I turn up at Castle Druiminn in the twenty-first century, I’m to be returned to this time. It was a promise that was passed down because of you.”
Gwen nodded, tears pooling in her eyes. “I’m so proud of her, and I’m so happy to see you again. This is very timely, as we ourselves have only just arrived to visit Aedan.” Gwen looked down at the sleeping bairn in her arms. “I had a daughter. Her name is Mairi.”
Abby ran a hand over the fine red-haired baby’s head. “She’s so beautiful. Congratulations. I’m so happy for you and Braxton. Your descendant Kenzie, who sent me back, is an exact replica of you, absolutely lovely.” Abby paused and looked about the room. “But I fear my arrival may have come too late.” Her attention snapped to the dais where Aedan remained seated, his gaze steadfast on her. Despair washed over Abby, and had Gwen not been holding her hand, she was sure she would’ve crumbled to the floor. “I couldn’t face seeing what happened to Aedan after the clan battle with the O’Cains, other than finding out if he survived or not. I fear I should’ve looked further into his future. He seems to have settled at last.”
“There have been discussions. I know she wishes to marry my brother, but their clan only arrived last week. There is still time, Abigail.”
Abby cursed herself for not looking up his future. Had she done so, she could’ve saved herself a lot of embarrassment and heartache. “I suppose I should go and say something.”
“I’ll come with you, and then we’ll go upstairs. We have a lot of catching up to do.”
Smiling as much as she could, Abby walked toward the main table, though her heart threatened to dissolve into little pieces. The thought of Aedan courting someone else tore her soul in two. Had he kissed Aline? Did he now have feelings for her? She shut her eyes against the image of them sitting together, a laird and his lady. She shouldn’t have come back.
She curtsied. “And so we meet again.” Aedan’s eyes stared at her with an intensity she’d never seen before. A muscle clenched in his jaw, his body stiff and unmoving.
“Ye didn’t tell me, Aedan, that Abigail was coming. What a joker you are,” Aline said, no mirth in her words.
Abby met the woman’s toxic gaze and read the hatred behind her beautiful angelic features. She hid her venom well, but not well enough for another woman not to notice.
“Yes, what a joke it is.” Aedan flinched at her words, and she hoped he understood what she meant. She was being cruel, but she couldn’t help it. To her, she’d only been away from him for weeks, to see him with someone else after such a short time killed her inside. Jealousy clawed into her stomach and wouldn’t let go, no matter that she tried to remind herself that a year had passed since the battle and she must now fight for him.
“I hadn’t expected you to accept the invitation.” His voice wrapped about her, a comforting elixir that she’d missed with every breath she’d taken since their parting.
“What can I say?” she said, smiling. “I loved my time here. I loved everything about the Highlands, and I wanted to see Gwen’s new baby.”
“Loved? Not love?” He took a sip of his mead, his gaze pinning her over the top of the mug.
“That’s to be seen.”
Aline looked at them, a confused frown on her perfect brow. Abby curtsied. “I shall see you in the morning. I’ve had a long day.”
She joined Gwen just as her friend handed off the babe to a servant before heading upstairs. They walked toward her old room, and Abby was relieved and yet nervous about being placed in the same chamber. Aedan had full access to this room. Would he come to her tonight? Would he seek her out and explain what was going on between him and Aline?
The reunion with Gwen went on for some hours, and Abby was happy to have her friend back again. The thought of her being a mother filled her with excitement, and she was so pleased that something that Gwen had longed for had finally come true.
As the sound of the revelry downstairs quieted, she yawned, the comfortable bed calling her name.
“I’ll let you have some rest and will see you tomorrow. And please, do give Aedan a chance to explain. The past twelve months have been very hard