An Enemy at the Highland Court by Celeste Barclay

Author:Celeste Barclay [Barclay, Celeste]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Highland
Published: 2020-06-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Cairren stood in the bailey and waved as her clansmen and Alex rode away. Unlike the last time she said her goodbyes to her family, Padraig stood at her side. She smiled up to him and patted his chest before walking into the keep. She wasn’t sure where to go. She wasn’t in the mood to weave, and there was nothing else for her to do in the chamber she shared with Padraig. She still wasn’t comfortable thinking of it as their chamber; there was still too much uncertainty to think of anything in permanent terms. Without Wynda to keep her company, there was no reason to go to her old bedchamber. She wasn’t welcome in the kitchens after three unsuccessful attempts to offer her help. She didn’t know, nor did she want to discover, where Mary and Myrna were. Duncan was back on his feet, so she preferred to stay away from any dark passageways. She changed into her boots and went for a walk. She’d discovered a valley during one of her rides with the Kennedys and Alex, and she was certain she could make it there on foot.

The day was pleasant, but she appreciated how her plaid kept away the crispness of the autumn morning. She’d agreed to wear Padraig’s plaid, but she disagreed that it would help people see that he accepted her. It seemed to do the opposite, as if she committed sacrilege by wearing it. But that morning she was glad to have the wool wrapped around her shoulders. She walked for what she assumed was an hour and discovered the meadow she was searching for. The heather and thistles painted the ground her favorite shades of purple. She’d brought a basket with her, so she gathered heather to use in a fresh batch of soap. When she had all that she needed, she decided she should return to the keep, or at least closer. It was growing warm, and she feared her skin darkening too much if she remained in the direct sunlight.

She passed through a stand of trees and breathed easier in the shade, but when voices carried to her, she halted. She didn’t want to be discovered wandering alone, so she ducked behind a tree trunk, straining to hear the voices, hoping to know what danger they might present.

“I couldn’t wait any longer for the chit to be out of the way,” a man’s voice carried to Cairren. She struggled to hear, recognizing the voice was Duncan’s. She dared slip closer, knowing he spoke of Wynda, but she couldn’t see to whom he spoke.

“She caught us one too many times,” Myrna’s voice filled Cairren’s ears as she drew near to the couple. She could see them lying naked together on the ground. She swallowed her gasp as she watched Duncan playing with Myrna’s breast as she stroked him. She ducked back behind the tree. “The stupid bitch wouldn’t have kept the secret much longer. You had no choice.”

“I just wish I’d done it sooner.

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