Adam. At the mention of his name, Kali closed her eyes, pained deeply by his absence. Her heart hoped—desperately wished—Adam would appear. But since their time in the woods, after their argument and her subsequent capture by the English soldiers, he had disappeared. Gone without a trace. And no one, not even Heather, knew where he was. Kali realized now that if she had offered herself to him—agreed to be his wife—that together they could face the world. No one could stop them. Not Adam’s father or hers. But was it too late?
“Ye care about him,” Yvaine said.
Kali opened her eyes and gazed at the sweet-faced girl whose eyes resembled Adam’s, with the same compassionate spirit. “Aye. I do.”
“He told me how beautiful ye are, how kind. How he needed to find a way to protect ye.”
The news pained Kali even more. “Where is he?” Tears stung her eyes.
“I doona know,” Yvaine said, slipping her hand over Kali’s and squeezing. “But I do know me brother. He willna give up, and neither should ye.”
“Do ye see,” Ariana said, “ye are not alone in yer suffering, Kali. Whatever these men—our fathers—think they can do to us, they will never succeed if we stick together.”
Kali wiped the tears from her eyes. “’Tis not just about me, Ariana. Ye and Keara. I never wanted this for the two of ye. I shoulda listened to Father and married Lord Nelson before.”
Ariana repositioned herself on the mattress, sitting on her knees in front of her sister and cupping her face in her hands. “Look at me, Kali.”
Kali shook her head at first, not wanting to face her sister. She feared she’d see her failure reflected in her sister’s eyes.
“Kali,” Ariana urged.
“Aye.” Slowly, she raised her head and saw nothing but love in those blue eyes.
“I accepted Father’s command only because I knew I’d get to see ye, to have a chance to find a way to protect us all.”
“There are ways out of this keep,” Yvaine said, and both sisters stared at her. “Aye. And whatever bad feelings ye have for me father, know he has been nothing but kind to me. Though holding me prisoner to shield me from the outside world might seem heartless to some, I know he did it to protect me. And I have been an obedient daughter…”
Kali considered the true meaning of what she was trying to say. “Are ye offering to help me escape?”
Yvaine nodded. “Adam told me what ye did for the orphans. I only wish I had the ability to do more for those unfortunate children…”
“Ye are no older than they are,” Kali said. “Too young to have to worry about such things.”
Yvaine gestured at her bedchamber. “I live in luxury while those children struggle to survive. Look about ye, Kali… Do I deserve to live like this while…”
“Ye are the laird’s only daughter. Of course ye deserve to be safe and spoiled. I willna let ye blame yerself for things beyond yer control.”
“Kali is right,” Ariana said gently. “We are the daughters of lairds, given no choice in what we do or where we go. But together, we might be able to change our futures.”
Kali heaved a sigh and reclined back on a pile of soft pillows. Everywhere she looked in the generously sized chamber, she saw comfort. From the rich tapestries covering the stone walls to the fur-covered floors—a grand hearth with a specially carved mantel bearing the MacKay clan seal and a roaring fire, to the trunks filled with the finest dyed-wool dresses and even some silk gowns. She was glad Yvaine MacKay hadn’t suffered the same fate as her.
She rubbed her sore wrists where the rough cord she had been bound with had rubbed her skin raw. A reminder of her controlled life. Of every evil thing her father represented. Bondage. Subservience. Cruelty. All things she wanted to banish from her life, her sisters’ futures, and now Yvaine MacKay’s life.
“Heather,” Kali blurted.
“What?” Ariana asked.
“My maid. Where is she?”
“I am sure she has been reassigned,” Yvaine said. “Me father thinks well of her, so there is no reason for her not to be available.”
Kali sat up. “Can ye summon her?”
“I doona see why not.”
…
“Ye can take the horse of yer choice, but no’ me brother,” Moira said.
