“I am headed in the direction ye came from, toward Conall Castle. I have yet to see me niece and am anxious to love on the sweet babe.”
I grinned thinking of the fat-cheeked, blue-eyed baby girl. “Well, she’s sure a cutie.”
“Aye, I’m sure she is. Let’s go meet up with the lads so that each of us can be on our way. Griogair will be headed back to Cameron Castle now. He only means to escort me to the edge of his territory. Henson shall accompany me the rest of the way. I’d like us to make it much further before nightfall.”
*
“Was she as frightening as ye imagined, lass?” He whispered as we watched his mom and Henson ride in the direction of Conall Castle.
“No. She’s great. Much like you. Although, it’s hard to believe she fell as sick as you said. She seemed totally fine.”
We re-mounted Artair and set out on our way before he spoke. “Aye, if I had no watched her wither away in her own bed for so many moons, I wouldna be able to believe it meself. I’m verra glad to see her doing so well, but something told to me before, haunts me now.”
Worry and confusion echoed in his voice. I twisted around to look at him. “What do you mean?”
“’Twas Eoghanan who convinced her to leave when she was ill. I dinna understand why he would wish it. When I spoke to him about it, he told me to wait and see how much better she would feel once she was away from the castle. He was verra right.”
“How could he have known that?”
He shrugged behind me. “I doona know, but ’tis certain I intend to find out as soon as we arrive.”
I allowed the evening to pass by silently. Each time I glanced back at him, I could tell that his thoughts were very far away.
Chapter 23
As we approached McMillan Castle, I saw nothing of either brother. I couldn’t have been more relieved. The closer we got to Baodan’s home, the more I sensed that Baodan readied himself to pounce on Niall for what he had done to me. I didn’t want to be anywhere around when he found him.
The entire situation with his mother also did nothing to help his mood. I had my own suspicions as to why Eoghanan believed his mother would be safer elsewhere, but while Baodan stewed, it was not the time for me to express them.
Eoghanan had been right to try and protect me from Niall and, after the little time I’d spent with the creep, I would put nothing past him. I couldn’t imagine what would make any man, even one as disgusting as Niall, want to poison his own mother, but if someone inside the castle meant Kenna harm, my bet was on him.
The stables were empty as well, and I couldn’t bear the stress in Baodan’s face as he put Artair away in the stall. I walked around the horse and put my arms around him, reaching my hands up to kiss him thoroughly. Baodan’s mood needed a lift.
It seemed to help a little. When we were both breathless, he grinned down at me, his previous worries gone if only for a second. “What was that for, lass?”
“Does it matter?”
“No. Are ye ready to go inside? I’ll see ye settled so that ye may rest while I find me brother.”
I sighed, disappointed. I hoped to distract him for a little longer, but clearly he would find no peace until he had dealt with Niall. “Yes, I’m ready.”
He grabbed my hand and walked quickly. It pleased me to know that he thought enough not to bring me to the same room he’d placed me in before. He seemed to read my thoughts and looked sideways at me as we continued down a long hallway in the opposite wing from where I’d stayed before. “I will no ask ye to stay in the room ye were in before. I shall place ye in me own room, and I shall find rest elsewhere.”
I looked up at him and frowned but said nothing. Why would he plan on sleeping somewhere else? I certainly didn’t want him to.
He opened the door but didn’t step inside. He merely motioned for me to enter. “Go ahead, lass. I shall have a warm bath brought up for ye and a clean dress. I shall join ye later, for I doona want ye to be in me home with me brother about. I willna be able to breathe freely with ye here until I see Niall gone from me home forever.”
He started to leave but I stopped him. I knew he’d be angry with Eoghanan as well, and E-o didn’t deserve to be punished for what Niall tried to do. “Hey, it’s not Eoghanan’s fault so don’t try to make it his. He spent every moment outside my door until that last night. He truly didn’t want to leave me, but something urgent required his attention. He worried about me. Promise me you won’t punish him for this.”
“Aye, I shall try no to do so, lass.” He kissed me softly and left.
*