True to the Highlander (The Novels of Loch Moigh) by Longley Barbara

Author:Longley, Barbara [Longley, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Published: 2014-02-18T00:00:00+00:00

“My dear, ’tis time you left this chamber.” Lydia reached out to give Alethia a shake. “Are you ill, child?”

She tried to turn away from the voice disturbing her, but it wouldn’t let her be. She tried to cover her head with the blankets, only to have Lydia tug them out of her hands and away from her face. “Leave me alone,” she muttered.

“Nay. ’Tis not fitting. You dishonor Malcolm.”

Alethia scowled.

“Aye, ’tis a dishonor to the MacKintosh clan to show such a lack of confidence in our ability to protect our own. You have been in this bed for two days,” Lydia scolded. “Hunter is beside himself with worry. Enough. Get up.”

She sat up.

“Your time would be much better spent preparing for their return. Mayhap there will be wounded to care for.”

“Wounded?” Alethia saw Hunter hovering uncertainly by the door. His worry caused a wrenching sensation in her chest. She held her arms out to him. Relief danced across his face as he bounded across the room to climb up onto the bed. He settled himself on her lap, took her face in his small hands and studied her intently. She knew he looked for fever. His whole world had shattered when his mother and grandmother died. Guilt swamped her. “I’m fine, Hunter. Not sick, only sad.”

He nodded, his far-too-old eyes reflecting complete understanding. She pulled him into a tight hug, resting her cheek on the top of his head. He smelled like the outdoors, little boy and peat smoke. His warmth gave her comfort and drew her back from the black void.

“A bath awaits, True.” Lydia patted her knee. “Then you will eat something and join us in my solar.”

“Lydia.” Tears pooled in her eyes. “Malcolm left without saying good-bye.”

“Of course he did. He knew you would try to follow. If his attention were divided between keeping you safe and fighting, he’d be more likely to come to harm. MacKintosh men protect their women.”

“Something bad is going to happen to him because I’m not there to prevent it,” Alethia sobbed.

“Is this something you have seen in a vision?”

She shook her head. “No. I’ve never had a vision. It’s just something I feel.”

“Mayhap what you feel comes from words said to you by the woman who sent you to us, and no’ from premonition at all.” Lydia reached over to clasp her hand. “My dear, I dinna doubt the reasons you came to be here. I only question your conviction, and Malcolm’s as well, that the deed has aught to do with warfare and bloodshed. A life can be in peril for many reasons, aye?” With a final pat to her hand, Lydia rose to leave.

“Thank you, Lydia. You’ve given me a lot to think about.” Hadn’t she said the very same thing to Malcolm herself? It could be that she’d nurse him back to health, or prevent some catastrophe. She hoped to God that was the case. Throwing the blankets off, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and set Hunter on the floor.

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