“I think so, too,” Abby said, meaning every word. Living in this time would be hard, she had no illusions, and with Aedan thinking of war against the O’Cains was certainly something to take into consideration, but maybe she could change his mind. And a life in the future without him seemed bleak and lonely. Only half complete, no matter how pampered people lived in her time, the technology, travel. It all paled when compared to him.
She couldn’t go back. Aedan was her life now. The man she wanted to make a future with.
“A servant will be bringing up some food to break Abigail’s fast.” Gwen walked over to the chair beside her bed and sat. “I suggest ye not be caught in such a predicament again, betrothed or not. As Abigail’s to be the laird’s wife, you need to think of her reputation, brother.”
“It’ll not happen again.” A muscle worked in his jaw, pulling Abby’s gaze to his lips. As much as she loved Gwen, she really had chosen the worst time to come and see her. Just then, a woman Abigail had seen downstairs a few times walked into the room with a wooden tray, an assortment of food spread out for her to choose from.
Abby thanked her, looking down at the stew-like soup and mead. If it wasn’t for her headache, she’d feel almost normal, but still her stomach rumbled, not in the least fazed by her head trauma.
“How is Betsy? I hope she’s being cared for after what Rory Kirk did to her. The bastard.”
Both Gwen and Aedan looked at each other and dread pooled in her gut. “Is Betsy okay?” She thought over what happened in her room, of how Betsy had been thrown to the floor. She hadn’t hit anything going down, but her memory was hazy at best… “Tell me what’s going on.”
“I was hiding in the secret passage, Abigail, and I saw everything that happened in the room with Rory. I remained quiet as I knew he’d try and flee with ye, and when he knocked you out, I checked on Betsy. She was dead. He’d broken her neck before throwing her to the floor. I’m so sorry.”
Abby shut her eyes, the burn of tears making them sting. Betsy had been a sweet woman. A mother with little children. And now, because she’d travelled back in time and had reminded a crazed man of his missing betrothed, the woman was dead. “It’s my fault. I can’t believe he killed her. She didn’t do anything to him other than being my maid.”
Aedan came and sat beside her, pulling her against him again. “Nay, lass. ’Tis not your fault. Rory Kirk was a bastard, has always been an uncharitable, cruel lord. Had it not been you, he would’ve chosen someone else to cause trouble for. It was his nature, as it’s in Scotland’s nature to be wild and untamed.”
She sniffed against the crook of his neck, pulling him close. “She has little children, Aedan. We have to make sure they’re looked after. Never hungry or without clothes. Promise me this.”
He nodded. “Aye. I promise. They’ll never be without.”
She relaxed a little and weariness swamped her. “I think I’ll rest a little while,” she said, lying against the pillows. “Would that be okay? I’ll eat later. I don’t feel like anything now.”
Gwen stood. “Of course, my dear. I’ll check in on you later.” She took the tray and set it on the bedside table, raised her brows at Aedan when he didn’t venture to leave. “Are ye coming, brother?”
He kissed her quickly and strode from the room. Abby watched them go and sighed when the door shut. Rolling over, she hugged her bedding, the tears flowing freely for what had transpired in the last three days. An innocent, beautiful life lost for no reason. Life could be cruel. She knew that as well as anyone else, but it still didn’t make it any easier to bear.
A few days later, Aedan strode across the courtyard and stopped when he saw Abigail talking to one of his clansmen. He started toward them and then stopped when she hugged the man before pulling away and heading for the castle.
The clansman walked off to continue with his business, none the wiser that he was under the scrutiny of his laird.
A cold knot of jealousy spiked in his soul, and he yelled out to Abigail to stop. “Replacing me already, lass?” He