CHAPTERNINE
Dinner was an awkward affair. Lorna could feel the tension in the room, but she didn’t know exactly why it was present. Athol sat next to her with Bryce on the other side, and her father looked as sullen as he’d ever looked. Whenever her mother asked questions, he answered curtly or with one word, and then her mother remained silent.
Athol spoke, but her father didn’t answer much, and Lorna didn’t understand. Was her family upset about the death? Or was it Bryce’s continued presence that bothered them?
“Mother,” she said, “I think we might be asked tae handle the funeral of Mrs. Creech. We can make some preparations.”
“Of course, dear. I think that would be very appropriate. She was a woman of the clan, after all, and she deserves a proper funeral.” After the English soldier had left, her father’s men had moved the body to the cold cellar to keep until it was time for the funeral. Messages were sent to Mrs. Creech’s remaining family, which wasn’t much.
Lorna decided that she would take charge of such preparations, one of many things she wished to do to prove her worth to her parents. As she ate, her brother or her mother spoke of dull, clan issues such as which farmer was beholden to another for payment of wool and seed, and she snuck glances at Bryce. She didn’t know why she did it, but their exercise in reading his eyes had something to do with it.
He had been so close, just as he had been out by the river, and she wondered why he didn’t kiss her. Was there something wrong with her? Something repulsive? They had been so close to it, by the river, and then she’d sighted Mrs. Creech. Or perhaps that wasn’t what he was trying to do.
Lorna, bonny Lorna,he’d said, and the tone in his voice had made her blood stir and her body yearn for closeness with him. So, as she ate, she glanced at him every so often, hoping to catch sight of an answer to his feelings. What did he think about her? For so many years, she knew he’d thought of her as his friend, or rather an annoyance who was in love with his brother. But now? He was staying on, after all, to assist with the death of Mrs. Creech, but did he still see her in the same light? Lorna didn’t think so, but she didn’t dare hope for something different. It was far too exciting and made her feel far more confident than she ought. She had gotten close to him and kissed him on the cheek, but he still didn’t draw her close and put his mouth on hers. So, she concluded that he must not want to.
After dinner, she bid a sweet goodbye to her parents and brother and gave an awkward smile to Bryce as she left for the stairs to her chamber. As she ascended, she could hear her brother and Bryce in low, mumbled conversation, but she didn’t turn around again, keeping her face forward. It didn’t do her any favors to be mooning after another MacDowell boy so soon after she’d been rejected by one.
When she finally made her way upstairs, Lorna was in a sort of daze. Even though she’d spoken of Watt so much in the last day, it wasn’t Watt who resided in her mind. It was Bryce. Bryce MacDowell, the man who’d teased her endlessly as a child, and the man who made her feel things she’d never felt when in Watt’s presence. Frowning to herself as she walked up the steps, Lorna wondered at what moment she had left thoughts of Watt behind her.
She had a feeling it was when she’d seen Watt look into his wife’s eyes at the feast. There was so much love there, and she knew that all hope was lost, and then Bryce had come to her rescue. He seemed to have a habit of doing that lately. Being by her side when everything was turning against her and going strange. He was such a solid strong man, and she felt like she was learning so much from him. She wanted to be strong too.
“Och, ye are back.” Kyla greeted her in the doorway to her chamber with tired eyes.
“Kyla, what are ye still doing awake? Ye ken that ye can go tae bed.”
“Of course, I ken, but I wanted tae make sure that ye were well. It was a difficult day.” Kyla took her hand and led her to the hearth to sit down.
“Thank ye. Aye, it was a difficult day. Have ye had yer dinner?” Lorna asked, turning to watch as Kyla prepared her nightclothes.
Kyla paused, her fingers in the act of laying the clothes on the bed, when she turned her surprised eyes to Lorna. “What did ye ask, lass?’
“Have ye had yer dinner?” Lorna repeated, confused as to why Kyla didn’t understand her.
“Aye, I have. I brought a tray from the kitchens. I thought it best ye dine with yer family on yer own taenight. Ye are kind tae ask after me,” she added with a smile. “Ye didnae have tae.”
Lorna blushed, gauging from her companion’s surprised reply that she did not often ask after Kyla and her needs. “I did have tae, Kyla.” She folded her hands in her lap. “Ye have done so much for me, and I am always grateful.” Kyla came to hand her a cup of wine, and Lorna reached out to hold her wrist. “Sit with me, for a little while.”
Kyla grinned and took her seat across from Lorna. “I thought it was time for bed,” she said. “It is late, after all.”
“True, but I want ye tae ken that I appreciate yer kindness. I ken that I am difficult, and that I have had me troubles, but I wouldnae wish ye tae think that I take advantage of ye. Ye are a good companion. A good friend.”
“What has happened tae ye, Lorna McAdam?” Kyla said, shaking her head. She leaned back and narrowed her eyes. “In fact, donnae tell me. I ken already.”
Lorna blushed without fully knowing why. “What do ye mean?” she asked, breathless.
Chuckling, Kyla said, “I donnae entirely approve of it, but I think it might be a good thing.”
“What?” Lorna asked, exasperated but giddy at the same time.
“That this change in ye has been brought about by the handsome yet dangerous Bryce MacDowell.”
Lorna didn’t respond right away. Instead, a smile crept over her lips. “I donnae ken what ye mean, nae exactly.”
Kyla burst into merry laughter, and Lorna was now very glad that she’d asked her to sit down. Kyla’s circumstances had bid her to act as companion, but she really was a very dear friend. The dearest.
“Ye donnae?” Kyla asked, still smiling.
“Well, if ye would explain, then I would be very much obliged. Perhaps I might understand it a bit better.”
