Page 57 of How to Woo a Highlander

“Drink it; this should help with the pain,” the governess said, her voice stiff. Jane drank without complaint, partly because she was too disoriented and in pain to argue, and also because although Mary was furious, it was evident that she was trying to hold back the tears.

She gagged at the aftertaste the drink left in her mouth. Whatever it was, it was foul, and she hoped never to drink it again in her life. A slight sting at the corner of her lips told her that she had a split lip as she attempted to wipe her mouth, and she frowned again.

Mary was watching her silently, even though she had just wiped her mouth on her arm. It was strange that Mary did not scold her, but even stranger was the swelling on her right cheek. She poked her face gently, cringing from the tenderness of the skin there.

“Oh goodness, what happened to me?” she moaned. “My face is so swollen; I must resemble a frog.”

Mary closed her eyes as she usually did when trying to find patience. Jane knew then that she must have done something terrible. She tried to remember, and her mind responded, immediately bringing back everything that had happened.

Mary finally broke down, her head falling into her hands as she sobbed, deep cries that echoed from her soul.

Jane grimaced. She had never seen Mary cry and did not know how to react to her governess’s tears. She was back in her chambers in William’s castle, so that meant the war was over and they had won. The last thing she remembered was Lain screaming at her after she cut him.

“Ye meddlesome whore! What have ye done?!”

His voice came to her unbidden, and she shut her eyes at the onslaught of emotions it brought. When she had seen him shoot William, she knew that if she did not act, he would kill him, then Alastair, and finally, her. He was a skilled archer. She had already thought she had lost Alastair once, so she wasn’t going to give him the chance to make it a reality.

Mary was still sobbing by her bedside. She frowned, her heart throbbing with guilt. The governess must have been so worried. Mary was the closest thing she had to a mother, and although she was always nagging, she knew that the stony woman truly loved her.

The poor governess had done all she could to make Jane a proper lady, but everything so far just proved that her hard work had been wasted. Jane felt sorry for her. Awkwardly she reached out to pat Mary’s shoulder only to flinch back as Mary’s head shot up, revealing her tear-filled glare.

“I… am so furious at you!” Mary said, her voice an angry whisper. “How could you be so irresponsible! Is this how I raised you?”

Jane could only blink in the face of the strange scolding she was receiving. She could not believe that she was so wicked to have driven her governess to tears.

“I do not even know where to start!” Mary continued to lament. “I thought that I had seen the worst of your misbehavior, but nothing could have prepared me for this mess! Oh, you are so lucky that you did not do this in England. How would you ever be able to show your face in court again? Oh, the scandal!”

As Mary continued, Jane couldn’t help the smile that crossed her face. She was filled with relief, seeing Mary nagging her again. Without thinking, she moved and threw herself into Mary’s arms, surprising her with a hug and stopping her mid-tirade.

“What… what is this? If you think that this will get you out of trouble, oh, you are sorely mistaken, young lady,” Mary stammered, even as Jane hugged her tightly.

“I know. I love you, Mary,” Jane said, burying her face into her governess’s neck.

She had never done this before. Mary had always seemed so far away, and she had never appreciated Mary enough to consider it. Mary broke down sobbing again, this time wrapping her arms around Jane.

“I was so worried when I saw you. You were covered in blood, your dress in shreds. You were unconscious, and your face was a mess. I was so scared. I thought the worst,” she admitted through her tears. Jane hugged her even tighter.

“I’m sorry I worried you,” she added, realizing that she had never said it before and meant it.

A knock came to the door, ruining the moment, and Mary moved away, quickly wiping her eyes.

Getting to her feet, Mary walked briskly to open the door, exchanging a brief word with someone outside before leaving the room. Jane smiled wryly at her behavior. She would never have guessed that Mary was shy; she had always been so stiff and strict.

William stepped into the room, looking to where she lay in bed before closing the door and coming to take Mary’s place. She gave him a small smile. It was good to see him looking so well. She considered him a friend, even though they would never be married.

“How dae ye feel? Are ye alright?” he asked, his gentle blue eyes showing his concern. He looked so different now than when he was fighting Lain. Back then, she had seen a side to him that she did not know existed. His eyes had been like those of a predator

She had seen him sparring with Alastair before, but then she had not been paying much attention as her eyes were on Alastair. Seeing how he fought Lain, she understood that he was not always gentle. He could also be ruthless, and it made her grateful that she was his friend.

“I am fine. Are you alright? How is your knee?” she asked, noting that he was still limping. He gave her a small smile.

“It will be fine,” he said. She nodded and glanced down, wanting to ask about Alastair. Last time she saw him, he had been bleeding again.

“Alastair is fine as well,” William said with a knowing smile. “He is speakin’ with yer faither.”

She had initially let out a laugh when he looked at her knowingly, but as he finished the sentence, her smile dropped.

“What do you mean he is talking to my father?” she exclaimed wide-eyed. “What is my father saying to him?”