Chapter Twenty-One
Ellie barely slept at all, except this time it wasn’t nightmares or worry that kept her awake, but rather hope. Her night with Aidam had laid so many things clear. And when he escorted her back to her chambers, he looked to ensure they were alone and kissed her goodnight. The kiss was not the same as the ones they shared previously at the cottage or even earlier in his chambers. It was a hopeful kiss, filled with the promise of their future. Knowing he was right outside her door all night filled her with a peace she hadn’t known since arriving at Sinclair Keep.
It was past dawn, and the sun had risen, so Ellie felt confident enough to get up. She had yet to see the morning maid, but it was early yet.
Besides,she thought.If the halls are clear, perhaps I can get a morning kiss from my handsome guard.
Still in her bedclothes and caring naught, she flung open her chamber door.
“Good Mornin’ my lo—” She stopped short.
“Good mornin’ to ye, lass.” Duncan, Sinclair’s number two and body man, was sitting at her bedchamber door, in the very spot she expected to see Aidam.
“Duncan,” she said, trying to cover her shock and near mishap by calling him ‘love. How could she have been so stupid? “I’m surprised to see ye at me door is all.”
“Expectin’ to see someone else?” He gave her a cheeky wink that may have looked friendly on the surface, but very much like Sinclair himself, the smile that accompanied the wink did not reach his eyes. It chilled her to her bones. “It seems ye were willing to greet who ye thought would be here in yer bedclothes, my lady?”
“What?” she replied, feigning shock at his tone and dramatically looking down. “I am sure I dae nae ken what ye mean.”
“Yer in yer bedclothes, my lady,” he pointed out. “Highly inappropriate for any guard to see. Especially, perhaps, the Laird’s nephew?”
“Nephew? I’m sure I dae nae ken what ye mean.”
“Ye said that already, lass,” Duncan pointed out. Damn, she was no good at lying. She looked around frantically, unsure of how to proceed. Duncan knew she was willing to greet Aidam in her bedclothes. He would undoubtedly tell Sinclair something was amiss. For sure, she has ruined their plan.
“Duncan MacDougall, whatever are you doing!?” Ellie breathed a sigh of relief as Jemina came racing down the corridor toward them. “Ye are nay a decent man to be ogling yer soon-to-be lady of the keep in her nightdress!”
“My lady,” Duncan bowed. “Jemina, I didnae think after yer adventure last night ye’d be up so early.”
“Och, ye ken my Da was no more upset than a lamb once I explained everything to him. What are ye doin here anyway? Should ye not be out in the yard with the men?”
“Aye, I was only relieving Aidam so he could break his fast.” Ellie watched as Duncan shuffled nervously from foot to foot. What was it about Jemina that brought him to bear, she wondered? There was no time for that now. The lass had come to her aid at precisely the right time, and Ellie knew she had the advantage.
“Jemina, my love, I thought I heard you out here earlier, but it was only Duncan.”
“Sorry, I’m late,love,” Jemina replied, placing a comedic emphasis on the word that Ellie knew could ruin her entire plan of escape.
“Ye were expecting to see Lady Jemina?” Duncan asked his tone still skeptical.
“Aye, not that it’s any of yer concern, Duncan,” Jemina said. “But I promised Lady Heloise that I would fill her in on my dinner last evening. Ye ken, the one ye so rudely interrupted?”
Duncan gave them a quick bow. “I’ll leave ye to it then.”
“Are ye no longer needing to guard me then?” Ellie asked, gaining a little bit of her confidence back. It seemed Jemina saved her for the moment, and Duncan relaxed his inquiry. Could it be the braw highlander was afraid of Jemina? Ellie packed that away to think on later.
“Aidam will return soon enough, and I doubt ye’ll be tryin’ anything to annoy my Laird while gossipin’ with his daughter. Right?”
Ellie batted her eyelashes and gave the highlander a curtsy. “Of course not, Duncan.”
Jemina laughed as Duncan shook his head and took his leave. Ellie barely waited until he was out of sight before pulling Jemina into her chambers.
“Are ye nay in trouble lass,” she asked. “I’m so sorry I gave ye up to yer da. Please believe I meant ye no torment.”
“Och, dae nae fash, Ellie. I meant what I told Duncan, ‘twas nothin’. I love me Da, but he and MacGuire are always tryin’ to beat each other. He was cross, but I won him over soon enough. I heard what he did to ye in the great hall. I came to apologize to you for putting ye in that position.”
“Think nothing of it,” Ellie said, and she meant it. She threw her arms around Jemina, hugging her tightly. The young woman had quickly become one of Ellie’s closest friends, and she would miss her the most when she and Aidam left.
“Ellie, can I ask ye a question?”
