Page 24 of When a Highlander Vows (Enemies to Lovers #1)

24

A fter Caitlin washed and dressed, she found her way to breakfast, the animals following her until they left for the kitchens. In the main hall, Lottie was already eating, and Sarah sat with her as well. Colin smiled up at her when she walked in the room.

“Good morn’!” Lottie called cheerfully, while both Caitlin and Sarah looked ill.

Caitlin could see her own forlorn expression mirrored in Sarah’s face. “The babe slept poorly last eve,” she said, rubbing a hand on her stomach. “All that dancin’, food, and some drink. I couldnae rest well.”

“I am sorry for that, Sarah.” Caitlin sat down, thankful for warm food and drink.

After Lucas had gone an hour before, her headache had worsened, and the rush of tears had not helped it.

Lottie looked at her with a scrutinizing eye. “Are ye well, Lass? Ye look a bit swollen, as if ye’d been cryin’.”

“Aye, I am well. Just too much wine, more than me usual. And I also daenae dance very often. It was an unusual evenin’ for me. But a good one. Thank ye very much, Lottie, for what ye did.”

“Aye, ‘tis nay trouble. I am glad ye enjoyed it. Yer friends, the young lassies, will be down soon, I hope. They were very kind and jovial,” Lottie said as Caitlin spread fresh butter on a piece of bread.

“They were very happy to have joined the gathering, Lottie.” She took a bite and closed her eyes as her head panged again.

“Very good. We shall enjoy ourselves today, getting in a bit of rest. Perhaps we could go on a longer walk.”

“If ye are able,” Caitlin said weakly, swallowing down the hunk of bread, her stomach beginning to churn.

Never again will I consume so much wine. Or enjoy so much Lucas.

She put down the bread and took a sip of the warm tea that had been poured for her.

“Perhaps today is a good day to swim in the sea. I can imagine the cool water would be invigorating,” she said, thinking how a bath might do her wonders, but her body was still thrumming with heat.

Cool water might help to keep that reckless desire at bay.

“And healing,” Sarah said with a light smile.

“Paige came to me this mornin’, however, sayin’ she will be headin’ down to the closest village,” Lottie said suddenly. “I’ve just remembered. I think ye should go with her, Lass. I wouldnae be able to walk that far, and ye will get the chance to see the village.”

“Och, well,” Caitlin began, wondering a little if her stomach would be able to handle it as well as if her tentatively struck friendship with Paige would last. “I wouldnae wish to disturb or impose.”

“Nae at all. I already suggested it to her. She will leave within the hour if that is acceptable.”

Caitlin nodded, and Sarah stifled a laugh.

“I wonder…where are the men this morning?” Caitlin asked, hopeful that Lucas had not stayed away from breakfast just because of her.

“Unfortunately, they have been called once again to the border. It seems the skirmishes continue, the damned things,” Lottie said with a frown. “I had hoped he could accompany ye, Caitlin. He is still yer host.”

“And he has done his duty very vigorously,” Caitlin said, blushing when she saw Sarah hide a laugh again.

Did others ken he stayed in me chamber last night?

“I mean only that he has already completed his duty to me in showing me the Castle and grounds, Lottie. I can handle the rest on me own or with others.” She gave Sarah a pleading look, which only seemed to entertain the woman further.

“Well, I think he should have stayed here with us, and so I cannae fight ye on it, seein’ that me foolish grandson has run off again, but I am nae done with this, believe me.”

Caitlin didn’t say anything else, and when she finished her breakfast, Paige entered the main hall, opening up the oaken door to peek inside. She looked tired, just as everyone else, but still very pretty. Caitlin worried that Paige would be able to see what had happened last night and this morning on Caitlin’s face.

I told her he wouldnae want me, but now…och, the shame of it!

Paige wore a dark cloak and carried a basket under her arm. Her red hair had been plaited, and the plait hung over one side.

Smiling lightly at Caitlin, she said, “I heard ye might be willin’ to join me in the village? Lottie said—”

“Aye, I would be delighted. I will just need to get me own cloak. But please tell Rachel and Mary I will be back later, Lottie. I hate that I’ve missed them yet again.”

“Of course,” Lottie said, shooing her off. “Enjoy yerself and the fresh air.”

A few minutes later, Caitlin was at the doors of the castle, waving goodbye to Lottie and Sarah.

“Enjoy yer time,” Lottie said, her eyes crinkling as she smiled. “We will have tea when ye return, and we can sit in the library together.”

“That would be nice.” Caitlin remembered she was intended to be the old woman’s companion.

And yet ye’ve been layin’ abed, having a man’s tongue between yer legs.

“Aye, dae have a good time. Meet some lovely new folks.” Sarah moved closer and kissed her on the cheek. “Ye must tell me all about yer evenin’ last night, and explain why Lucas dinnae return to the feast,” she said, and Caitlin gasped.

Blushing, she could only nod to Sarah, and she passed out the door with Paige, hoping and praying that Paige would not ask what Sarah had whispered in her ear.

So, she kens? What must everyone think of me now?

They walked for a few minutes in silence before Paige said, “How did ye sleep, then?”

Caitlin seemed to be afflicted with a permanent blush. If the way she’d spent her night was public knowledge, then Paige was sure to be furious. Caitlin wasn’t sure if she was well enough to deal with another icy rebuke from her new acquaintance.

“It was fine, although I think I am unable to sleep so full, after leaving me cottage. It is just nae the same.”

She wrapped her cloak about her more tightly and looked off into the distance as the outline of the village stood blurrily in her view. Nestled between bright green hills, it reminded her of home.

Will I ever return?

“I can understand that. It was a struggle for meself as well after I moved into the Castle, nae to have me own home again. I have some calming herbs that I could use for a tea. If ye would like some help to sleep, that is.”

“That would be very kind of ye, thank ye.” Caitlin cleared her throat. “Did ye enjoy yer evenin’? I missed the endin’. I think I will never drink that much wine again.”

To her surprise, Paige giggled, putting a hand to her mouth to stifle the sound. “Forgive me, but I think yer right. Ye could hardly stand by the end.”

“Och, daenae remind me.” Caitlin put a hand on her head where Arla had pinned her hair a little too tight.

It only made the headache worse. Paige kept laughing.

“I’m sorry for laughing, but I suppose it is part of the point of Lottie’s feasts. She wants everyone to engage in as much merriment as possible.”

“Kind of ye, but I am payin’ for it this mornin’, and now I have a new resolve to never drink so much again. I suppose I have never had a feast before. At least nae to that size. Nae since I was a little girl.”

Paige nodded, still smiling a little. “Well, now that ye have moved here, ye will have many a feast. Lottie loves to celebrate, especially after—” Paige stopped, and Caitlin waited for her to continue, but she did not.

“After what?”

Paige hesitated for only a moment before she continued. “Well, after her son and husband died. I dinnae ken them, but I heard that they werenae kind men. That Lottie was forced to dae as they said. They dinnae like celebrations, and if they had them, it was only for the sake of drinkin’ themselves into a stupor.”

Caitlin’s mouth opened. Lucas had not said any of this to her, nor Lottie.

Why should they? Ye are nae their family. Why should they share their secrets?

“I suppose I might have heard that as a child, but I dinnae realize it was true.”

“Aye, so they say. Here we are.” Paige took Caitlin’s arm as they approached the entrance to the village.

She had been so absorbed in their conversation that she’d not looked ahead, and now she could see the thatched roofs and wooden buildings of the village a little more clearly.

“Do ye mind if I hold yer arm, Paige? I daenae wish to stumble or slow ye down, and with me head the way it is this afternoon, I think I will have more trouble than normal.”

“Certainly.” Paige held out her arm, and Caitlin took it, glad they’d come to some sort of peace together. “We can walk wherever ye’d like, but I dae need to visit the herbalist as well as get a few other things for me poultices and such. I grow me own herbs, but some of them fail to produce as much as I need. I like to have plenty on hand, and when Lucas and the others go to battle, I send them as much as I have.”

“It is nay trouble. I am at yer disposal; I will simply enjoy the village sights.”

“Good.”

Paige spoke a little bit more about healing as they walked along, but Caitlin was distracted by the activity of the village. It felt so like home that her heart ached for her old places, her old people, waking up each morning to feeling comfortable and safe.

Home was now such a fluid idea. It had changed from one place to another in a way she’d never thought possible. Despite her homesickness, Caitlin could envision herself living in the castle forever.

With Lucas by yer side, nay doubt.

She bit her tongue to distract her foolish mind. But it was true. Whenever she thought about living at McDougall Castle, she always pictured Lucas there too. It was becoming more and more a comforting image and thought.

And a dangerous one.