The Highlander's Loving Heart by Z. Peabody

Author:Z. Peabody [Peabody, Z.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Z. Peabody

Cillian

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Before Aoife hits the floor, she is in my arms once again.

“Aoife!” her mother, the baroness, screams, and rushes over to see to Aoife. Aoife’s father hurries forward, but the Pherson soldiers posted at the door quickly come between us.

The baron looks at his daughter limp in my arms, with his arms outstretched, and then looks to me. “We will take her from here, Yer Grace.”

I cradle Aoife in my arms, her beautiful dark head on my shoulder as I hold her up high over my heart. I stare directly at the baron and nod once. “I appreciate yer help, Baron, but what I dinnae appreciate is ye instructin’ me about my business. Right now, Aoife is my business. Are no’ the documents signed?” I add and turn and walk out with the Pherson soldiers at my back.

I walk through the Great Hall, up the stairs to the level reserved for noble guests, and then straight away down the hall to her chambers. Aoife’s parents are now on this same floor, two chambers away from her own, and the chamber that is on the opposite side of Aoife’s washing room would be mine as her husband.

No sooner than I lay Aoife upon her bed, Merta rushes in, having been sent word earlier of our visitors.

“Cillian. What happened?” she asks, rushing over to the bed.

“She fainted again, Merta, tis all,” I say, but upon looking at Aoife’s face, I see her eyes flutter.

“Tis all! Ye ken she has had enough for this day with meetin’ those people,” Merta says.

No one can sleep with all the screeching Merta is doing. Aoife is awake.

“What did they say? Dinnae they want her home?” Merta asks, patting Aoife’s hand.

I stay Merta’s hand. “Nay, Merta….” I point down at mi lady. “Let Aoife come out on her own.”

Merta’s hands cover her cheeks. “Tis that her name?”

“Aye.” I’d threaten both Merta and Wilmae to not nose around the Bohannons, asking questions. But that may not stop the both of them from listening at the doors.

“Do we ken they are her parents?” Merta asks.

I take Merta by her shoulders and walk with her out of the chamber, then close the doors and turn to her. I did not tell her Merta Aoife’s birth name earlier because I didn’t want Merta to tell Aoife, as so she would be caught by surprise, and maybe her memory would return to her.

I open the pouch at my hip and take out a drawing of Aoife’s own mam, given tae me by my captain. “Will this answer yer question?”

Merta takes the piece of cloth out of my hand and stares down at the almost exact likeness of the woman lying in the chamber bed. “Tis a wonder. Mo…Aoife has done as this in the snow for the children. She makes little animals and dolls.”

“Aye, she is all that I thought and more. Go down tae the kitchens and brin’ back some water,” I ask to get rid of Merta.

“Aye,” she says, but before she turns to go, I take the cloth with Aoife’s likeness on it out of her hand.

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