Forbidden Highlander (Highlander Trilogy 2)

“I see the worry in your eyes, but what is it that I truly do?” Flanna said with a shrug. “I listen and gossip. It is what everyone does.”

Dawn smiled and nodded. Flanna would prove a good ally and not only for this matter. Already she had learned from Flanna, without asking, that Lucerne had the habit of striking her servant, which told Dawn that the woman cared little for those beneath her.

“I have to go and tend to my duties,” Flanna said standing. “I will see what I can learn and return with your evening meal and hopefully some useful information.”

Dawn pressed her hand to her chest.

“No need to thank me; I look forward to the challenge.” Flanna smiled and hurried out the door.

Dawn decided to busy herself with adjusting one of the gowns in the chest. It required only a few tucks here and there and she would leave it loose so that it would eventually hide her rounding stomach. And with her hands busy her mind would idle. She could use the rest from the constant worry of late.

She gathered what she needed and sat on a chair by the fire to spend the afternoon stitching and waiting for night and Cree to visit and for them to talk.

~~~

The hour grew late and Dawn was brought no meal and she wondered what was amiss. Flanna had said she’d return and if for some reason she wasn’t able to she would have made certain that someone brought her meal. She could very well cook herself but after having a taste of Turbett’s delicious fare, she much preferred it to her own.

Dawn had given Cree her word that she would not leave the cottage or she would have walked to the kitchen to see if there had been a problem and fetched food herself. She would have also liked to see how Neil was doing. She understood that Cree worried for her safety but she could not remain confined; she needed to be free.

There was a stirring outside the cottage door, then a rap upon it before it swung open to admit Dorrie, a basket on her arm.

“I am sorry that your meal is late but there has been a terrible mishap at the keep,” Dorrie said hurrying to spread out the food on the table. “Cree took ill during the meal and took to his bed chamber. Elsa is with him now. Lucerne carried on endlessly that it was the cook’s fault and that the fool had poisoned Cree.”

Dawn’s heart hammered in her chest. She grabbed Dorrie’s arm needing to know how Cree was and yet her hands trembled so much that she feared Dorrie would not understand her gestures.

Dorrie patted her hand. “Cree is doing well. From what I hear Elsa purged his stomach and he is now resting, though not before he spoke to Turbett. I don’t know what was discussed, though I do know that when Turbett returned to the kitchen he got busy preparing a special meal for you. He would not let anyone touch the food and chose me to bring it here since Flanna was busy.”

Dawn wanted desperately to run to Cree’s side and see for herself that he was all right, but she couldn’t. And it angered her. She should be there for him as he was for her this morning when she had retched.

“I have to hurry,” Dorrie said. “Turbett has us busy discarding the old meal and preparing a new one.” She turned to go, then stopped, and lowered her voice. “I thought you should know that they caught another warrior who meant you harm. Talk is that he died before telling them anything. A brave one he must have been to suffer such torture and not confess.”

Dawn paced the room after Dorrie left. Worry and anger churned in her. She did not know how she would be able to live this way, being part of Cree’s life and yet not being part of it. She so badly wanted to be by his side, be there for him whenever he needed tending or caring.

She would get no rest this night. She would worry until he came to her and she could see for herself that he was all right. This would not do, not do at all. If Dorrie hadn’t brought her meal she would not have known that Cree had taken ill. And then there was Neil; she had yet to hear if he was doing well.

Anger spewed up inside her and she wanted to scream with frustration but she couldn’t even do that. This day had taught her one thing and given her more determination than ever… she would be a prisoner no more. She did not care if someone was out to harm her. She would not hide away. Tomorrow she would visit with Elsa and see what she could learn about Cree, she would visit Lila and then Flanna and she would stop at the kitchen and thank Turbett for the meals he sends her. She would make her presence known in the village and to hell with the consequences.