Turn and run! She silently warned herself and she would have if her legs had not frozen with fear.
He spotted her then and waved.
She returned his wave and got her legs to move, though she worried that any second they might collapse from under her. No smile greeted her as she got closer, but then he rarely smiled. Every now and then there would be a slight lift to his lips, but nothing substantial. His green eyes, however, greeted with a delight that was obvious and it made her at least feel welcomed.
The brew she had been giving him to help restore his voice was showing some success. He had been able to say a word or two, though not without struggle and she had cautioned him to limit his speech until it came more easily.
He tilted his head and shrugged.
She understood that he wondered what brought her here to him. “I need to speak with you about something important.”
He nodded, his eyes intent on her.
She clutched her cloak, not wanting him to see how her hands trembled. “I do not know if you have heard yet, but my sisters had to go away.”
His brow narrowed with concern and question, and he shook his head, letting her know he had not heard. She had not expected him to since it was only a short time ago that it happened.
“It is a bit involved, but it is not why I came here to see you.” She paused not sure how to continue. “My sisters worry for me, that I am alone with no one to look after me.” She paused again, feeling that she sounded much too needy. “It is not that I cannot take care of myself, but I thought—” She stopped, her stomach churning so badly that she feared being sick in front of him, so she rushed out her words before she embarrassed herself. “I favor you Saber. I feel comfortable and safe with you, and I would be ever so grateful if you would marry me.” His shock was obvious, since his mouth dropped open some and his eyes went wide, but she ignored both and continued. “I would be a good wife. I would take good care of you and I would be a good mum to our bairns.” She was about to say more when she caught the change in his eyes. A sudden empty coldness filled them that actually shivered her, and she knew then what his answer would be.
He kept his eyes intent on her and shook his head slowly.
“Oh,” was all she could manage to say and that he offered no more, not a gesture or a simple word made it all the more awkward for her. “I will be on my way then.”
He responded with a quick nod.
It was obvious he wanted her to leave and she did not hesitate, she turned and walked away as hastily as possible. She had not expected his refusal to sting as much as it did, but then she liked him a lot more than she would admit to anyone. Never had she gotten flurries in her stomach around a man or felt so happy as when she saw him. She had thought she had seen the same delight in his eyes. She had been wrong and so had her sisters.
A tear trickled from one eye.
He had not even offered a single word or gesture. He had done no more than shake his head. She had thought him at least a friend. Would not a friend offer more than a shake of his head? What difference did it make? He owed her no explanation. Whatever the reason, he had refused her offer and that was the end of it.
She did not know what she would do now. There was no one to turn to, no one to confide in, no one to trust, and no one to ease her hurt.
And no one to stop Clyde from pursuing a marriage between them.
Chapter 2
Elysia had kept much to herself since making a fool of herself three days ago by asking Saber to marry her. She had tended a few minor ills in that time, but she was not a skilled healer like her sister. She had to speak with Chieftain Emory and make him understand she could not replace her sister as the clan’s healer. She also intended to make it clear that she was free to choose her own husband and that she would not marry Clyde, and she intended to do that today.
The problem with her plan was that it was market day in the village and Saber usually attended and she did not want to see him. And she did not think he wanted to see her, since he had not come to the cottage to drink the soothing brew or take the syrup for his throat as he had been doing faithfully for several days. It was a shame since both aided in healing his throat. What troubled her even more was that she missed seeing him. Even though he could not speak, he had managed to engage her in talk, not that it took much to get her to talk. She had found it quite easy to talk about many things with him, though she had done all the talking. Most of all, she missed the comfort of their friendship. Seeing him again, knowing he did not feel for her as she did for him, would only remind her of the sting of his rejection.