Page 16 of Highlander’s False Identity

She spied her chance as the lad came past her in the corridor. At the sight of her desperate face, he stopped and checked himself.

“Aye,” he said, as if slightly on his guard. The girl stared into his green eyes, bright even in the half-light of the shady corridor.

“Thank ye,” she said hesitantly.

The lad looked around briefly, making sure no one was watching them, then continued, “Thank ye for what?” he asked innocently.

Edme’s heart gave a little jump. His confused expression was sweet. Checking to make sure there were no spying eyes, she took his arm and dropped her voice slightly.

“For nae telling on me earlier. I’m in enough trouble without yer parents knowing about our little, um, set to, that happened before,” the girl said coyly.

Beathan gave her a surprised look. Maybe he didn’t expect this apology from her, but the fact was that it had been on Edme’s conscience almost since it had happened.

“Thing is Beathan, if I had kent it was ye to begin wi’, I wouldnae have tried to rob ye!” she said, genuinely, although as she patted down her clothing was grimly aware that she had something belonging to Beathan in her possession. For a moment, she thought of bringing it out and simply handing him back the sword.

A sound in the passageway alerted her to the prying eyes of McCredie, who had led her out of the hall. If he, or any of them, glimpsed her with a knife, they would likely assume the wrong thing, so Edme fastened it away securely again, without anyone being the wiser.

“Really?” Beathan said, watching the young girl’s face. “So, it would have been alright to rob someone else then?”

Edme looked into his face, searching. Along the edges of his expression, she could make out the traces of warmth, but something uncertain still hovered over his features.

“Nae,” said Edme, dolefully. “Nothing about any of this is alright. I dinnae want to be doing any of it. I…,” her eyes misted with tears. It had been a long day, and suddenly the emotion of it overwhelmed her. “I just want things back how they used to be, with my father alive, an’ living back at the McKinley keep…”

She hadn’t meant to, but Edme was unable to stop hot tears from tumbling down her cheeks. Watching her, Beathan seemed moved.

“Och, I’m sorry, Beathan, ignore me,” she said, flustered. Beathan stared at her. Then, out of nowhere, she felt his strong hand on her shoulder.

“Nae, it’s nae nothing. Ye an’ yer father were close, I ken that,” he said, softly.

At his reassuring words and gentle touch, Edme felt a sense of calm move over her. Her emotions had threatened to get the better of her, but now, Beathan’s steady grip helped her get back under control.

“Aye, we were,” she muttered softly. “We all were. I dinnae ken what went so wrong!”

Beathan stared into her face. She could see the confusion in his eyes. He looked as if he wanted to say something, but couldn’t find the right words.

Edme turned and started to walk away when Beathan suddenly grabbed her arm and turned her back to face him. He brought one hand up to rest on her shoulder, while the other hand stroked her cheek tenderly.

There were no words between them in that moment, just his green eyes staring searchingly into her face.

He’s going to kiss me! Thought Edme, half in panic and half in wonder.

She knew she shouldn’t, but deep down, it was all that she wanted. The timing was wrong, and the setting wasn’t great either, but at that moment, all Edme wanted was for Beathan to take her into his arms and kiss her.

And for one moment, it seemed that he would. His face hovered near hers, and he was gazing at her with a longing that was plain to see.

In all the time they had known each other, Edme wondered why she had never noticed the elegant lines of his face or how smooth and gentle his hands were.

He drew her closer, leaning forward to give her the kiss she knew was coming. They were so close she could feel his breath on her skin; almost taste him as his scent enveloped her.

Edme’s heart beat fast as she anticipated the tender way he would touch his lips to hers. The hand that held her chin moved down to grasp the nape of her neck.

For a moment, they stood entranced, the rest of the world fading away as they drew into each other. Then, the spell was broken. A clattering of boots came sharply down the dusty corridor. Sure enough, the guards had arrived.

Beathan smiled ruefully, letting her go.

“Come on; we better be getting ye to yer room for the night.”

* * *