Finding her words again, Eleanor nodded. “Aye, I wouldnae have been if Bran and Callum had nae shown up when they did.”
Upon hearing his name, Bran came striding toward her. The wiry hair on his back still stood on end as he sniffed Iain andsettled at her feet, quiet, sure, and obedient as if he had heard his master’s request.
Eleanor breathed a sigh of relief. “I had better go to me chambers and send for Marion.”
Iain’s face changed a little at the mention of the maid’s name, but stiffened again when some of the guards came to drag the body away. Nobody seemed to recognise the man, and the realisation sent another shiver of fear down her spine.
He snuck into the castle when nobody was lookin’.
She turned away from the gruesome scene, heading toward her own chambers with Bran at her side.
It did not take very long for words to spread, and by the time Eleanor reached her chambers, Marion was already there, her face pale. “Mistress, are ye hurt?” she asked softly with tears in her eyes.
Reaching out, Eleanor touched her cheek. “It could have been worse, but I shall need some bandages and warm water. Perhaps ye could fetch some herbs from the castle healer.”
Marion quickly blinked back her tears. “Aye, Mistress, I shall fetch it all at once.” She turned away, and Eleanor was once again left alone in the hallway with Callum’s dog at her side.
Opening the door to her chambers, Eleanor let Bran inside first. Only when he had sniffed around and gone to sit at the edge of her bed did she finally step inside.
Her legs felt as if they would crumble beneath her as she placed her back against the door and slid to the ground, finally giving in to the shock as tears flooded her cheeks.
It was so close.
She fought for breath, not knowing how she would ever trust anyone ever again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Eleanor’s hands were still shaking by the time Marion returned to change her dress and bandage her wound. Luckily for Eleanor, the wound was only superficial and would mend in just a few days.
“I still cannae believe that the man slipped into the castle,” Marion said in an unsteady voice as she swallowed hard and finished knotting the bandage in place.
Perched on the edge of her bed in a fresh blue dress, Eleanor sighed. “I cannae believe it either, it was lucky for me that Bran and Callum were so close by.” She spared a glance at the dog who stood patiently by the door, awaiting his next instructions.
“Aye, it is a wonder that ye ever did escape with yer life, Mistress. The gods were smilin’ down on ye this day. May luck continue to be in yer favor.” She stiffened suddenly when a knock sounded at the door.
“Who is it?” Eleanor called out after a brief pause. Her heart seemed as if it would leap from her chest again, but she quickly let out a breath when Callum answered her back.
“It is me, lass. I have come to check on ye.” His voice carried through the door.
Nodding to her maid, Eleanor gestured for Marion to go and unlock the door.
It only took the girl a few seconds to unlatch the lock and step aside as the door swung open.
Callum stepped inside wearing a fresh shirt and clean breeches. Even his boots seemed to have been cleaned as his braid hung down his back. He looked from Eleanor to Bran, and then at Marion before speaking directly to the maid. “I think Bran needs his supper after a job well done.” His words held a simple command as he unbuckled the belt holding his sword and placed it beside the door.
Leave us alone.
A shiver of anticipation ran down her spine as Eleanor nodded her consent to the maid. Had any of the council members recognised the man? She could hardly wait for the door to close again before coming to her feet.
Surprisingly, Callum turned from her and bolted the door shut. “Just in case we have any more attempts while we are discussin’ what happened.”
The air in her chambers suddenly grew silent above the crackling of the fire.
What is he thinkin’?
Her pulse began to race as she suddenly became all too aware of the fact that they were alone and locked in her chambers.
He closed the distance between them just as she came to her feet. “Are ye all right?” He pressed his body against hers, ensuring that they would not be heard.
