She turned to her. For a moment, concern flickered over her face. “Are you going to tell me something outlandish like you’ve decided to go home? Because I don’t want you to. I want you to stay and—”
“No,” Chloe said, interrupting her. “I’m not going to tell you that.”
Her brows drew together. “Then what?”
“Malcolm and I are getting married.”
With a squeal of delight, Evie flung her arms around her neck and hugged her tight. “I’m so happy to hear that!” She pulled back, holding her at arm’s length. “And I can’t wait to start planning it.”
“We haven’t picked a day yet.”
“Doesn’t matter. Wait until I tell Roslyn. She’ll be beside herself. In fact, I’m heading to the kitchen to help her,” Evie said. “Do you want to come with me? She’ll love to hear the news from you.”
She hooked her arm with Chloe’s. They started for the door.
“We can tell her later. I was hoping to go outside for a breath of fresh air. I’ve been cooped up for a while and I’d like to stretch my legs.”
“The kitchen can wait then. I’ll come with you.”
Together, they left the tapestry room behind and headed through the great hall to the door. Outside, it was a cool, crisp morning. Chloe regretted not grabbing her cloak. Evie didn’t have hers, either. Clouds dotted the sky with the threat of rain. There was a hint of dampness in the wind, something Chloe recognized from her time in Edinburgh—it definitely smelled like rain. Perhaps even snow.
She paused to take in a deep breath, closing her eyes to enjoy the brisk day.
A shout rose up from one of the guards on the wall. There was a rider coming.
Chloe opened her eyes to see Malcolm and Callum hurrying from the stables.
“Who is it, laddie?” Callum called.
“A lone rider, my lord,” he called back. “A man. He looks injured. He’s slumped over the horse headed for the gate.”
“Open the gate,” Callum said.
Evie and Chloe hurried over as the portcullis rose. Moments later, the rider came through, the horse at a slow walk. When he entered the bailey, he pulled the horse to a halt. He practically fell out of the saddle. Malcolm hurried over to catch him before he landed on the ground. He turned the man over in his arms.
“Jamie?” Malcolm eased him to the ground and knelt next to him.
She, Evie, and Callum were at his side in an instant. His face was dirty. His clothes torn. Dark circles were under his eyes. His breath was shallow as he leaned heavily against Malcolm.
“Are ye all right?” Malcolm asked. “What happened?”
“Tired,” he muttered. “It’s been a long road to get here.”
“I’ll fetch some water,” Evie offered and scurried away.
Relief pounded through Chloe as she moved to stand next to them. But it wasn’t enough to assuage the guilt of leaving him behind in a burning building.
Callum knelt next to them, concern creasing his features. “We came back for ye but the MacDonald keep was deserted.”
“Aye,” Jamie said, his voice rough. “With the fire in the keep, there was chaos. They left me in the chamber alone, my hands bound. But I managed to get the ropes off.”
He held up his hands. His wrists were raw and red where he’d struggled to get free. There was that guilt again, banging around inside her. She felt wholly responsible for everything that happened to him.
Evie returned then with a water skin. She handed it to Callum, who helped Jamie take a long drink. When he was finished, he waved him off. When Evie saw his mangled wrists, she gasped.
“He needs medical attention,” she said.
“I’ll heal, lass,” Jamie said, as though it were nothing more than a scratch. Then he glanced back at Callum. “I managed to find a chamber maid. Asked her to get me to the stables. I stole a horse and tried to get out, but someone shot me in the leg.”
