22
Charlotte couldn’t sit still for more than a moment, despite having gotten so little sleep the night before. She had already walked through the garden three times and had gone to the library and back all before the midday meal. Elizabeth had claimed all the pacing Charlotte was doing had made her dizzy and had disappeared back to the servant’s hall. Charlotte couldn’t blame her—she could hardly stand herself.
As it was, her eyes were glued to the window, waiting to see if Alec was going to make an appearance. He should have been at the stables an hour ago but had yet to show up. It wasn’t like him to be late. He had always claimed that the horses would never trust him if he didn’t show up to do his job. But she still told herself everything was probably fine.
Her mantra only lasted another ten minutes before she was out of her chambers and in search of Cameron.
He had been so gentle, so reassuring with her the night before that she knew he was the only one who could help her feel better now. He would know what to do about Alec.
She all but ran down the halls, looking first in the dining hall and then in the library. When he wasn’t in either of those places, she knew he could only be in his study. She didn’t bother knocking by the time she made it there. Her nerves wouldn’t allow it. She was already frazzled and on edge, to be kept waiting on the other side of the door would have been more than she could handle.
“Charlotte?” Cameron questioned as she burst into the room.
Without a word, she rushed to his side. It was only when his arms had gone around her that she realized they were not alone. Her cheeks turned pink, though she didn’t try to hide from Alastair.
“I am verra sorry,” she said quietly. “I did nae ken ye had company.”
Cameron opened his mouth to answer, but it was Alastair who spoke first.
“That is more than all right, lass. I find I am in need of some fresh air anyways.” He gave her an understanding smile. “Let me ken when ye are ready to continue our discussion, Laird.”
He was out the door and down the hall before Charlotte turned back to Cameron.
“I ken that I did nae sleep verra much last night, but I did nae think I looked that bad. Do I truly look so upset?” she asked, a self-conscious hand running over her hair.
“Ye look like something is bothering ye, aye. Now, tell me what it is.”
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and she already felt better. She sighed, relaxing into his embrace. The smell of his freshly washed hair and newly laundered clothes was another wave of ease. It made it easier when she had to tilt her head back to say what she had to tell him.
“Alec has nae been at the castle today. He did nae show at the stables this morning for work and Elizabeth said that none of the servants have seen him.”
He nodded, blinking as he took in what she said.
“And ye are worried?”
“Aye! Cameron, what if he left to go to my father? What if he is working through the Highlands to spread whatever lies he can about me? About us?”
Her voice was shrill and on edge, but so was she. It had been her biggest fear for two years that someone would find out about her affair with Alec, she just never thought Alec would be the one to tell people. She thought she could trust him, that he loved her enough to let her go without hurting her in return. She guessed she was wrong about the kind of man he truly was. Except, her secret wouldn’t just hurt her, it would destroy everything Cameron was trying to build too.
“Charlotte, I need ye to listen to me. Even if Alec goes to yer father or any other Laird, none of them are going to care what he says. He is a spurred servant. His word will nae be more highly regarded than mine. And once we are married, they will all ken that there is nay truth to his claims.”
“But thereistruth to them. He would nae be lying if he told anyone that he and I had a relationship for the better part of two years.”
“Then I guess—”
A knock on the door silenced Cameron’s reply. Charlotte was grateful for the momentary reprieve, as she felt herself getting worked up all over again. Though when the knock came again, she realized that anybody could be behind that door.
“Enter,” Cameron commanded, unwrapping himself from her to create the appropriate amount of space between them.
She almost sagged when a servant stepped in from behind the door, a tray in his hand full of letters.
“Just set them on the desk,” Cameron told the man, resting his hand on the small of her back.
The servant bowed his head to do Cameron’s bidding, but picked up the top note from the tray. He walked back to stand in front of them and Charlotte felt her heart racing all over again.
“A letter came for the lady, Laird. I was given clear instructions to have her get it as soon as possible.”
She reached out to accept the note, cursing her hands as they shook. It was her father’s hand, of that she had no doubt. But there was no telling just what his letter was going to say.
