Page 188 of Tales of Highland Loyalty

Heart beating hard, Ainslee ran her eyes through the darkened gloom. It was hard to tell, through the dusky bedchamber, but she did not detect Malcolm's dark red locks glinting in the light. All the same, the very thought gave her a start. If she did not do anything, he would find her again.

With a renewed purpose, she gathered her shawls, rearranging them quickly. It was cold out, and she was bound to take a chill. Ainslee was so deep in thought, she did not see anyone approaching, so when she felt the touch of a hand, she almost shrieked.

"Och!"

A hand gripped her hard, on her shoulder. Ainslee almost jumped out of her skin.

"Mal!"

Ainslee whipped her head around so fast, she almost strained it.

"I'm afraid nae, hen," came the reply. When Ainslee looked, there was Marisse, grinning at her broadly.

"Och, ye gave me a fright!" gasped Ainslee, her cheeks coloring. "Ye shouldnae do that!"

Marisse wrapped a big cloak around her and shivered. "Tis truly jeelit in here!" she complained, wrapping up tight. "Do they nae have a fire in this place?"

Ainslee thought back to how warm it had been the previous night, then glanced out at the dawn.

"Even more oorlich oot there," observed Ainslee, already beginning to feel her fingers stiffening. The ride home would be undoubtedly frozen, but even so, she wanted to get it done. The sooner she was away from the inn, and Malcolm Duncan, the better.

"So come on, then, let's get to the stable...," she said, looking keenly at Marisse. "Afore the whole world wakes up..."

Her eyes leveled, Marisse got her meaning.

"The whole world, being Malcolm," she said, understanding. But still, she set about gathering their one or two things.

A few moments later, and they were stealing down the narrow, wooden staircase which led to the hall. Downstairs, all was dark.

No one was up for the day, save the maid-of-all work, busy kindling the fire. Ainslee and Marisse filed past the tiny lass, her back in the air, as she worked.

"I think we'll make it afore them," nodded Marisse, as they finally reached the streets. Glancing about, Ainslee watched cautiously. The stables were not far from here, and she was anxious to be on her way, without Malcolm Duncan, but she sensed a hesitation from her friend.

It was almost as though she was waiting for them. Ainslee's mind wandered back to the previous night, to see Marisse and James stealing glances through the packed room. Her eyes rolled to the skies. She might have known it. Marisse had a thing for James!

But the last thing Ainslee wanted to do was wait, so grabbing her friend by the hand, she hurried her along, speeding along the public saloon of The Ship, and almost to the door, when voices stopped them.

"Och, yer losing yer touch, son!"

It was Malcolm's voice. Ainslee stopped dead. Heart thumping, she tugged at Marisse to hold back. Still in the shadows of the parlor of the inn, she listened to them talk.

"Wheesht!" laughed James, his amused voice filtering through from the street beyond. It took Ainslee a moment or so to realize they were already ahead of them. Nervously, she stood in a quandary.

Glancing at Marisse, she beckoned to her not to pass. James and Malcolm were not far away, mounting horses by the door.

"Nae, lad. Usually yer already wi' a lass, by noo!" Malcolm called. Ainslee felt her heart freeze. She didn't know why. It was stupid. But it turned her stomach.However, not as much as what was to come.

"Nae mind me! Whit aboot ye!" James retaliated. Squinting through the gap in the door, Ainslee made out a glimpse of Malcolm, bathed in the early morning sun.

Somewhere the dawn was lifting, clearing through the dark. A few gray strands picked out the dark ginger in the depths of his hair. Ainslee felt her chest pang. He looked just the same - there were a few stray lines, wisping around his face. But on the whole, he had not changed from the man she used to know.

But what had happened to him inside? She could only wonder.

"Whit aboot me?" shouted back Malcolm. He sounded jolly and gay. Ainslee was not sure why this bothered her. Perhaps because it didn't make him seem overly upset about what had happened in any way.

Marisse was on the verge of emerging from the doorway, when Ainslee pulled her back, violently.

"Nae," she mouthed, vehemently.