Page 16 of Hunted By the Hard Highlander

Mrs. Duncan’s hands ran over Aurora’s back, fastening the buttons she was struggling to reach. The other woman remained silent as she worked, and Aurora could feel her disapproval. Still, she could not spend a day resting. Her mind would not allow it even if she did stay tucked in bed.

“Finish eatin’ before ye go anywhere,” Mrs. Duncan said when she finished dressing Aurora. Her touch lingered against Aurora’s side, seeming to test how steady she was on her feet. “The last thing any of us need is ye collapsin’.”

“Aye,” Aurora agreed, though she truly did not have much of an appetite. “But I willnae collapse.”

She waited until the housekeeper left her alone before she picked up the tray and moved to sit near the window. For reasons she could not truly understand, she had been watching for Hendry’s return since he had left. But she did not see him riding back on the horizon, just as she had not the last several days.

I shouldnae be so concerned about him.

In the courtyard below, there were piles of supplies set out, likely to be organized. It seemed that the staff was taking advantage of the sunny morning. They were moving around, passing things and laughing as they worked.

However when she glanced into the distance, she saw that along the horizon, storm clouds had begun to gather, coming in quickly.

“I daenae think they will be able to get everythin’ back into the castle before the rain starts,” she said to herself as she took a bite out of a savory roll of bread. It might as well have been ash, but she forced herself to swallow it.

She ate as much of it as she could, but eventually, her stomach turned and she had to stop. The sky was darkening even faster than she anticipated it was. Rising so quickly her head spun, Aurora left her room and hurried down to the courtyard.

Stepping outside, the wind whipped around her, throwing the loose copper ringlets around her face. The staff were shouting at one another, trying to coordinate the transportation of the most important goods first. She did not hesitate to step in and offer her assistance.

“Lady Aurora,” one of the boys said when she picked up a bucket of grain, “ye daenae have to help. We have everythin’ taken care of.”

“We will finish faster if there are more hands pitchin’ in,” she said, out of breath despite how little work she had done. She cleared her throat, trying to cover the thinness of her tone. “It willnae be long until the skies open up.”

As if on cue, a few drops of rain landed against her cheeks. Without waiting for the servant to say anything else, she rushed inside, leaving her basket in the foyer. The servants outside started rushing in as well, setting their items on the ground before they turned right back around. Aurora ran back with them, ready to help with the rest.

“Laird Anderson!” someone called, and at first she was not sure that she was hearing him correctly.

Aurora’s head whipped around, the atmosphere feeling almost like that of a bad dream. It was the same sensation as the nightmares that haunted her that evening. Part of her wondered if she was imagining hearing his name, but as the rain began to fall harder, his form came into focus. As he dismounted his horse, his eyes caught hers.

“Lady Aurora.” It was Mrs. Duncan’s voice coming from behind her. Aurora had not even realized she was approaching. “Ye are meant to be inside.”

“I—” Aurora began, the edges of her vision starting to blur. She rubbed at her eyes, trying to rid herself of the haze. “I wished⁠—”

“Laird Anderson, she is ill,” Mrs. Duncan said, sounding as if she were coming closer. There was a sharp edge to her voice that made Aurora’s stomach drop. “She needs to be inside.”

“I am fine,” Aurora said, her voice muffled to her own ears. She felt as if she were underwater, and it was not just because of the rain that had begun to fall harder. “It is me duty to help. I am… I am capable…”

As the last words left her lips, the world seemed to disappear beneath her feet. Her arms swung out as she desperately tried to keep her balance. The last thing she felt as darkness enveloped her was strong arms keeping her from hitting the ground.

* * *

Hendry cursed under his breath as he stared down at Aurora’s pale form in his arms. Her breathing was shallow, and even through the chill of the rain, he could feel just how high her body temperature was. It seemed as if she tried to stir in his arms, her unconscious mind still trying to prove whatever point she had been attempting to make.

“I’ve got ye, ye stubborn little thief,” he said, pulling her body closer to his, doing his best to shield her from the downpour. As he began to march inside, he met Mrs. Duncan’s eyes and said, “Get Isabella. Immediately.”

She nodded before rushing into the castle ahead of him. As she turned to go to the healer’s room, Hendry took the stairs two at a time, careful not to jostle the woman in his arms. Her breathing was so shallow that he worried the slightest misstep would stop her lungs.

This cannae be happenin’. She cannae be…

“What did ye do?” he practically growled. “Ye are nay good to anyone if ye run herself into the ground.”

There was no response from her aside from her continued labored breathing. It was the best answer he could hope for, and he knew it. It meant she was alive. But as he settled her onto her mattress, adjusting her pillow to support her neck properly, he wished that she had something fiery to say.

He had spent most of his time away thinking about what she was doing in the castle. It felt like a spell had been cast over him. The more he tried to push her out of his mind, the more pronounced her presence was. Soon, she would be the only thing in his head.

“I’ve got her, Laird Anderson,” Bella said as she rushed into the room. She did not wait for him to step out of the way, getting straight to work checking her over.

“How long has she been ill?” he asked, his voice coming out tight and impatient. “Who has been allowin’ her to push herself in this way?”