True to the Highlander(33)

Her relief at seeing him was plain to see. Taking her hand in his, he led her to the doors of the great hall and out into the fresh, cool night. “Come. Walk with me to the loch.”

She spoke not a word as he guided her through the portcullis. He heard her sniff a few times, and she swiped at her eyes. He took her to the place where he’d rescued her from Hugh. Settling himself on a large, flat boulder, he drew her down beside him. “Tell me what has upset you.”

She took a breath and let it out slowly. “I’m suffering from homesickness, I guess.” She gave him a forlorn look. “I might never see my family or my home again.”

“Och, lass. They search for you, aye?” He patted her back awkwardly.

“Of course they’re searching, but they won’t find me.”

“Could you no’ come to see this as your home?”

“What? You mean inside the curtain wall?” She sniffed.

Her tone made him smile. “’Twill not always be thus. Harvest will begin in a se’nnight. I’ll take you to the fair in Inverness once the crops are in. Will that please you, mo cridhe?”

“Sure. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great here, but it’s not the place that makes a home.” She shrugged. “It’s the people.”

“I take your meaning well. When I was a young man—”

“You’re still a young man.”

“As I was saying,” he said as he put an arm around her shoulders, “when first I earned my spurs, such a restless energy filled me that I set out the very next week to see the world with a group of like-minded young knights.”

“Where did you go?” Her body relaxed, and she leaned against him.

“To France, Italy, Spain…wherever my fancy took me. I fought against the Sassenach with the French, won my fortune in contests of strength and saw the wonders each place had to offer. Liam and Robley were with me. We were all eager to test our mettle and make our fortunes.”

She shifted against him. Her floral scent filled his senses, and he savored her pleasing softness and warmth beside him. The feel of her silken hair draped over the bare skin on his forearm robbed him of coherent thought.

“Go on.” She jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow. “Keep talking. It’s helping.”

“You are a fierce little thing, aren’t you?” He rubbed his ribs in mock hurt, pleased when she giggled. “I grew more restless with every passing day. We all missed our families, so we came home.”

“When did all of this happen? How long have you been back?”

“Four years have passed since our return.”

“Did the restlessness go away once you were home again?” she asked in a small voice.

Her face was luminous in the moonlight. He ran a lock of her hair through his fingers. “Nay. It plagued me still. Funny…”

“What is?”

“I dinna feel restless now.” He dipped his head and brushed his lips against hers, thrilled that she didn’t pull away.

“I’m happy for you.” She glanced at him. “I wonder what made it go away?”

Malcolm tightened his arm around her. He had no doubts about the source of his newfound contentment, and when the time was right, he’d explain it to her. Now was the time to have some of his questions answered. “I wish to discuss another matter with you, something I’ve meant to ask since the day you spoke of Madame Giselle. Can you describe her?”

“She’s small, about my height, and she looks old and frail, but that’s not what I read from her at all.” She shuddered and put her hands over his as she spoke. “She didn’t feel true.”

Malcolm twined their fingers together and forced himself to pay attention to her words.

“Her eyes are sharp and dark, like she misses nothing. She holds magic. I could feel it.”

“Did she tell your fortune?”

Alethia shot him a glance and quickly looked away. “I don’t want to talk about this. It’s upsetting.”

“Aye, but I do. You will answer my questions.”

“Has anyone ever mentioned how overbearing you are?”

“No one dares.”

She snorted. “Only because you work so hard at being intimidating.”

“Alethia.”

“No, she didn’t tell my fortune.” She shook her head. “She went on and on about someone being in grave danger, and she said she’d do anything to help.”

“What else did she tell you?” He felt her stiffen. “Tell me.”

“You’re not the boss of me,” she muttered under her breath.

“Aye, so you’ve said, but I am a nee-an-der-thal.” He raised one eyebrow and gave her a stern look. Her laughter sent ripples of gladness through his soul. “You will tell me, so we can put this behind us.”