Arran swallowed hard and looked away from her. “Aye. And ‘tis glad I am that you have. It makes the most sense.”
“Does it?” Nothing made sense to Eleanor anymore.
Neither one spoke for several moments. Finally, Arran stood. “I should get some rest. I dinna ken what tomorrow will bring.”
This could very well be the last opportunity Eleanor had to speak to Arran alone—yet there was nothing she could tell him that would change the course of events unfolding around them.
“Good night, Arran.” Eleanor also stood and found herself very close to him. “I will pray for you.”
He looked down at her, his dark eyes full of longing and tenderness. “Good night, Lady Brooke.” He lifted his hand as if he was going to caress her face, but then he lowered it again, and let out a sigh. “My prayers will be with you, as well.”
With those final words, he left her side and disappeared up the stairs.
Eleanor wanted to weep, but she had cried enough the night before.
The door opened again, and this time William and Governor Semple entered.
William caught Eleanor’s gaze, concern in the tilt of his brows. His eyes wandered up the stairs, where Arran had just gone.
“I have a few things I need to address in my office,” Semple said, blustering a bit. “If you’ll excuse me.”
He left the common area and disappeared behind his closed door.
It was just Eleanor and William, alone. Since he had proposed, they had endured a bit of awkwardness around each other. In time, Eleanor knew it would ease, but for now, it was still uncomfortable.
She hadn’t allowed herself to even comprehend what it might be like once they were married and she was expected to share the intimacies of marriage with him. The very thought made her palms sweat and her forehead feel clammy.
One day at a time.
“Is all in order?” she finally asked.
“I believe so.” He walked over to the fireplace, where he picked up the poker to readjust the logs. “Though there is no way to know how or when they will attack. It makes things more difficult to prepare.”
“You’ll not fight, will you?”
He set the poker back on its hook and turned to look at her. “I will do what is required to protect the colonists.”
She was struck, again, by how blue his eyes were. They shone with intelligence and compassion. He was a learned man, not a soldier. “Do you know how to fight?”
A slow smile tilted his mouth. “I’m not completely inept.”
Warmth infused her cheeks. “I didn’t mean to imply—”
“Do not fret, Eleanor.” He lifted his hands to quiet her defense. “I have shot a gun before, though, I confess, I am not as skilled as I would like to be. I hope it does not come to warfare.”
Her hands were restless as she clasped them together. “If it becomes dangerous, I pray you do not put yourself into harm’s way.”
He watched her with a curious, almost hopeful, look in his eyes. Slowly, he walked to her.
She held her breath as he drew close, uncertain what he might say or do. Would he try to kiss her? Or would he wait until they were married? Should she offer him some sort of affection, on the eve of battle?
William stopped a couple feet in front of her, a gentle smile on his lips. “I would like to think you care about me, even a little.”
Her response was quick. “Of course, I—”
He put his hand up and rested his fingers on her lips.
The gesture was so unexpected, she stared at him. It was the first time he’d ever touched her in such a personal way. It was not unpleasant, but it did not stir her passion like Arran’s touch.
