to face her clean and presentable.
The steaming hot bath was a welcome relief after riding for several days.Boyd scrubbed away the dirt from the road.He washed and rinsed his long hair, shaved away his days old beard, brushed his teeth with mint paste, dried off and changed into clean clothes.He wore a fresh linen shirt and clean plaid and even combed his hair, catching himself in the reflection of the polished metal mirror.
What was he doing?Preening like a lad before his first courting?This was ridiculous.
Yet he couldn't stop himself.
Boyd's mind was already racing ahead to what he would say to Bella.How he would begin.I was wrong?Can we have a real marriage?
None of it sounded right in his head.
But it did not matter.He needed to see her, touch her, talk to her.
Because he wanted Bella to look at him and see the man he could be.
Boyd shook his head at his own foolishness and left his chamber, his heart already beating faster at the thought of seeing her again.
After several days away, he was finally going to lay eyes on his bonnie wife.
The chamber next to his was empty.The bed was neatly made, the room tidy and orderly.He was pleased to see several beautiful new garments hanging over a rack, but no sign of Bella.
Boyd frowned and headed downstairs, assuming she would be somewhere in the main Keep.Perhaps in the solar, reviewing accounts.Or in the kitchens where she seemed to spend so much of her time.
But finding Bella proved more difficult than Boyd had anticipated.
He checked the solar.Empty.The kitchens.Cook said she'd been there earlier but had left to tend to other matters.The great hall.Deserted except for servants preparing for the evening meal.
Everywhere Boyd went, people greeted him warmly and mentioned his wife.
"Welcome home!Lady Bella will be so pleased to see ye returned safely."
"Laird!'Tis good to have ye back.The mistress has been working herself to the bone in yer absence."
Boyd's frown deepened as he continued his search, his unease growing with each empty room.
He moved through the corridors, checking the stillroom.Empty.The chapel.Vacant.Even the stables, thinking perhaps she'd gone riding.
Each place he looked, she wasn't there.
And each person he encountered had some positive comment about his wife but no real knowledge of where she was.
