“Of course, lass, anything.”
“Are ye in love with me cousin, Aidam?”
Ellie thought about lying, but only for a moment. She looked at her friend and saw the affection. She didn’t want Jemina upset with her, but it was better to be honest.
“Aye,” she replied. “I hope ye aren’t angry. I didnae mean for it to happen. But I cannae marry yer Da. I’ve tried to tell him. I’ve tried to do it the right way, but yer Da, well.”
Jemina wrapped her arms around Ellie and hugged her tight. “My Da is a stubborn ass. While I’m sad ye won’t be around to be me mother, I’m happy ye found yer love. My Da will get over it. Don’t ye fash about that. He doesnae love ye, lass. There is something else going on with him, and I hope he is able to cure himself of his ills, but ye deserve to be happy.”
Tears brimmed Ellie’s eyes. Jemina was a fine young woman, and she would make an excellent lady of the keep one day.
“Jemina, how did ye ken? About Aidam, I mean.”
“Well.” Jemina smiled and moved to sit on the bed. “I had me suspicions the night we cared for him after he came back from the village tossed. Mayhap a bit before that. But I would have never confronted either of ye.”
“I’m thankful for that. How mortifying.” Ellie put her head in her hands.
“Nay, but then this morning, I realized when I saw Aidam in the great hall getting food he had a peculiar look in his eye. I didn’t question him, but then when I came upon you in the corridor in yer nightdress, with that same look in yer eye, and almost calling Duncan ‘my love,’ well that’s when I ken it to be true.”
“Och, was it that obvious?”
“Oh aye, indeed. I am not sure my coming to yer aid actually helped matters but were I you, I would steer clear of Duncan for a few days. Like the barn dogs, he will not let a bone go once he gets hold. If he suspects something is going on between ye and Aidam, he’ll nay rest until he finds out what.”
“Never mind that, tell me about yer dinner with Colin MacGuire?” Ellie knew the younger woman must have been bursting at the seems to tell of her outing. And she was rewarded with Jemina’s brightest smile.
As Jemina began to retell her night, they were interrupted by the morning maid bringing in food for Ellie to break her fast.
“My apologies, my lady,” the maid said. “There is a letter for ye as well.”
Ellie looked at Jemina, who only shrugged her shoulders, and picked up the letter from the tray. Was it from Aidam? No, why would he write when they were to see each other soon? A letter? She looked at the neat handwriting on the envelope and instantly lost any appetite she had for food.
The letter was from her mother.
* * *
My Dearest Heloise,
Word has come to me that you are being quite disagreeable to his Lairdship. I am writing to implore you to remember you are a lady and have been brought up as such…
Ellie finished it and tried to push her anger down. She crumpled the parchment and tossed it to the fire. Missing her target, it landed on the floor in front of the hearth. Jemina moved to pick it up, but Ellie stopped it.
“Leave it,” she said, moving toward her wardrobe. She pulled out her riding habit. The plan was unchanged; she intended to leave with Aidam as soon as he returned to her chamber. No harsh words from her mother would change her mind. In fact, it was the opposite. Her mother’s letter only served to embolden Ellie to run away and never return. Aidam’s life for them in France sounded like heaven.
“Are ye sure?” Jemina asked.
“Aye,” she replied, continuing to dress. “Pay it no mind. It is filled with my mother’s admonishment of my behavior and nothing more. Apparently, I need to be more agreeable with your Da and stop forcing my will. She heard of the Laird’s regard for me from her housekeeper, who heard it from one of the kitchen maids here. Apparently, they are related and have nothing better to do but talk of my trials with the laird.”
A knock sounded at the chamber door, and Ellie moved to answer. The letter from her mother serving as a cruel reminder that she was still very much considered a girl by all those around her.
Her breath stole in her chest as Aidam stood at the door, dressed in his plaid and looking ever the skilled warrior. Ellie, remembering Jemina was in the room and had an audience, did her best to casually greet him instead of throwing herself into his arms and begging him to make her feel like a woman.
“Lady Heloise,” he bowed. “Lady Jemina.”
“Oh, stuff it, Aidam. Ye ken good and well neither of us take kindly to formalities.” Jemina was smiling as she chastised her cousin, and he had the good grace to laugh.
“Jemina, are ye not suffering from a tanned hide this mornin’?” he asked. “Och, nay.”
“Glad to hear it,” he replied, winking at his cousin affectionately, before turning his attention to Ellie. “My lady, would ye fancy a bit of exercise this morning? I’ve gotten permission to escort ye riding.”
Ellie smiled. The first part of his plan in motion, and it looked like they were going to make it. “Jemina, do you mind if I take a ride?”
“Nay, I’ve much to do. Besides, yer already dressed in yer riding habit. Looks like it would be a shame to waste it.” She smiled and bowed to both of them before taking her leave.
Ellie was relieved that Jemina held no ill will, though she felt bad that she didn’t reveal their plan to her. It would be unfair, she justified, to give the lass knowledge that she had to keep from her Da. No, it was better that Jemina did not know this was the last she would see of both her and Aidam. She vowed to write to her, and often, once she and Aidam were safe and settled and Sinclair was no longer angry.
Closing the chamber door and turning the lock, Ellie moved toward Aidam and fell into his arms. He kissed her and pulled back to look into her eyes.
“Are ye ready, lass?”
“Aye, take me away, Aidam,” she replied. “Please. Let’s start our forever.”
