To Steal a Highlander's Heart(29)

Had she imagined the affection in his tone? He certainly didn’t sound like he was scolding her. Mayhap she’d mollified him with her good behaviour. A faint spark of hope alighted in her chest. Mayhap he’d be more willing to talk about releasing her. Or at least explain his reasoning’s.

“Ye’ve been gone all day,” she said hoarsely.

“Aye.”

“Yer duties have kept ye busy?”

He pulled the linen away and checked her finger. “Aye.”

“Morgann—” Her voice shrivelled up as he brought her hand to his lips and briefly kissed her knuckles.

“All better.” He released her hand and she rubbed at where his lips had touched.

Damn the man. How could he confuse her so? One minute he was kissing her, then ignoring her, and then being the most chivalrous man she’d ever met. She coughed as she peeked over at Margot who watched them closely and remembered that she wanted to speak with him.

“Morgann, I must speak with ye. ‘Tis… ‘tis about…” she dropped her voice, “Margot.”

Morgann’s eyes flashed briefly at the mention of his stepmother. “What has she done? Has she harmed ye? Threatened ye? Curses, I—”

“Nay, nay, nothing like that.” She frowned as she studied his reaction. Surely he wouldn’t think such things of Margot if he loved her?

“Come with me then,” he commanded suddenly, offering a hand.

Alana took it, a faint sensation of dizziness coming over her as she stood. She blinked. While his touch usually incited many sensations, it never normally made her nauseous.

Morgann led her out into the archway of the door. The wind and rain buffeted but the stone protected them from the worst of it. And Morgann positioned himself so that he shielded her from the rest.

“Ye could have taken me to yer chambers.”

“I cannae be in yer chambers, Alana. ‘Tis no’ a good idea.”

“After that kiss ye mean?” She couldn’t believe she’d said that aloud. Her mind was muddled and she wavered slightly as bile rose in her throat. Sweet Mary but she did feel queer.

She saw Morgann’s brow furrow in the light of the torches on either side of the door. “Alana, is all well? Ye look a little pale. Do ye need something? Is that why ye needed to speak with me?”

“Nay…” A strange foggy sensation had reached her ears and her voice seemed muffled. She put a hand to the wall for support as her legs tingled. Something was not right. She threw a desperate glance up at Morgann, praying he would understand as her knees threatened to buckle. Sweat blossomed on her forehead and she leaned back into the castle and closed her eyes. The world swayed beneath her and she just heard a shout of dismay as the wall stopped supporting her.

***

With a giggle, Tèile dunked her head into the wine, slurping at the fruity liquid. Not bad. She swiped a hand across her mouth and grinned. Not like fae wine but very nice indeed. She sighed as the pleasing sensation of slowly loosening limbs pervaded. Taking one last glug, she slumped against the goblet and eyed the stepmother. What a vile woman. Even the faeries who liked to play tricks on humans were more pleasant. A deep seated evil lingered in that woman, one that could not be explained. An inbred nastiness, Tèile concluded.

She shook her head and peered out the door at Alana’s silhouette. What was the lass doing? Kissing him hopefully. She rubbed at her temples. How had the kiss not worked? She had been so sure that but one kiss be would be all it would take. Anyone could see they were meant to be together. Even Margot, manipulative woman that she was. She dare not risk Alana getting close to Morgann in case he told her the truth and she actually believed him. In fact, Morgann’s stepmother wanted Alana gone. Yet more for Tèile to worry about.

What a mess.

Alana wavered sideways and the faery rolled her eyes. The lass surely knew better than to be affected by Margot’s lies. Both Morgann and Alana’s hearts screamed for one another. How she could ever doubt him, Tèile didn’t know.

Though the foolish man did hide much from her. Somehow she needed to get them to open up to each other. A feat easier said than done. Tèile looked longingly at the wine and then at Alana and released a slow breath. This job was going to take much longer than she expected

She tottered as she stood and fluttered her wings experimentally. Aye, she’d fly in a straight line enough. It was not like she had much distance to fly. She scowled as Alana shifted out of her vision, a sense of unease trickling through her.

With a flutter of her wings, she flew unsteadily across the hall, resisting the urge to give Margot a sharp poke or play a trick on her. She wasn’t meant to let Alana out of her sight.