Page 29 of Only a Highlander Will Do

When the door closed softly behind Gwendolyn, Fiona finally let her tears fall, wishing for the thousandth time that she had been born a son or not born at all. But she had, and crying would not change her fate. With a final sniffle, she stood and brushed the tears away before heading towards the bath.

She undressed and slowly lowered herself into the steaming water, allowing it to soothe away her aches as she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. For the moment, she could forget about what she had to do this evening and simply enjoy the feel of the water against her skin. When the aches in her muscles lessened, Fiona opened her eyes and took the soap to her skin and hair until she was covered in a sudsy lather. She ducked her head below the water to rinse when a sudden chill came over the entire hip bath—the sides, the water, even the surrounding air.

Fiona pushed herself upright above the water’s surface to see she was surrounded in a frothy grey mist, and standing beside the bath was the Grey Lady. Fiona gasped at the sight of the other-worldly form. “What do you want, Lady Janet?”

I felt your distress and had to see for myself what might be wrong.

The spirit’s mouth did not move as she stared at Fiona, placing thoughts into her mind. Fiona reached a wet finger out to touch the spectre before her, wanting to find Tormod’s mother solid, but her fingers slipped through and the water on her hands turned to ice crystals.

“Does that happen often? That you can feel when someone is sad?” Fiona pulled her hand back and slipped it into the bath water, warming it.

It is the only part of myself that still feels human—feeling the emotions of the others who surround me. I feel sorrow. Also joy, and everything in between. So tell me, Fiona, why were you crying? Are you unhappy here with Tormod?

Fiona squeezed out the water from her hair before she reached for her bathing sheet, stood, then wrapped it around her, drying herself. If they were going to have this conversation, she wanted to at least be out of the water and on equal ground with this spirit. The others had said the Grey Lady would not harm her, but she had seen the woman’s ability to move objects with her thoughts earlier in the day. In the water Fiona had nowhere to go. Outside the hip bath, she had options.

Fiona redraped the drying sheet around her. “Does your offer to help me leave Dunvegan still stand?”

The Grey Lady’s brows furrowed. You wish to leave now that you are married?

“My situation has changed. I truly have no other option left to me. I must leave here tonight.”

What about Tormod?

“I hope he will understand in time.”

My son might be a mighty warrior and put on a brave, impervious front, but of my children, he feels things most deeply. The armour he wears helps to protect everything except his heart. Which until now he has not had to protect.

Fiona could no longer hold back her tears. They brimmed over her lashes and streaked down her cheeks. “It is not my intention to hurt him. I have no other choice.”

There is always another choice.

Fiona batted at the tears with the back of her hand. “Then I don’t know what that is.”

Talk to Tormod. Tell him what saddens you.

Fiona shook her head. “He won’t understand. He’ll force me to stay, then I will lose everything. And over time, I will come to resent him for that loss.”

The Grey Lady’s expression cleared, giving Fiona no hint of her emotions. If you feel leaving is your only option, then I will help you. However, I must warn you that I can take you no farther than the edge of the forest. I am tethered to the castle. That is as far as I can go.

“That will be far enough.” Fiona was certain the MacDonalds had followed them back to Dunvegan, based on the way Tormod kept looking over his shoulder their entire journey back. Once she left the safety of Dunvegan, they would come for her.

“Tormod and Graeme are securing the castle’s exits. Will that affect your ability to help me leave?”

Nay. The exit I have in mind is known only to myself and a few others who are also not of this world.

Fiona’s heart skipped a beat. There were other ghosts at Dunvegan? “When will we leave?”

Tonight, after Tormod falls asleep, take the stairs leading to the Fairy Tower. I will meet you there, at the landing.

Fiona had barely finished nodding her agreement when in a swirl of mist, the Grey Lady disappeared.

Tonight, she would leave Tormod and Dunvegan to save her home. Fiona refused to think about what other sacrifices her plan involved. For if she did, she would surely change her mind.

Chapter Eleven

The rest of the afternoon, Fiona tried to forget about her evening plans. She wanted to enjoy as much of castle life with the MacLeods as she could. Here at Dunvegan she had luxuries she wasn’t used to—others assisting in the daily castle work, and people who were closer in age to converse with. Today, she could enjoy those things a little bit longer.

When she’d finished abovestairs, she’d gone to the drawing room for tea with Gwendolyn and Rowena. There the two women had showed her the latest fashion plates and talked about ordering her a few new gowns. She’d tried to object but they wouldn’t change their minds. Two new dresses would arrive for her within the week.