Page 16 of Deceived by the Highlander (Daughters of the Isle #2)
Instead, she gave into her inclination and smiled at him. How could she not? He was like a vision emerging from the shadows of the corridor behind him, and the bewitching hints of auburn in his blond hair glinted in the light from the lantern he held.
“Am I disturbing ye?” There was a hushed note in his voice as he cast a wary glance around the apothecary.
“Aye, but I won’t hold that against ye.”
His dark gaze caught hers and her stomach pitched. Unfathomable, and entirely delightful. If only they could kiss once again, but with the cloud of Afi’s ill health hovering around her, even thinking such a thing seemed despicably frivolous.
“Miles found me,” he said, and instantly all thoughts of wrapping her arms around Alasdair’s neck and feeling his hard body against hers fled her mind.
“There’s no need for alarm,” he added hastily, and she released a relieved breath, not even minding that he’d witnessed the fear that had whipped through her at his words.
“Afi wishes to see me?” She hoped he wasn’t still upset about Colban.
“He wishes to see both of us.” There was a troubled expression on his face as though the news wasn’t welcome. Not that she blamed him. It was strange how Afi had taken such a strong liking to Alasdair after such a short acquaintance that he wanted him present during these last difficult times.
Not that she objected. Far from it. But her opinion on this matter was purely personal with no medical benefit and she certainly wouldn’t voice it.
“Then we’d better not keep him waiting.” She picked up her satchel and went over to Alasdair, and Dubh pawed his boot in greeting.
Alasdair crouched and gave her dog a quick scratch behind his ears before straightening, and she wasn’t sure she managed to hide her besotted smile before he once again caught her gaze.
“I feel as though I’m intruding in private family matters.” He kept his voice low as he took the satchel from her before they made their way along the corridor to the hall, where light flooded through the windows, and he doused the lantern. “But Miles was adamant Ranulph wants me there, too.”
“He thinks highly of ye.” Not that Afi had said as much to her, but it was obvious to anyone with a grain of sense. “And let me assure ye, he’s not one to give his approval lightly.”
Instead of easing the frown that carved his brow, which had been her intention, it appeared her words caused his expression to darken further. How odd.
Her grandmother stood by the great hearth with Roisin by her side and beckoned them over with a regal wave. Miles was nowhere to be seen.
“Amma, how is Afi?” To be sure, Miles had assured Alasdair there was no cause for alarm, but it had been hours since she’d last seen him, whereas as far as she was aware her grandmother had been with him all afternoon.
“He’s very...” Amma hesitated, which wasn’t like her at all, and dread seeped through Freyja’s heart.
But before she could say anything, her grandmother continued.
“Animated. But his mind is sharp, and I have no reason to doubt he is in full possession of his senses.” Amma took her hand and concern wreathed her face.
“But I fear this is his last spark, Freyja.”
She feared the same. “I should go to him.”
Her grandmother led the way and after they’d climbed the stairs and were walking along the passage to her grandfather’s chamber, Alasdair’s knuckles brushed hers, before lingering in a comforting caress.
Before she could think better of it, she interlocked her fingers with his and his thumb stroked a path of fire across her palm.
She kept her gaze locked on her grandmother and Roisin and with her free hand went to grasp the strap of her satchel, to focus her scattered thoughts.
Except Alasdair carried her satchel, and so she gripped her skirt, instead, but it did nothing to help clear her mind of the image of the man who walked so confidently beside her.
Blessed Eir, she was in trouble, and that was a fact. But for now, she’d simply enjoy his company and hope she didn’t fall any harder for him before he left the Isle.
When they entered Afi’s bedchamber, he was propped up on his pillows, Miles standing by his side with a grim expression on his face.
Hastily, she untangled her fingers from Alasdair’s.
It was absurd, but for some reason it felt disloyal to enjoy his touch when her beloved Afi was so close to passing through the veil.
She hastened to his side. “Do ye need something for the pain?”
He grasped her hand in a surprisingly firm grip. “Ye’ve done all ye can for me, my beloved bairn. I know my time is short, but there are things I must do before I leave ye.”
Her throat ached with the knowledge there was nothing she could do to deny the inevitable, but somehow she managed to find a smile. “Ye must conserve yer strength. Miles can do whatever needs to be done.”
“I’m not speaking of the daily upkeep of the estate. I worry about ye, lass.”
Unease shivered through her, even though she knew it was likely her grandfather was merely speaking in riddles. And yet, as Amma had noted, there was no sign that his senses were addled.
“There’s no need to worry about me. I can take care of myself, as ye well know.”
“I need to see ye settled before I go.”
How she wished he would stop talking about his impending death, but Afi had always been a straight talker and there was no reason to expect him to change his ways now.
“I’m settled, Afi. Truly, ye mustn’t concern yerself about such things.”
“Ye know what I mean.” His intense gaze locked with hers, and heat blazed through her. She hoped he wasn’t going to raise the subject of Colban again. Not when Alasdair Campbell would hear every word.
She dropped her voice to a whisper and leaned in close, so no one, not even her sister, could overhear. “We don’t need to discuss this now.”
“Aye, we do.” Although Afi’s voice rasped with the ravages of his ill health, she was certain half the inhabitants of the tower would’ve heard him.
“I don’t have the luxury of waiting, lass” He sucked in a jagged breath.
“Ye must wed, Freyja. ’Tis the only way I’ll know ye’re protected when I’m cold in my grave.
’Tis the only thing that will give me comfort as I draw my last breath. ”
Her grandmother came to her side and Freyja glanced at her, hoping Amma might share some of her wisdom and calm Afi’s distress. But Amma didn’t say a word, and although her face didn’t share what she was thinking, the gleam of sorrow in her eyes shook Freyja to her core.
Amma agreed with Afi.
It hadn’t occurred to her that they would continue to discuss her future prospects after she had left Afi earlier. Had they also decided who they believed she should wed? At least she could be sure it wasn’t Colban.
It was hard to shake off the sense of betrayal that two of the people she loved most in the world had gone behind her back to consider her future, But Afi was still her patient, and she’d not distress him further by her hasty rejection.
She gave his fingers a gentle squeeze and sat on the edge of the bed.
The specter of death had shaken him, but she had to make him see there was no need for him to feel he had failed simply because he hadn’t ensured she was betrothed.
Maybe if she could make him smile, he’d see the truth through the fog of his unwarranted worry.
“Afi, ye mustn’t think such things. I’m well protected, and ye know it. There’s not a MacDonald alive that I couldn’t best, if I put my mind to it, and no man wants that from his wife, now do they?”
But he didn’t smile. Nor did his gaze waver, and unease slithered along Freyja’s spine. What had she missed? Why did Afi look so fierce?
“’Tis not a MacDonald who can protect ye, Frey.” He drew in a rattling breath and his fingers spasmed in her gentle grasp. “I know who ye need, and ye must promise me on the bloodline of yer foremothers that ye’ll honor my final wish.”
Alarm streaked through her at how he’d invoked the sacred lineage of her foremothers. An unbreakable bond, but surely her grandfather wouldn’t enforce something so irrevocable when he knew how desperately she was against it? “Afi, please—”
“To protect yer safety, ensure the survival of Kilvenie, and ease my heart, ye must wed Alasdair Campbell as soon as possible.”