Rescued by a Highlander(62)

“Alex, it’s instinct,” Brenna said. “She knows you would never hurt her. The sad truth is flinching is habitual for her. You have to help her heal.”

“I know that, Brenna. But I want to touch her, I want to hold her and help her. I cannot stop myself. I wish she would not stop me, she needs to trust me.”

Jennie tugged on her brother’s plaid. “Alex, you are very loud sometimes, but when you yell at me, I know you don’t mean it because you love me. Mayhap Maddie does not know you love her yet.”

Alex, clearly startled, turned to wee Jennie and hollered, “Jennie, you don’t know what you are talking about!”

Jennie smiled up at her huge brother, “I know you love me, so I don’t mind if you shout at me to help you feel better about loving Maddie.”

Alex stared off over his sister’s head, befuddled. What was happening to him?

Jennie skipped off toward her dogs, giggling. “Just tell her, Alex. Then she won’t think you are mad at her when you yell so.”

Brenna raised her eyebrows at him and smiled.

***

By the time Madeline came down the stairs to break her fast the next morning, Alex and his men had already left on horseback. Perhaps he didn’t want to see her anymore. She had hardly seen him since the day at the loch. Maybe her disfigurement was more than he was willing to accept. He had seen the marks, obviously he had issues with them. But why had he kissed them so tenderly? Maddie’s confusion continued to grow. She concluded he must be avoiding her.

Of course, there was last night. He had finally been around, and they argued. She defied him, and she realized since he was her laird, challenging him was no small thing. Had one of his guardsmen refused to give him information, she couldn’t imagine the consequences.

Maddie spent most of the day embroidering fabric to dress the tables for the wedding feast. Involvement with busy work kept her from thinking about her problems with Alex and his clan. Who knew getting betrothed was going to cause so much trouble? And so much work? Alice hemmed Maddie’s dress in the solar while Brenna stitched Jennie’s. Jennie busied herself playing with friends to keep from being put to work. Thankful for the quiet time, Maddie attempted to sort out her thoughts.

She had come up with no solution to her problems with the clan. She’d hoped if she gave the clan time, they would soften to her. But as the wedding grew closer, the animosity toward her worsened. Yesterday, a small stone grazed her back as she strolled to the gardens. Wee Tommy had been in the area, but she decided not to confront him. Allowing him the excuse that he acted on his parent’s opinion and not his own, she realized that may have been a mistake. What if the stone was larger the next time? It had not broken the skin, but she cringed at the thought of a larger stone. Too late to rethink it now.

Still no conclusion about Alex either. Was he angry with her? Maybe he was changing his mind about the wedding. Perhaps the convent was the right place for her after all. The man must be getting weary of her frequent issues. But when Alex touched her, she tingled all over. He made her skin burn, and she always had the strangest feelings inside her when they were together.

When she thought about her response to Alex in the water, she actually blushed. He must think her wanton. She cringed when she recalled the strange noises she had made. Truth be known, she had liked it when Alex had touched her breasts. She let out a little gasp when she thought of where his lips had been. Warmth pooled near her thighs. She did not understand any of it. Thinking only confused her more.

Her thoughts were interrupted by shouting in the courtyard. She ran to the door to see the cause of the yelling, praying it wasn’t about Alex. Several lads hollered in the middle of the inner bailey. Something about a bairn, she thought she heard. She stepped outside to move closer as Brenna grabbed her shoulders from behind. Brenna gasped and Maddie’s blood turned cold at the one word they both heard, “Jennie.”

She charged into the middle of the group. “Where, Tommy, where is Jennie?” she demanded.

“Out there, my mama told me to come get the laird. Something’s happened, they are hurt!”

Brenna shouted orders to several of the guards to go after Alex.

Madeline’s head reeled with the possibilities. She grabbed Tommy by the shoulders. “What happened?”

“Jennie.” he cried. “Jennie and wee Emma. They disappeared into a hole!” He pointed out the gates.

Madeline’s heart lurched. Her stomach was in her throat as fear crept through her gut. She scrambled after the lads, rushing through the gates.

“What happened?” Brenna shouted. “Where are they?”