“You’ve a vivid memory but it only goes back to a certain point. Gawain told you that you fell from a horse and that’s how you hurt your head?”
“Aye.”
“Well, you had a serious bump of some sort. And you don’t know how long you were unconscious?” he asked.
“No, I’m sorry I don’t. But I remember him saying he was relieved when I finally woke.”
“Now that we’ve established what we know, let’s talk a little about what we do not. Have you dreamt or had visions of certain people?”
“Oh aye! There are three people in particular I’ve been dreamt about. One, I believe, was my Uncle Iain. I’ve seen him in a coffin which leads me to believe he may be deceased.”
MacDougal said nothing so Aileana continued.
“I also dreamt about a woman with dark hair and hazel eyes wearing servant’s clothes. She appears friendly, but I cannot tell any more of her.”
“Aye. Go on.”
“And there’s a man. He’s not old or young. And he appears to know me well.”
Her cheeks grew warm and she lowered her head.
“Please describe him for me.”
“Well, he’s tall. He has brown hair and green eyes and he’s quite handsome. He wears a brooch centreed with a wild cat and surrounded with rubies. In my dream he kisses me like we’re lovers.”
No one acknowledged her embarrassment.
MacDougal arose from his seat and moved to the window. He paused there for a few minutes before turning to Aileana.
“I must admit, in all my years I’ve never encountered a situation quite like this. Up until you described James MacIntosh, I was about to say you should consider taking some time before meeting him. However, I am now quite convinced of his account and can do no more here than to urge you to see him.”
Aileana’s belly flooded with tremors. Did he just confirm that James MacIntosh was the man in her dreams? That meant they were married and she was taken! What had Gawain done to her to make her forget so much?
Meeting her husband was nerve racking and the absurdity of it was not lost on her. She knew she must see him and asked those present if they would come with her and they agreed.
“So ’tis Lady MacIntosh we should call you is it? Well, Lady MacIntosh I have a suggestion and if you are in agreement with it, I believe it might make this unusual circumstance a little easier.”
Iain suggested MacDougal go and tell MacIntosh she was safe, but more importantly that she may not know him. They all agreed it was a good idea and the sheriff left at once.
The three sat without speaking as they awaited his return. Aileana tried hard to maintain some composure despite her fragile emotional state. What should she say to this man? She assessed he at least wanted her back since he had been looking for her, but she was desperate to find out what the nature of their marriage had been. Was theirs a cordial relationship, did they share any common interests, how well did they know one another—were they in love? Before she could assume answers to any of those questions, MacDougal returned.
“He knows. It was all I could do to convince him not to tear over here. Aileana, your husband is waiting for you.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Fergus and Calum had to restrain James from MacDougal. The man’s face was ashen. James wanted to squeeze the words from his lips for they would not come fast enough. His mind could only register two words. Aileana. Found.
“You’ll do more harm to her! I say man, you must listen to me!” MacDougal said; his tone insistent.
MacDougal shifted his attention to Gwen. “Are you with these men? Can you talk some sense into this one?” he said, motioning toward a fuming James.
“Aye, stranger I can try, but you must first explain why he wants to see your insides spilled upon the floor.”
“My name is MacDougal, I’m the local sheriff. A man came to me early this morning with your story. I’ve come here to tell him that I believe I have found the woman you seek.”
Gwen approached him and grasped his shoulders. “Well, why didn’t you say? Come now, where is she? Why isn’t she with you? Come on man speak!” Gwen shook the man hard enough to make his teeth chatter.
James experienced a small satisfaction at the sound.
Calum released his hold on James and went to Gwen. He grasped her arms and turned her to face him. “She has been found, but she is damaged. We may have to go slowly with her. She’s confirmed to MacDougal here that she has been with Gawain these past three months. She appears unable to remember anything from before her time with him, though. She’s safe and is with a couple who found her just yesterday. It seems she was running away from Gawain. If we all tear off to where she is, who knows what it may do to her? She has shown some signs of remembering, but it may be a while before she regains her former self, if she ever does.”