Kara Griffin - Gunn Guardsmen by On Highland Hill

Author:On Highland Hill [Hill, On Highland]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-11-19T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Morning wasn’t his favorite time of day. Kenneth awoke with a pounding ache in his head and a terrible taste in his mouth. He was lying naked across the bed, a tartan bunched up on the floor. His wife was absent. Brightness filtered into the room from the lone window in the cottage and hurt his eyes. So he kept them closed and tried to recall what he’d done the night before. He remembered drinking the brew he’d taken from the hall. Had he drank the entire jug by himself?

No wonder he felt wretched.

His head thumped madly with each thought. He needed another swig to help him over the malady. Kenneth hadn’t ever gotten so drunk. As his head pains lessened somewhat, he wondered where Elisa had spent the night.

Remembrance of words echoed in his head and he hoped he hadn’t spoken them. He thought he recalled seeing Elisa dancing, her smiling face peering at him, as the sight and sounds waved before him. The celebration. She was there.

He groaned. “Damn me, what have I done? And worse, I’m to leave this day.” Kenneth moved off the bed and wrapped the tartan at his waist and belted it. He thought to go to the barracks where he kept his belongings. He needed clean attire and he might as well take what little possessions he owned when he left.

Groggily he walked to the door. He was about to open it when he spotted Elisa lying on the floor in front of the hearth.

He knelt next to her and shook her shoulder. She opened her eyes and Kenneth scowled.

“Elisa, are you unwell?”

“Nay, I am verily well.”

Her tone attested she was cross. Then he noticed how swollen her eyes were. “Have you been weeping?”

She didn’t answer.

Kenneth wasn’t certain but he thought he might be the cause of both her anger and tears.

“Did someone hurt you?”

“Aye.” She sat upward, drawing the cover she’d used during the night around her.

“Tell me his name and I’ll see to it.”

Elisa shook her head. “My upset doesn’t concern you, Kenneth.”

“Aye it does. Your worries are mine.”

“And are your worries mine?”

He didn’t answer.

“Then from this day forward I shan’t discuss my worries with you.” Elisa rose and moved to the chair. She wrapped herself in the tartan and looked across the room, avoiding eye contact with him.

“We’re to leave this day. Gather your belongings and I’ll return shortly.”

“Shortly? I shall believe that when I see it.”

Kenneth didn’t like the fact that she was irate with him. He was about to leave but turned back. Her gaze was on her lap. He didn’t know what to say to make her feel better or to appease her. Whatever he’d said caused her ire. Mayhap she needed a few minutes alone.

With that, Kenneth closed the cottage door and walked to the barracks. When he got to the building that housed the unmarried guard and sentries, he saw Grey talking with Duff outside.

He passed by hastily wanting to retrieve his belongings and to get out of there.

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