“Oh, thank God,” she breathed. “I couldnae find Blackberry this morning. I thought I’d have to leave without—” She broke off, glancing up at Fergus’s impassive face. “Never mind. I’m taking the cat, obviously. I’m sure Evander willnae mind.”
“I’m sure he willnae,” Fergus murmured gently.
She bent down, pulling the cat into her arms. Blackberry purred, butting her soft forehead against Skye’s chin.
“Well, goodbye, then.”
No sense in dragging it out. The longer she waited, the more likely it was that she would do something to shame herself, like bursting into tears or running back into the keep to find Evander and confront him.
Instead, keeping her back straight and her head high, she turned to the litter, clambering inside without allowing herself so much as a glance back up at the keep. The door closed behind her, and the latch clicked.
Helena was already inside, a blanket pulled over her knees. She eyed her daughter curiously.
“This is unexpected,” she remarked. “I was only told that Laird Bryden wants ye to return home and that he would annul the wedding. I asked if ye had done something wrong, since he was the one who asked for the annulment, but apparently nae. Apparently, Laird Bryden wants ye to be safe and doesnae believe that ye will be safe here.”
“Aye, that’s the long and short of it,” Skye responded bitterly.
Despite her cloak, the cold had seeped into her bones. Her teeth began to chatter, and she seized a blanket, pulling it over her lap. With a lurch, the litter moved forward.
They were off.
Through the curtains, she watched the gates pass by, being replaced by mist-shrouded forests.
I’m really leaving.
Blackberry crawled into her lap, meowing. Skye bit the inside of her cheek, trying to compose herself.
“Skye, pet, what’s wrong?” Helena whispered, leaning forward.
The last of Skye’s composure shattered. She burst into tears.
“Oh, Maither, I didnae want to go,” she wept. “I wanted to stay. I wanted to stay withhim.”
Wordlessly, Helena shifted to sit beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her close.
“I ken, love. I ken,” she whispered. “Do ye ken how this happened?”
“Oh, it’s nae so complicated,” Skye sniffed. “He doesnae want me.”
“Think of it this way, love. Ye will get a fresh start. Back at home, ye will be surrounded by people who love ye. Ye can marry again, if ye choose. Soon, ye will forget there was ever a man called Laird Bryden.”
Skye said nothing, simply resting her head on her mother’s shoulder and waiting for her tears to subside.
I willnae forget him. I cannae.
The litter and its convoy rattled out through the gates. Evander watched until the mist swallowed them all up.
Even after they had disappeared, he stared for a bit longer, watching the mist swirl. Then he let the curtain drop.
Behind him, Fergus appeared in the doorway. Evander knew it was him without looking; Fergus always avoided the first creaking floorboard over the threshold but rarely remembered the second.
“They’re gone,” Fergus murmured.
“I can see that.”
Silence.
For a moment, Evander thought that his friend had vanished. Then Fergus cleared his throat.
