“Aye.” She nodded hurriedly. “Aye, I will marry ye.”
A cheer erupted from the crowds. The pipes played loudly as Finley toasted the air once again.
“And now, a gift fer ye.” Laird Grant leaned toward her as he flicked his fingers. From behind him, one of his maids scurred forward, presenting a silken green cloth that was embroidered in gold thread. “It is the finest I could buy. Expensive, but I will only have the best fer me bride tae be.”
“Oh. Thank ye,” Ava said, forcing a big smile. “That is most kind.” Yet as she took the fabric in her hands, she felt how impersonal it was.
She had never been one for fine fabrics, or elaborate gifts. Clearly having thought he’d bought her affection, Laird Grant turned away, leaving her standing in the middle of all the dancers, quite alone and holding onto the expensive fabric.
What have I done?
Kicking the door shut behind her, Ava ran into her chamber, tripping on the edge of the fine material she was still clutching in her hands. Quite horrified by its presence, she threw it down on the nearest chair, in danger of knocking over a nearby candle as she flung herself away from it.
“What have I done?” she whispered aloud, falling back onto the bed. “Ow!” There was something hard under her head. Whipping around to kneel on the bed, she felt between the blankets for what she had knocked her head against.
There resting on the blanket was the scabbard decorated with stars that she had seen in the market. It was perfectly sized for one of her knives, and it would slot easily into her weapons belt. She picked up the heavy scabbard, feeling something crinkle inside. Delving in her fingers, she found a piece of parchment she slid out. On the parchment was Kai’s scribbled handwriting.
‘Fer ye. I would buy ye any gift in the world if it would make ye smile, Ava, but I ken ye dinnae want riches or fine things. Ye want something useful tae ye, something that makes ye feel safe. Ken this too. If I could spend every night of our lives in akitchen we have crept off tae together, I would, but I ken that isnae a possibility. I’ll always be here fer ye though, if ye want me, even if I can never quite have ye as I wish I could. With love, always, K.’
Tears welled up in Ava’s eyes as she stared at the words. They were so heartfelt, so full of love, so full of devotion, that Ava was reliving the pain of watching Kai ride away all over again. Only this time, it was with the knowledge that she had just agreed to bind herself to another man forever.
“Ava? Ava, are ye in there?” Lyla knocked on the door. When Ava could do nothing in reply but gasp between her tears, Lyla opened the door. “Dear God, what has happened?” Lyla ran in.
Unable to utter a word, Ava proffered up the parchment, praying it would help to explain everything. Lyla sat on the bed, her complexion turning milky in shock.
“Ava, what are ye going tae dae? Ye have just agreed tae marry Laird Grant. In front of so many people too! What are ye going are ye going tae dae now?”
“I…” She tried to compose herself and stuff down the temptation to cry anymore tears. “I need tae see him.”
“Laird Grant?”
“Nay, nay. I need tae sneak out of the castle, Lyla. Tonight. I need tae see Kai.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“Halt, who goes there?”
Ava rode closer to the castle gate and portcullis, knowing the moment she revealed her face from beneath the heavy hood of her cloak, she would be allowed entry. Her nervousness bubbled in her stomach though.
She had managed to sneak out of her father’s castle with Lyla’s help, unnoticed, but if she was seen here, it would only be a matter of time before the servants spread the news between them. It would take one lone rider who happened to be heading to her father’s castle on trade for news to spread.
Nay, I’m nae getting in any other way, and I have tae see him.
“I said, halt!” the guard demanded, brandishing his pike in front of him.
Ava pulled the horse to a stop and lifted her hood from her brow, setting it back further on her head. The heavy snowfall fell on her eyelashes and cheeks as the guard stepped forward, moving so that the light of his lantern fell on her face in the darkness.
“Lady Ava?” he muttered in surprise.
“I am here tae see… Thora,” she whispered. “There isnae a need tae announce me presence. I will find her and speak tae her meself.”
“Aye. As ye wish.” He offered a little bow and then stepped back, pulling up the portcullis so she could ride inside.
Ava dismounted quickly, handing the reins to another guard who stepped forward, his brows knitted together in confusion to see her ride in so late at night without an escort. Ava didn’t answer the silent questions in his face but hastened into the keep.
She walked past more guards in the entrance hall, tiptoeing up the stairs and past lone burning torches set in sconces on the walls. She knew exactly where she was heading, and it was not to see Thora.
When she found Kai’s chamber, she hesitated outside for a minute, pressing her ear to the door and listening intently.
