“I can,” Gabriel whispered to the empty glen. Reaching into his shirt pocket, he pulled forth the frayed cloth he had tucked into a secret pocket in his vest. His heart fluttered as he grasped it tightly, refusing to let the wind take it from him.
Looking out over the glen, he watched as the wispy clouds grew heavier and darker. Lightning cracked through the clouds as if dancing between them as the thunder shook the ground. The horse let out a whinny from the sound.
“Easy there,” Gabriel said, tending to the steed. Stroking the horse’s face, Gabriel stared into its dark brown eye.
“I daenae understand how she could have forgotten so many things,” he whispered. “So many happy memories between us. Can she really nae ken every step I took was to ensure we would end up together so that I could keep my promise?”
Exhaling, Gabriel shrugged off his emotions. He cleared his throat as he mounted. “Patience. Long suffering and patience.”
With another crack of thunder, the sky opened up. Rain poured down drenching him. With no real direction, he found himself drawn back home. It was as if she were calling to him. Digging his heel into the horse’s side, he raced through the glen and back to her.
“Well?” Gabriel asked Jacob the instant he got back. Gabriel didn’t care he was soaked to the bone, or that he was tracking mud inside from his boots. All he could think of was Elena. Suddenly she was there, standing in the hallway. Her eyes were wide and he could see color in her cheeks. She stole a step toward him. The very sight of her made his knees weak.
“Dae ye want to discuss things here?” Jacob asked, breaking Gabriel’s concentration. Pulling his eyes off Elena, Gabriel shook his head.
“Nay, best speak in the study,” Gabriel answered, his eyes shifted to Elena a moment. “And have Emily fetch me some tea and a new shirt. Must get out of these wet clothes.”
Gabriel rushed to the study, his heart pounding in his ears. Jacob slipped into the room.
“Well? How did her day go?”
“The Lady inquired about ye,” Jacob said. “And if ye ask me, looked a bit disappointed ye went away.”
“And for the servants? Did they do as I asked?”
“I had them busy all day wit’ nay time to spare,” Jacob answered dutifully.
“So what did she do today?”
“Spent most her time in the library. But I will say, each time a door opened, she looked up. Whether she was hopin’ to see ye though is uncertain.”
“We will have to continue this charade tomorrow as well,” Gabriel said. Although it pained him to have to keep her at a distance, he knew it was for the best.
Gabriel peeled off his wet shirt and threw it over the seat by the fireplace. The heat of the flames warmed the cockles of his being as the rap on the door caught his ear. Gabriel moved to the door and opened it. His eyes widened when he spied Elena walking past the doorway as Emily handed him the shirt. Elena paused, eyes locked on him.
“Thank ye, Emily,” Gabriel said. “And if ye daenae mind, I’ll take dinner in here tonight.”
“Aye, M’Laird,” Emily said with a curtsy.
Gabriel closed the door and pressed his hand against the wood. Straining his ears, he tried to listen for any signs from Elena. The disappointment in her eyes seared his soul.
Ye may think ye hate me now, but can ye nae see, there is a fine line between the two? And sooner rather than later, ye will come back to me.
Chapter 13
He’s torturin’me. That is what he is doin’. I’m certain he’s determined to make my life as miserable as possible.
Elena exhaled as she paced the length of her room. Her fingers fiddled with the pendant around her neck as she tried to figure out the reasons for Gabriel’s absence. Trying to convince herself he was busy with work and the estate, she found it harder and harder to believe the lie.
Moving to her writing table, she sat down and pulled out a pen and paper. Staring at the blank sheet of paper, she felt tears swelling in her eyes.
My Dearest Sister,
How are ye doin’? I hope yer doin’ better than I. I fear my life here will be one of isolation. I ken Gabriel would find every way he could to torture me, but I dinnae ken it would be to the extent that it has been. Aye, I’ve only been here a short time, but I’ve had nay contact wit’ anyone. Even the servants seem to be too occupied to speak wit’ me. Gabriel is constantly in his study and I daenae ken if he’s intentionally avoidin’ me or if he really is workin’. We daenae communicate at all.
Oh, why did uncle have to pair me wit’ such a man? Surely there had to have been other suitors willin’ to offer me their hand? But it matters nae. Here I am, stuck in this gilded cage. I ken ye told me I could come and visit. How ye and Vincent would take me in and I would love nothin’ more than to run away from this horrid place, if anythin’ to be in some company again.
I miss ye, I miss all of ye.