The Castle Courtyard on a Snowy Christmas Eve by MacEwen Fiona

Author:MacEwen, Fiona [MacEwen, Fiona]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2019-11-17T16:00:00+00:00

***

Arabel found little consolation that day, and she moped around the castle, lamenting Duncan’s sudden departure. They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder and Arabel could not help but find her heart yearning for the man she truly loved. She felt guilty for her feelings, but it was impossible to hide them, given that they had been planted all those years ago before Duncan went off to war and found himself a prisoner.

Arabel knew that her duty was to marry Alistair, a duty he too carried with him, but her heart was not in it. Now that Duncan was gone her heart was restless and pining and she would find no peace until she heard news of him. Had he really abandoned her? She could not accept it—and to not even say goodbye was unbelievable. Those were not the actions of the Duncan she knew and as she thought more of it, she found herself growing ever more suspicious as to what had really occurred.

That night she caught Alistair on the stairs just as he was going to bed. He had been very quiet at dinner, eyeing his father, who was holding court as usual. Many of the guests for the Christmas feast had now arrived and Fraser was in his element as host, showing off the riches of his wealth and boasting of his power.

“I dinna believe that Duncan has left without so much as a goodbye,” she said as Alistair ushered her into his chambers and closed the door.

“I daenae either, lass, but surely he cannae …” he began.

“Yer father is capable of anythin’ and I think that he is behind this. Duncan was goin’ to stay until after our wedding, he said as much. And why can yer father nae tell us where he is? I am worried, Alistair,” she said, and began to cry.

He took her in his arms and held her close to him, his head resting upon hers.

“Tis’ alright, lass, we will find him, I promise,” he said.

“Oh, but what must ye think of me, I am sorry, Alistair, it is just …” she said, fresh tears now pouring down her face.

“Neither of us believed Duncan even to be alive. I would never have stood in the way of ye two if he had been here, but then if he had been here my father would nae be Laird in his place,” Alistair replied. “None of this is how it should have been, it was the response of folks who had to make the best from a bad situation.”

“I cannae help how I feel,” she said, “and I am sorry if it hurts ye.”

“It dinna hurt me, lass. I want ye to be happy and our marriage was to be one of duty, but it is my father who will nae hear of us endin’ our betrothal. I am nae ready to marry yet, I want to see a bit of the world and have some adventures. Not be tied to this place for the rest of my days,” he said, sighing.

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