Page 7 of Claimed Highland Brides

FORTUNE-TELLER

Daividh froze in the doorway, looking around the room as if he expected Fiona to spring up from the corner and yell “surprise!” in his face. When he realized that was not going to happen, he stepped into the room, eyes narrowed, looking around for any sign as to where they might have gone. He strode to the wardrobe and flung it open, eyes flying about looking for clues. Her bag was still on the floor, unpacked but open, clothes spilling out.

Good, this must mean she has not gone far, he thought with relief.

Or someone took her by force, a more insidious and snide voice interjected. He shook his head in denial. If someone had stolen her away, they would have had to walk down the corridor he was watching. He would have seen them. Just to be sure, he walked out of the room and walked the length of the corridor, looking for clues or signs of a struggle.

Finding nothing, he returned to the room and began to search it inch by inch as he tried not to panic.

I knew she would be trouble the moment I saw her.

He sighed, looking around, trying to see what might be out of place. The beds were still made, however, the blankets were wrinkled as though somebody had sat on top of them. The maid’s bags were in the corner and hanging off the bed was the gown she’d been wearing on the road.

So she changed her clothes.

That was a good sign. It indicated that they had the time and leisure to primp and polish themselves before leaving. There was a shawl strewn on the bed as if thrown off agitated shoulders. It sprawled across the blanket, covering it from left to right. On the floor, beside the bed, he found a silver hairpin that seemed as if it had fallen off someone’s hair.

Hmm, somebody was agitated.

It did not tell him much about where they might have gone. He exited the room and followed the corridor to the other end, where it culminated in the kitchens. He looked around, where the innkeeper’s wife was busy at the fire, stirring a huge pot. In the corner sat a young boy, sucking on a bone, his eyes on Daividh.

Walking toward him, Daividh squatted right in front of the boy. “Good evenin’ t’ye. What’s yer name then?”

The boy ceased his suckling. “Aonghus,” he said.

Daividh nodded. “Well Aonghus, I have a question tae be askin’ of ye. Did ye see twa ladies pass by here? Mebbe alone, mebbe wi’ someone? They would ha’ headed out o’ the inn?”

Aonghus thoughtfully sucked on his bone before letting it go with a loud slurp. “I seen twa ladies gang that way.” He pointed towards the back fence of the inn, which seemed to lead to an open field.

“They were alone? No one was making them gang?”

The boy shook his head so vigorously his hair flew back and forth, finally landing in his eyes. He flicked it back with a jerk of his head and resumed his suckling. Daividh got to his feet with a frown. He did not understand what Fiona and her maid would want with an empty field. If nobody was chasing them, and they were not running away, then what were they doing?

He shook his head and spat.

Women…

* * *

Fiona leaned against the door after slamming it in Daividh’s face, and sighed. Her chest heaved with annoyance and she closed her eyes, trying to get herself under control.

“The nerve of that man.”

Julieta laughed. “I think he truly is trying tae protect ye.”

Fiona opened her eyes so she could glare at her maid. “I dinnae need any protection.” She moved away from the door, still glaring, “Have I no been in charge of the keep all these years since Ma died? Have I no given orders, kept order?” She was veritably steaming.

“Of course ye have,” Julieta tried in vain to calm her, “but yon oaf doesnae ken that. Ye cannae blame him for tha’. He doesnae ken ye.”

“Aye, he definitely does not. If’n he thinks I’m gang tae stay in here like a meek little⁠—”

“Miss Fiona!” Julieta narrowed her eyes before widening them.

“What? He’s no’ my keeper. I dinnae have tae do as he says!”

“But...yer uncle sent him to fetch ye. He’s in charge o’ ye until we get tae Dunavar.”

“I am not a parcel to be delivered from one place tae another. If’n I wish to walk aboot, I shall.”