“There wasnae time.”
“You should have made time.” He splashed the remaining suds from his jaw and dabbed his chin dry with a cloth. Tossing it in the corner wicker basket, he snapped at his brother, “Tell me everything.”
“Kyla, Ronan, and I brought Fiona back here safely from Rhue Castle, no’ long afore the Twelfth Night and Yule celebrations began. She’s been here for months.” Duncan leaned his backside against the windowsill, the long length of the inner channel of Loch Carron weaving into the forested distance beyond the window.
“What of Matthew? Did you no’ bring him here too?”
“I have bad news about Matthew.” Duncan scrubbed a hand through his hair. “I hate to tell you this, but unfortunately Matthew suffered a nick during a training session some months ago, the smallest arm wound, but it festered and he took a fever. He passed away.”
“What? But Matthew was hearty and hale the last time I saw him at Rhue.” He’d also left implicit instructions with the three men he kept within Jeremiah’s stronghold that should anything happen to Fiona, to send word to him immediately. This constituted sending word.
“I can assure you Matthew has perished.” Duncan pushed off the windowsill and gripped his shoulder. “If you’d known of his passing, I’ve no doubt you would’ve returned for her. I did what you would have done and brought her here where she’d be safe.”
“Safe?” Such shock rocked through him, his breath coming harder. “What did Jeremiah do to her?” Of all their clansmen, his younger half-brother had been the only one over the years who’d ever made her feel unsafe. He could get rough with the lasses when not watched, although he’d set Jeremiah straight a time or two about remaining well clear of Fiona. “If he touched her in any way, I’ll kill him.”
“’Tis a long story, but suffice to say, Jeremiah forced Ronan and I to sail there after causing mayhem here at Carron, then after learning of Matthew’s passing while at Rhue, we brought her back with us. She feared for her life, Coll. I couldnae leave her there a day longer, no’ when Jeremiah wished to make her his leman.” Duncan growled under his breath. “She worried greatly that even should she say nay to him, he’d soon force her to his will. Knowing Jeremiah as I do, I didn’t doubt his intentions would be dishonorable. Kyla is so happy to have her near us again, and so am I. The four of us have always been so close, and Ella adores Fiona too. Being that we all hold fae blood, there is no better place for her than once again amongst us.”
“She would be safest at Ardan House with you rather than here within my own walls.” He was to wed another woman, and if Fiona remained widowed and within his arm’s reach, he’d want to keep touching her. That he couldn’t do. He had his future wife to consider, as well as his entire clan. Gritting his teeth, he muttered, “Is she aware of my upcoming marriage?”
“She is now. On my way to see you, I spoke to Kyla below-stairs and she informed me she’d spoken to Fiona about your upcoming nuptials.”
“How did she take the news?” His heart clenched in on itself. Never would he have wished for Fiona to hear of his impending marriage vows from anyone other than him.
“I didnae see her, thought it best I come and speak to you first.”
“I need to find Fiona now.” He nabbed his black coat from the ambry and rushed out the door. He’d speak to her, right this second.
“You seem so anxious.” Duncan followed him as he jogged down the passageway and took the stairs two at a time. “Why is that?”
“I’ll explain soon.” He entered the great hall where a good hundred of his men sat in chattering groups at the trestle tables as they ate the midday meal. He’d missed a great portion of the day, had never arisen so late, but then he’d never been so exhausted. At the dais, Kyla set her goblet down and waved out.
He stalked across to her, planted his hands on the table before her and tried to keep his voice even. “Duncan has informed me that Fiona is here and now resides with us.”
“Aye, but she and I spoke this morn and now she’s gone.”
“Gone?” He lost one very necessary heartbeat.
“She returns to her father on Loch Alsh.”
“What?” He lost a second and thumped his chest, his heartbeat pulsing right out of time.
“She took the news of your betrothal hard and wished to leave. There is naught I could do to stop her.” Kyla settled one hand on his arm. “She told me about what happened between the two of you last eve. That you touched each other.”
“You and Fiona touched?” Duncan stared at him with wide eyes and mouth agape. “Why did you no’ tell me?”