“Verra well. We will have the phaeton readied for ye.”
“Really?” Now she was beyond flabbergasted. Mayhap they had grown tired of her dourness and just wanted her out of the house for a reprieve. She could understand that.
“Aye, we canna have ye traipsing through the countryside alone on a horse with Mary. Take the carriage and a coachman so you’ll be comfortable on the journey.”
Her parents were being far too gracious. But, in doing so they were allowing her to make her way to Edinburgh without so much as a fight. She wasn’t going to complain or push back.
After securing her travel bag to the back of the phaeton, she turned to her parents, who had come outside to see her off.
“I understand that I have been in a sour mood these past few weeks. I apologize for that. My heart was broken, then broken again, and is still broken. I hope to return with naught but happiness.”
Mama pursed her lips and nodded, then gave Lizzie a warm hug. “Be careful,” she whispered in her ear.
“The journey to Rosalyn’s isna far, Mama. All will be well.”
She climbed into the carriage, Mary following closely behind. Once the door was shut and the coachman climbed into his spot,snapping the reins for the horses to start the journey, she looked through the window and gave her parents a wave.
They waved back, smiling warmly.
Again, she found their behavior odd. Were they really that happy to see her go?
Once they were well and good out of sight and earshot from Tolton Hall, Lizzie knocked on the wall of the carriage to alert the driver.
“Aye, Miss?”
“Change of plans,” she called out. “We shall travel to Culzean Castle. Make haste, please.”
“Aye, Miss.” And she heard the snap of the reins and the neigh of the horses as they began to trot.
She narrowed her eyes, somehow, this all seemed too easy. Too convenient.
“What is wrong, Miss?”
“Did Mama and Papa seem a wee bit too eager to see me gone? And why the offer of the carriage? The ride to Rosalyn’s isna far.” She pointed to the front of the carriage. “And no fight from him about the change in destination? It all strikes me as odd.”
“I dinna ken, Miss. Mayhap, they are just eager to see ye happy again?”
Lizzie wasn’t sure if that was their reasoning, but she sat back and watched the trees pass through the window. She wouldn’t complain about their offer of comfort on this journey.
She remained quiet. Her mind running through all of the things she would say to Malcolm when she saw him.
There was always the possibility he would turn her away. That she would arrive on the steps of Culzean and he wouldn’t let her in the door.
She prayed that he would agree to see her.
He had to.
She needed to tell him that she loved him.
If he refused?
Well, she wouldn’t accept that as an option.
*
Malcolm had beenriding for two days straight. He was exhausted, bone-weary. His poor horse even moreso.
He’d only stopped in short bursts to allow the horse to rest and drink. He’d feed him an oatcake and then after a brief respite, they’d be back on their way.
