Page 32 of Fearless Heart
Chapter Ten
Her enemy was now his. Somehow he would gain her understanding. The woman was hell-bent on her resolve to keep him from protecting her. He needed to wed her and soon. But he suspected she wouldn’t be amiable to his pledge. He rationalized the matter for hours during the night and as much as he balked, he knew what he must do.
Outside the ossuary, a lad approached and handed over a folded parchment. Heath held the missive and dismissed the Sweetheart Abbey stable lad with a wave of his hand. He wasn’t expecting to receive a message from his father so quickly. The words indicated he come at the soonest, but gave no indication why the urgency. The only reason his father would send for him was difficulties with the MacKintoshs. Their conflict must have escalated.
Brodin returned from the village and approached. He handed him a new harness for his horse. Heath had asked him to purchase one since the one he used was frayed. He didn’t want to leave Lillia, not since she confessed to being Queen Yolande’s child. Still reeling from her admission, he kept continual watch on her. Not that he expected her to flee, but he suspected those who were after her wouldn’t give up easily.
“Foreboding news?” Brodin asked, pointing at the missive.
“Aye. I need to travel home for a wee bit, but I’m hesitant to leave Lillia.”
“Graeme and Liam can watch over her. I’ll go with you. I need something to do. It’s been tedious with the king attending political matters. Och I’d rather Robert oust the rest of Edward’s followers with force. At least then we’d have to protect him and I’d get to use my sword arm.”
He nodded for he too was leery of the king’s evading the force of removing the English. Since King Edward death, Robert spent more time on matters of country than ridding Scotland of the remaining oppositions. That might be problematic in the near future, but alas, they’d be ready to protect the king when it happened.
There was nothing he could do, his father needed him and Lillia was safe at the caves. The Comyns couldn’t find her in their haven. He wouldn’t be gone too long, mayhap a week or fortnight at the most. He noticed Lillia walking with Annag. She carried a small basket. When he reached her, he gazed overlong at her bonny face. Lillia, in the short time she resided with them, grew more at ease. She was her sweet self, and verily inattentive.
She stumbled and the basket she held went flying. He was close enough to catch her and laughed when she gasped aloud.
“You should have a care where you step.”
Her face brightened as she bent to retrieve the herbs she and Annag collected.
“I shall gather them” Annag said, “See what your man wants.”
Lillia blew a strand of hair from in front of her eye. “Nay, I’m almost done.” When she finished picking up the fallen herbs, she handed the basket to Annag and turned back to him.
“Sweetness, I must go. I shall be gone for a wee bit of time.”
“Where are you going?” she moved closer, but didn’t touch him.
Heath closed his eyes briefly and wished he could take her in his arms and kiss the breath from her. She looked too bonny this day, and her cheeks a bit flushed from being outside, her lips lush and taunting. “I’m to travel to my da’s lands.”
A worried mien crossed her face.
“Worry not; I am not going near Hunter land.”
Her shoulders relaxed. “I am gladdened to hear that. I do not want my family involved in this treachery. If they don’t know where I am, they should be safe enough.”
He nodded and pulled her into his arms.
“I mean it, Heath. The Hunters kept me safe all those years. If someone is trying to find me, they might well use my family against me. I won’t risk their wellbeing.”
“Your father can protect your family for he has a large enough army to go against any foe. Hell, his allies outnumber the largest army. Och, you’re right. You should stay away and it is best they ken not where you are.”
“If you see my da, promise you won’t tell him where I am. He’ll be angry that I thwarted the betrothal and fled.”
He lifted her chin. How he wanted to set a kiss on her lush lips and ensure her of his promise, but he nodded instead. “You’ll be safe here with Graeme and Liam until I return.”
Her lips widened in a smile that affected him more than he was wont.
“I shall miss you. You will miss me as well?”
His answer came when he crushed his lips against hers. He took his time and ensured her with all his passion he’d miss the hell out of her. When he pulled back, he found Brodin standing behind him, grinning akin to a fool.
“I told Graeme about our trek. Let us go. He’ll return soon, Lillia. Release him so we can depart,” Brodin said.
She gasped and hastily unfurled her arms from around his body. Without a farewell, she rushed off. He thought her bonny but with her embarrassment and flushed cheeks she looked ravishing. Heath watched her until she disappeared inside the main cave.