Alastair was thoroughly disgruntled. Apart from the arrival of Laird Brodie, it had been a day that started badly and become worse and worse. He just wanted it to be over.
16
The Christmas Ceilidh
Eileen was in excellent spirits when Caitlyn and John walked in. She looked healthy and well, and the sling that had been supporting her arm had gone. Her cheeks were pink and she looked the picture of health.
As soon as she saw her husband, she reached out both arms to embrace him.
He let out a sigh of relief when he saw her. “Sweetheart, I was so worried,” he said, his voice husky with emotion. “I really thought—oh, I don’t know what I thought. I am just glad to see you safe. How are you?”
“I am very well, my dear,” she replied, with a sparkling smile. “And all the better for seeing you.”
They stayed in each others’ arms for a long time while Caitlyn looked out of the window, feeling slightly embarrassed and wishing she had not come in.
“Caitlyn, you can turn around now,” Eileen said, laughing.
As Caitlyn looked at them fondly, she could see the love that lay like a warm blanket over them. They had been together for twenty-three years and still adored each other. She felt a spike of jealousy. Would she ever have a love like this?
“What a stroke of luck we landed in such a wonderful place,” Eileen said happily. “I hear you and Ava have become great friends, and the young Laird!” she winked. “Such a handsome young man! I hear he is still single?” Her tone was mischievous and suggestive.
“Indeed he is,” Caitlyn answered grimly. “And if you knew him better you would understand why.”
“What’s wrong with him?” Eileen asked, baffled.
“Mammy, I would need the rest of the afternoon to tell you,” Caitlyn replied. “Now I will leave you two to chat before dinner. You’ll join us tonight, Mammy?”
“Indeed I will!” Eileen sounded delighted.
When Caitlyn closed the door behind her, she heard them laughing happily, and smiled. Her dear parents were together again.
“I don’t think we have had so many people at the dinner table for months!” Ava observed as she accepted a glass of mulled wine from her brother. They had just finished their evening meal and Alastair was practically dropping from fatigue. After seeing Ava’s horse he had gone to help one of his tenants mend a cart, and his arms and shoulders were aching. All he wanted to do was sleep, but he could not be impolite to his guests.
As well as that, this would be the last night he would see Caitlyn, and he did not want to miss a moment of his remaining time with her. She fascinated him; one moment she seemed like the most enchanting woman in the world, and at other times she was a harpy, and he hated her. If only he had known that she felt exactly the same about him!
Her father was a good man, and an interesting one, though, and soon they were having an impassioned discussion about their estates.
Ava and Eileen talked together, each making the other laugh; they too had become friends. Ava was watching Caitlyn surreptitiously, however. She was very quiet. In fact, she had hardly said a word all evening. She had tried to draw her friend into the conversation, but Eileen sighed and shook her head.
“Leave her,” she advised. “She goes into a world of her own sometimes; she will come out when she’s ready.”
Caitlyn began to develop a headache, and decided to go out for some fresh air.
“Shall we come with you?” Eileen asked anxiously.
Caitlyn kissed her, smiling fondly. “No mother,” she replied. “It’s only a headache. I will go and get some willow bark tea and a bit of fresh air. I’ll be back shortly.”
When she was not back ten minutes later, Alastair, under the pretense of checking the changing of the guards’ shift, went out to find her.
He saw her at once, standing by the main entrance leaning against the wall. She was miles away, lost in a daydream, and he wished he could join her there, and for a moment he could drink in the sight of her as she was lost in a world of her own.
She looked magnificent as the last bright rays of the setting sun burnished her bright hair into a red-gold halo, and he wanted her desperately. He had not even looked at a woman since Kirstine, but despite their antagonism, she had bewitched him.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
She jumped, startled, and when she saw who it was her whole expression hardened. “Please leave me alone,” she said wearily. “I have nothing to say to you. I do not wish to make another apology or hear one. Please go away.”
They looked at each other for a moment longer then he gave her a small stiff bow and began to walk away.
