“Oh, aye. I even thought of leaving with some fishermen on one of our travels, but I couldna bring myself to leave Adwen or his family. I’m a verra good swimmer—even in waves such as this, I could do well enough.”
He wore a thick coat and pants, but I had seen the strength and size of his muscles before. I didn’t doubt his ability to swim remarkably well. If the width of his chest was any indication of his air capacity, I imagined he could probably stay underwater just as long as many sea creatures.
“I’m a lousy swimmer.”
“Are ye? ’Tis another reason for me to get ye back up onto solid ground, lass. What are ye doing out here?”
“I don’t really know. I needed some air, and it just looked nice down here. I feel very nervous this morning.”
“Aye, I woke with an unusual feeling myself. I doona know why, but ’tis a day of meaning. I doona think I will forget it for a long time to come.”
It was a good summarization of the flurry of emotions I struggled with. The day felt important, and there was no reason for it to be so.
“Yes. Exactly.” The sun just now fully broke the horizon. “What are you doing up anyway? I figured everyone was still sleeping.”
“Wee Cooper has been staying with me, remember? I’ve never seen a lad who wakes so early. What has sent ye out here so early, Jane?”
“Adwen believes he loves me.”
Orick turned toward me, his brows pinched in confusion “Adwen believes nothing. He does love ye.”
“I know, but he wants children. And I can’t give them to him.”
“And ye havena told him?”
“I’m scared to.”
“Lass.” Orick reached for my left hand and held it gently between both of his own. “Hear this and doona doubt it. Ye needn’t ever be frightened of Adwen. Those that have Adwen’s love canna do wrong in his eyes. He would never love ye less for knowing that. There are other ways to find children—many wee souls without homes. He took in one orphan many years ago and loved the child well. I’m certain he would open his home and heart to another.”
I sniffled as I leaned in to hug him. “You have no idea how great you are, Orick. I’m quite fond of you. Thank you.”
“Ach, Jane, I’m verra fond of ye as well.” He paused and pointed back up toward the castle. Uncomfortable with any compliment, he was as humble as ever. “Cooper waits for us at the top of the hill. Are ye ready to go back? I doona wish to leave ye here alone. Ye may take a misstep on the way up. I’ll stay behind to catch ye.”
His words sent an inexplicable shot of terror down my spine. Suddenly, the last thing I wanted to do was to begin the short, upward climb. I had never felt such an unbearable sense of foreboding in my life.
“Why don’t you call after Cooper and tell him to go inside? Let’s stay here awhile.”
“Lass, ye couldna hear me when I called down to ye. I doona think Cooper will be able to hear me if I call up. Best we go up so he knows ye are well. Then, if ye wish to be alone, we will leave ye.”
“Okay.” I nodded, standing carefully as I brushed off the bottom of my dress. Orick stood and stepped over to the edge and held out his arm so that I would step in front of him.
The climb up was much more difficult than the climb down. More than once I had to grip on to rocks above me and pull myself up with my hands to find safe footing. Orick stayed close behind me, placing a steady hand on my back when necessary.
As we neared the top, I could see Cooper standing at the edge. As he called out to us, I lifted a hand to wave at him.
Everything happened so quickly as the rocks beneath my feet fell away. The sudden loss of footing caused my left hand to slip. As I fell backward, the last thing I saw was the look of horror on Cooper’s face.
CHAPTER 41
In truth, I couldn’t have slipped more than a few feet, but it felt like a hundred before Orick’s strong hands caught me firmly around the waist. He had to push me forward to keep us both from falling, and my face smashed hard against the jagged rocks in front of me.
“Jane. Jane, are ye hurt, lass?”
I would have a few scratches, but I would be grateful for even a few broken bones if it meant not falling to my death.
“I’m fine. Thank God for you, Orick. I could kiss you.”
He laughed, and I felt his chest shake against my back. “Ach, ye’ve done that once, lassie. I doona think I could bear those sweet lips again. Besides, Adwen is no here to see ye do it. If ye wish to kiss me, please wait until we both get to see the look on his face.”
“Aunt Jane. Aunt Jane. Are you okay?” Cooper’s frightened voice called down to us. Orick screamed upward to comfort him.
“Aye, lad, she’s fine, though she’ll have to pull herself up if she can. Cooper, I want ye to stay far back. Doona come near the ledge until yer aunt and I are both up there with ye.”
Orick adjusted his grip on me and pointed to a stone out of my reach.
“Jane, do ye see the large boulder up high above ye?”
I leaned back into him and nodded.
“I can lift ye to it, but ye will have to pull yerself the rest of the way up. Can ye do it?”