She arched an eyebrow. “What other reason is there? Is he not on good terms with my father?”
“Aye, that he is. Yer faither helped the Laird with a matter involving redcoats, and they saw how they could assist each other. But the reason Kayden needed help is related to his sister. The redcoats killed her, and he wished to recover her body.”
Lilliana gasped. “I did not know that.”
Fergus nodded. “Aye, well…”
“Did… Did he get her body back and bury it?” she asked quietly.
He shook his head slowly. “She couldnae be found.”
Lilliana took a deep breath, a hand on her chest. She did not know what she could possibly say to that.
She returned to her rooms later in the afternoon, after a detour to the kitchens for a bowl of broth and some bread. Gardening was hungry work.
She found Rua loitering near her door and bent down to rub his flank.
“Hail and well met, young hound. Where is your master?” she murmured into his ear.
He gave a bark that seemed to say,I have nay idea. Ma’am,and she laughed softly.
“Alright then. I am tired, and I need to sit down.” She straightened up. “You’re welcome to join me.”
To her surprise, the dog trotted into the room after her as if he understood her perfectly.
She gave a small laugh as she crossed over to sit on the chaise lounge. Bramble was lying asleep on the bed, but when she saw the dog, her hackles rose, hair standing on end. She gave a loudpurr and scrambled up into the shelves, crouching between the books and watching Rua warily.
“Oh, he would not hurt you. Would you, Rua? You would not hurt my cat,” Lilliana said to the dog as she scratched under his chin.
She heard a deep chuckle and started, looking behind her to find that the connecting door was open and Kayden was leaning against it.
“Ye ken, that dog hasnae taken to anyone else since me braither died. Rua used to belong to him.” The light in his eyes dimmed.
Lilliana’s eyes softened. “I am sorry for your loss,” she said.
Kayden nodded, surprising her further by coming closer. “It was some time ago. Fifteen years,” he huffed. “Rua doesnae look as old as he is.”
Lilliana looked down at the dog, whose tongue was lolling out. “I am sure you are grateful for that.”
Kayden took a seat beside her with a sigh. He nodded slowly. “I daenae like to think about it.”
“I expect, after all this time, you do not have many mementos from your brother. Were you close?”
Kayden smiled wistfully. “He was me older braither,” he said simply, as if it explained everything.
Lilliana knew that it did. The image of her own sisters flashed through her mind. She wondered what she would do if she ever lost Cecily or Jane. The pain would be unimaginable.
“Your father and brother, they died together?”
“Aye. A skirmish on the border. Me faither didnae want the raiders to advance anywhere close to the castle, so he marshaled his troops and went forward to meet them. I wanted to go as well, but someone needed to stay behind in case…”
Lilliana nodded in understanding.
“They died holding the line, making sure their men could escape.”
She watched his eyes, seeing the pain and loss in them. Her fingers itched to reach out and touch him, offer him some comfort. But she was afraid of his rejection.
“They were brave men. You should be proud,” she said instead.
