Page 105 of Captured by a Laird
She picked up her skirts and ran after him. Though the distance was short, her skirts were heavy with mud and rain soaked her back by the time she reached him.
“David,” she said, catching his arm. “Where are you going?”
“I’m leaving for Hume Castle,” he said, his face expressionless.
Disappointment weighed down on her chest.
“So soon?” She wiped at the water streaming down her face with her sleeve. “When will ye be back?”
He shrugged, and she noticed a raindrop caught on his lashes. He had such beautiful eyes. But he looked tired, and she longed to brush her palm against his unshaven cheek.
“When?” she asked again.
“I expect I’ll be back from time to time,” he said. “But I’ll be living at Hume Castle now. I’ve left Brian in charge here.”
“Livingat Hume Castle?” She blinked against the rain pouring into her eyes as she tried to absorb this news. “Can’t we leave tomorrow? I need a bit of time to pack my things. And shouldn’t we wait for this storm to pass?”
“You’ll be staying here. Brian’s a good man and will keep ye safe.” He started to reach for a dripping strand of hair that was stuck to her cheek, but dropped his hand. “Go inside before ye catch your death.”
“I don’t want to go inside,” she said. “Tell me what ye mean. Say it outright.”
“We’ll remain married,” he said, turning his gaze away from her. “But I think it best we live apart.”
“Why?” she asked, stunned. Was he that disappointed in her?
“Ye wanted your freedom,” he said, still not looking at her. “I’m giving it to ye.”
“But…but…” she sputtered, “what if I don’t wish to live apart?”
“I can’t be the man ye want,” he said.
Before she could find any words that might change his mind, he mounted his horse.
“I wish ye happy,” he said, and dipped his head.
She could have been content with her freedom if she had never met him, never become his wife. But not now. Why did David steal her heart only to leave her?
“Why did you ever come here?” she said, clenching her hands. “Could ye not have let me be?”
Alison stood, soaked to the skin, and stared after him long after he rode out the gate.
CHAPTER 43
“I’m your mother, Beatrix,” Alison said, folding her arms as she stood over her daughter. “You’ll have to speak to me sometime.”
She was not sure which was worse, Beatrix furious and glaring at her, or Margaret looking pitiful as she sat on the floor rubbing her wooden pig against her cheek.
“Why did ye make David leave?” Beatrix said, stamping her foot.
At least Beatrix had finally spoken to her, but Alison felt too weary to deal with her daughter’s anger. She could barely crawl through the days since David left.
“If ye think I have the power to make the Laird of Wedderburn do my bidding,” Alison said, “you’re mistaken.”
“Ye haven’t even tried to bring him home,” Beatrix said, her voice thickening with the tears she was holding back. “You’ve done nothing! Nothing!”
He doesn’t want me.
Beatrix held out her hand to Margaret and led her sister out of the room. Alison watched them leave, then dropped onto a stool facing the narrow window. She stared out at the dark clouds that were gathering on the horizon, like a reflection of her dismal future.
