CHAPTERSIXTEEN
Elsy
As soon as she left Connell’s study, Elsy could no longer hold in her tears. She sobbed, allowing them to finally slip down her face. Her shoulders shook as she cried, not caring where Brann took her as he guided her down the corridor. Brann didn’t say anything. He glanced at her from time to time and she could feel his worry and his pity in those slight looks. His hand on her elbow was light, gentle. She was hardly aware of her footsteps. Her feet moved on their own. She felt as if her heart was shattering into pieces, like a looking glass thrown over the edge of the walls—never to be fixed, never to be of use ever again.
“Ye think I’d want McCormick’s widow?”
She cried harder at the memory of Connell’s words. How could he be so kind and loving one moment, and so cruel the next? It didn’t make any sense. She didn’t think her heart could take anymore. There was only so much torment she could go through before finally cracking. She had tried to remain strong, yet she was so exhausted.
“We’re here,” Brann said gently while opening the door.
Elsy wiped her tears away, but she couldn’t fight the sobs. She stepped inside without looking at Brann, feeling so embarrassed he had to look upon her unsightly manners. Her steps took her to the bed, and she dumped her body onto the mattress, pressing her hands over her face.
“Would ye like anything to eat?”
Elsy shook her head. She waited for the door to click close, but no other sound came. Her head lifted. Had he, in his pity, left the door open? Instead of a route to freedom, though, she found Brann in the doorway, fidgeting with his hands as he gazed at her. He looked worried, and she wondered if he knew what awaited her in the morn if she did not give Connell and his men what they wanted.
“What is it?” she asked between sobs.
Elsy inhaled deeply as she waited for Brann’s answer, trying to contain her tears and remain calm. It was difficult. She wanted to cry more and not all of it had to do with Connell. These past four years had been difficult. She hadn’t properly mourned her father. She hadn’t gotten over her love for Connell. The last few years, she had hardly been living, only waking, and living day in and day out, like a ghost waiting for closure. But she knew feeling sorry for herself would do her no good. Elsy wiped her tears as she watched Brann look over his shoulders, his nervousness making her stomach twist and her heart thud faster.
“Brann?”
Brann sighed, his head hanging on his shoulders. He clamped his eyes closed, as if the very words of what he was about to say pained him. Finally, they opened as he said, “I don’t know if I should be asking this of ye. I know ye have been through too much.”
“Ask me what?” Elsy asked while slowly rising, her curiosity captured, her worry increasing.What dreadful thing does he wish me to do? she wondered. Brann had been nothing but kind since she arrived, but he was still in league with the other men. She knew she couldn’t trust him. Not completely. However kind he was, she knew he could turn on her at any moment.
Brann made a face, his nervousness making her even more curious. “Ye probably don’t want to help, given yer situation, but--” Brann paused and Elsy could see he was struggling with something.
The word help made her worry fade and her curiosity increase. “But what, Brann?”
“Could ye have a look at Scott?” Brann rushed out, his gaze slipping to the floor. “He won’t eat anything. I’m worried he-he may be even more sick than before.”
Elsy strode toward Brann, her back straightening, and her sorrow dissipating. This was something she could do to keep her mind off Connell. Sitting in her room, waiting for something foul to come her way would only make her worse. And despite not knowing Scott well, Elsy knew deep in her heart she needed to help that little girl, especially if there were men she was fearful of.In a world belonging to men folk, us ladies should stick together,Elsy thought as she stepped forward.
“The others don’t care, but I-I worry for the little lad,” Brann continued as she strode past him.
“Of course I will help,” Elsy said as she continued down the hall, not knowing where she was going. She frowned at the cobwebs in the corners, at the dust and dirt covering the stone under her feet as she waited for Brann to follow.
“Ye will?” Brann asked, sidling close to her.
Elsy smiled up at him, giving him a gentle pat on his arm. “Of course, I will. I’m a healer after all.”
Elsy was thankful Brann still hadn’t bothered to cover her eyes. Calmer now, she was able to take in her surroundings as much as possible while she followed Brann through the corridor and down the steps. The fortress wasn’t as big as she originally thought, which meant Brann had been leading her in circles before, ensuring she wouldn’t memorize the way and easily find the doors leading to the outside.
Before, when Brann had first called upon Elsy to help Scott, Elsy had been too shocked by the summons to take notice of the fortress’s details. And then, after, she had been too horrified by Connell’s words, too heartbroken to care. However, now she could see it wouldn’t be too difficult to escape.
The fortress was two floors, with her rooms being on the highest tower. She stepped down two staircases, which meant Scott’s rooms were on the bottom floor, near the kitchens. Elsy paused on the bottom step, hearing men chuckling in another room. She turned toward the sound, staring at the large wooden doors, slightly ajar. Her heart lurched in her chest, her teeth biting into her bottom lip as she wondered if Connell was there, eating and drinking with his men, planning their next course of action.
“If ye don’t at least give me something, my men will get it out of ye themselves.”
Elsy’s stomach twisted at Connell’s words, and she feared what awaited her in the morn. Would they hit her? Would they beat the answers they wanted out of her? Elsy didn’t know what she could tell that would convince them to let her go. She knew very little about Alan, only that he was controlling, and made her feel even more alone within his castle’s walls. There was nothing more she could offer Connell. And even if she could provide them with information on her former husband, would they release her? Or would they still take her life? Elsy bit back the fear seizing her heart and forced herself to take a deep breath.
One thing at a time,she told herself.
“Elsy?” Brann called gently.
Elsy forced a smile as she turned away from the great hall. She picked up her skirts, quickly following after Brann, staying close to his side just in case anyone traipsed into the corridor. She wouldn’t want them thinking she escaped. At least not yet. Perhaps in the morn she could leave while everyone was sleeping.
