Page 13 of Stolen Highland Dreams (The Highlanders #9)

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A nxious about how Amelda and Mina were faring on their own, Ella couldn’t stay here. She was already feeling better but had to return to Mina and Amelda as soon as possible.

She could not believe how terrified she was of the parchment, but when she saw it, it appeared to have been covered in blood. When Dashiell asked her if she wanted to dine with him and his people, she wanted to see what they would be like and if Dashiell might take her cousin and Mina in.

What if he didn’t want to get between her and MacAfee? What if he owed more of an allegiance to him than some family living in the woods? She had wanted so badly for Finnegan to race to their hut and make sure Mina and Amelda were all right.

But Dashiell being there had thwarted her plan to tell Finnegan to attempt to return to the forest briefly and then bring her word. She feared Dashiell would be mad that Finnegan had come to the woman’s chambers. He didn’t seem to have been, thankfully. However, she hadn't been so sure when he took chase after him.

She hadn’t expected to be seated at the high table next to Dashiell, though it felt right somehow. She was glad she had told Dashiell about MacAfee’s plans for her. If only Dashiell believed her.

Not only that, but she’d wanted to see Lynette, and she knew the lady was furious. She was sitting at the head table between the man named Angus and Dashiell’s aunt and not next to Dashiell. After Lynette's lies about Ella, she was happy to irk Lynette thoroughly.

Lady Yvaine told Ella around Lynette, “We welcome you to Cairn Castle, dear. You have been the topic of conversation here for several weeks now.”

Ella glanced around to see everyone watching her. Then, as the pork was served, she took her knife and poked at it.

“Do you like pork?” Lady Yvaine asked.

Ella nodded and proceeded to eat it. Besides fish, it was one of her favorite meals.

“Well,” Lady Yvaine said to Dashiell, “I believe she is eating very well, considering.”

“Aye, she doesna seem to mind being here so much after all. Though I dinna think I would leave her alone without someone to watch her,” Dashiell said.

“Do you think she would try to run away then?”

Nay, not run away, but she would see her family and then return with them if she could.

“If we were to put the temptation in her path, she would.” Dashiell smiled at her. He had the most charming smile, and his blue eyes consumed her. She swore he was as intrigued with her as she was with him.

His aunt ate some of her bread. “She still doesna speak, I hear.”

“Nay, she seems to want to sometimes, but the words willna come.”

“I am pleased you allowed our people to see her.”

“I hope not everyone will dream of the lady tonight for doing so.”

“My brother, cousin, and I have no’ dreamed of her,” James said.

Dream of her ? That was odd, Ella thought as she watched the minstrel begin to sing a song.

“I believe Ella likes you,” Yvaine said to Dashiell.

Oh, aye, she thought he was the brawest of men.

“Well,” Lynette said as she raised her voice, “I have never heard such nonsense. Some wild woman is served supper at the laird’s table and seated next to Dashiell, no less, then we must listen to this drivel…”

“I am sorry, Lady Lynette,” Dashiell said as he ran his knife coated with butter over his bread, “if you are uncomfortable sitting at the high table, there is room at one of the lower tables over there, and I am sure my clansmen sitting there would very much enjoy your company. As to the drivel you speak of, you say that Lady Yvaine and I are speaking such?”

Lynette’s cheeks grew red as if she had spent too much time in the noonday sun while Ella looked around Angus to see Lynette’s response to Dashiell’s suggestion. She smiled at Lynette, who slammed her tankard on the table and turned away.

Ella loved it. She touched Dashiell’s arm, showing him that she agreed with him and was glad he said what he had, though she wished she could say the words aloud.

Lady Yvaine watched as most of his clansmen and women did, and then she said, “Your people are observing you.”

“She isna harming anyone, and I have done her a great injury. I dinna think anyone would criticize her for her actions here today.” Except for Lynette.

“What will you do with her after she has healed?”

“The healer said it will take her several weeks to recover fully. We will see.” Dashiell observed Ella eating stewed blueberries. “At least she is eating well.”

No way would she be here for several weeks. Mina and Amelda would never survive without her. She wanted to tell Dashiell that they had to bring Mina and her young cousin here, but without some way to write the words, she wouldn’t be able to. She had to get word to Finnegan somehow.

After the meal concluded, Dashiell had Ella carried back to her guest chamber, whereupon Lynette approached Dashiell. “She has made a spectacle of supper. Will you play a game of chess with me?”

“I will spend a moment with the lass before she retires for the evening. After overexerting herself at supper, she will need her sleep.”

“Poor thing,” Lynette said, her voice bitter.

“Aye, well, I will see you in the morn.” To tell her she was going home. He wouldn’t spend any more time in the woman’s presence.

“In the morning? We could stroll in the gardens this evening…”

“Nay, I will be tied up.” He wanted to send her home immediately, but it was too late at night to do so safely.

The woman looked furious. He could imagine how awful it would be to be married to her.

When Dashiell arrived at the guest chamber, Flora met him at the door. “I am sorry. We have removed the lady’s gown and put her back to bed. I believe she overtaxed herself this evening as she seems to be having some discomfort with her arm.”

“Has my healer…”

“Mai has already seen to her, but Ella seems to be in some distress.”

“May I see her?”

“She is feverish.”

“From the injury I did to her?”

The maid nodded.

Dashiell frowned. “I wish to see her.”

“Aye.”

The maid pulled the door aside. Dashiell walked in and paused in the doorway as he saw Ella roll over onto her side and moan.

Dashiell strode over to the bed. “I am so sorry I have caused you such pain, lass. What can I do to help?” Ella closed her eyes as she held her arm with her good hand and moaned again. Reaching down to touch her cheek, he felt she was burning up. Dashiell said, “We must reduce her fever. I fear infection has set in.”

Flora applied a poultice Mai had prescribed, and Dashiell took a seat.

After two hours, Flora said, “It will be a long night. Do you no’ think you should get some rest?”

“You will no’ be able to watch her all night long.”

“Nay. Three other ladies will take turns watching her. I will return for the two hours before everyone rises to break their fast in the morning.”

“All right, but have someone wake me if her condition worsens tonight.”

“Aye. We will.”

Then he left the room to spend time with James and his kin.

“We were leaving on the morrow with our bulls,” James said, “but a situation arose.”

As if Dashiell could think of anything but Ella right now. The twinkle in James’s eye said he had something humorous to share. He sure hoped he would think it was funny.

“We have no’ agreed on a price for using our bulls for stud service.”

Dashiell frowned. “What?”

Angus shook his head. “Canna you see Dashiell is worried about the lass? He has more important things on his mind.” However, he was smiling when he said it.

A maid served them all some ale.

Niall took a swig of his. “We should just gift him it and no’ charge him.”

“What?” Dashiell was thoroughly confused. If Ella hadn’t been on his mind, he might have gotten the message quicker.

“Our bulls were moved into your cattle pen and got quite rambunctious with the lassie cows.” James leaned back on his chair and raised his mug of ale to him.

Dashiell’s jaw dropped, then he smiled. “Whose fault was that?”

“Our men’s. Think naught of it. As Niall told you ‘tis our gift for all your generosity. We had planned to return to our keep first thing in the morning. If you need us to stay here because of the lass, we will,” James said.

Dashiell shook his head. “You need no’ stay. I know you need to get back home and you still have a couple of days’ journey ahead of you.”

James drank some more of his ale. “We’ll stay. We want to be here for you should you need us.”

“Aye,” Angus said.

Niall agreed.

Dashiell appreciated it. They had always been there for each other, and he had always enjoyed their company. He also knew, from the way James and his kin had been smiling, that James had been the one to tell his men to put the bulls in the pens with the receptive females without any thought of payment.

His men wouldn’t have made the mistake. Dashiell’s people would have known about it and must have vowed silence until James revealed what had happened.

“Just dinna let the lass get away from you again,” James said. “I predict she is just the one for you.”

Dashiell didn’t intend for her to leave ever. He wanted to share his life with her. He just had to know what was going on with her and MacAfee, where she and her brother had been living all these years, where her young cousin was, who she was staying with, and where they were from.

Later that night, Dashiell checked on Ella. She was still feverish, moaning, and not doing well. He felt awful about it and stayed up with her for a few hours, trying to cool her down with a wet cloth.

“My laird, let me take care of her,” Flora said. “You need to get some rest.”

“If her condition changes, send word at once.”