As we entered the cool stone interior of the castle, a young man I recognized as a royal steward walked quickly in our direction.
“Sire, we must go immediately.” The man stopped in front of us with military precision, his hazel eyes focusing somewhere over Jamie’s left shoulder. “I’ve taken the liberty o’ assembling the coronation team in yer office suite. The tailors have just arrived and must get a final fitting fer your ceremonial ensemble. There’s also been another dispute over the east highland property—”
“Whoa, man.” Jamie cut the austere young man short with a lift of his hand. “Excuse me for one moment, Verranica.”
They walked a short distance away as Duncan and Kenna entered the vestibule. A wave of relief swept through me—swiftly followed by a sinking dread. Would they forgive me for putting them in danger—almost destroying us all?
I turned in Kenna’s direction, but Jamie’s words stopped me in my tracks. “And send a note to Sofia Rosetti and request she meet me in my suite as soon as possible. Give me ten minutes to greet my brother, then I’ll join ye.”
Reality smacked me upside the head like an icy ball of snow. Dragging in a deep, ragged breath, I reminded myself it was better this way, better that he’d chosen the right girl—just as I’d urged him to do. So why did it feel like the world had just dropped out from under my feet?
Kenna rushed forward, her wide gray eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she threw her arms around me.
“I’m so sorry!” I cried, hugging her with all my might.
“I’m just glad you’re safe,” she whispered fiercely in my ear. Duncan grinned at me over her shoulder and then headed to his brother. Ken leaned back and gripped my arms. “But if you ever pull a stunt like that again, I’ll kill you with my bare hands!”
“No worries.” I shook my head and bit my bottom lip to keep it from quivering.
“Hey, it’s okay, Vee. You didn’t know what would happen.”
Not wanting to get into my sad tale in front of everyone, I let her misunderstanding of my teetering emotions stand. Unable to stop myself, I glanced over at Jamie.
“Hey, did you just get back? Who found you?” she asked in a Kenna-whisper.
“Jamie,” I muttered with a tiny shake of my head, trying to signal for her to shut it.
“Wait. You spent the entire night with him?” Every head in the courtyard swiveled our way.
Heat crept up my face, as my eyes locked with Jamie’s. His lips curved into a slow, wicked smile, stealing the pulse from my body. Funny how he could do that without even touching me.
“Okaayy. What’s going on?”
“Later,” I ground out between clenched teeth as I grabbed her arm and tugged her toward the arched castle doorway.
But before we could make our escape, Duncan strode over to us. “Glad you’re back safe and sound, Veronica.” With uncharacteristic awkwardness, he turned to Kenna and cleared his throat. “May I speak with you on the morrow?”
As if awkwardness were catching, Kenna shifted on her feet, suddenly unsure what to do with her arms. “Sure. I guess.”
Duncan captured her flailing hand, and bent down to give it a hasty kiss. “Until the morrow then.”
As he walked away, my friend lit up like a firefly, and I knew her heart was opening to him—whether she was willing to admit it or not. And unlike his brother, Duncan came with no baggage: no warning dreams, no almost-fiancée, and no mixed signals about wanting her in his life. It gave me hope that despite my own tear-jerker romance, her love story could still have a happy ending.
CHAPTER 26
Mackenna