Page 19 of The Beast

Once seated, Beatrice took a piece of bread and waited for Ella to pour the tea. She then slathered butter on her bread, lifted a thinly sliced piece of meat, and placed it atop the butter. When taking a healthy bite, she noted that Duncan watched her with a frown.

“Ye should try it. Very tasty,” Beatrice said and took a second bite.

Ella emulated her and took a bite of her slice of bread. “It is indeed,” she said between dainty bites.

“We will tell them the truth,” Duncan said, with a challenging gaze at Beatrice. “There is nothing to hide from. We sought shelter and nothing untoward happened.”

“It is not that simple and ye both know it,” Caelan informed them. “Just the chance someone will report what happened and word gets to the Macdonald, could make things very complicated.”

Beatrice was growing tired of the ramifications of her actions. She didn’t mind having to deal with the consequences, but she didn’t want Duncan to have to be embroiled in her mess. “I will ensure my parents are informed and that they understand nothing happened. It was a matter of necessity that we found ourselves alone.”

When no one spoke, she continued. “My father is very understanding. He values honesty and will know that what I say is true.”

While they ate, Ella told her brothers of the summons by her aunt before turning the discussion to the birth of Ewan and Catriona’s second child. Though, truthfully, it was Caelan and Ella who did the speaking, with an occasional nod from Duncan.

While the Ross siblings discussed the situations of having to handle things until Darach returned, Beatrice noted how in sync they seemed to be. Most striking was that Caelan included Ella in the decision-making, listening to her opinions.

Her father and brothers never included her mother, Isobel, or her in any conversation dealing with clan matters. Most of the time, they found out things through what was overheard. She found it refreshing that the Ross men seemed to respect and not undervalue a woman’s worth and intelligence.

As soon as she ate her fill, her eyes began drooping. “I will speak to my sister upon her arrival. For now, I must get some rest. I barely slept a wink last night.” Beatrice pushed back from the table.

As soon as she stepped out into the corridor, Duncan walked out. “I will be returning to my home. If ye need anything, ye can send a guard.”

“I am sure not to need ye for anything,” Beatrice replied. “Thank ye for escorting me back. I should have told the truth from the moment we returned.” She let out a sigh. “It always comes out in the end, does it not?”

There was a slight twitch to the corners of his mouth and for a moment, she thought he’d smile. “It does indeed.”

“I am sure my sister will convince Darach to the lack of impropriety and nothing will come of this entire thing.” She placed a hand on his forearm. “Thank ye for everything. I am not sure what would have happened if I had been caught in the storm alone. I apologize once again for the taking of yer time my impetuous nature caused.”

His gaze met hers. It was as if he was going to say something but was not sure of the words. Then he nodded and returned into the dining room.

“He is the most interesting man,” Beatrice said out loud as she made her way back to her bedchamber.

The same lad who’d given Ella the note sat alone at a table. Too engrossed in the platter laden with food that sat before him, he didn’t notice her walking past. Beatrice smiled widely as she hurried up the stairs.

She’d have to ask Ella about the young lad’s parents. He seemed very young to be walking from the village to the keep alone.

Once inside the bedchamber, sleep evaded, and she went to the window to look out to the scenery below. The day was shaping up to be sunny, which was good since Duncan would be riding home.

In the distance, more than the usual number of bìrlinns arrived at the shore and her heart quickened. Did it mean visitors had arrived? Or perhaps her sister and the laird returned. She leaned forward squinting while attempting to see clearer.

Her breath caught. Why had no messenger arrived with news? Or perhaps they were downstairs now.

Worst case, it would be her mother visiting. But as only two days had passed since Duncan’s return from North Uist, it wasn’t her. It couldn’t be.

Frozen to the spot, she continued watching as several bìrlinns were brought to the shore. People began climbing down and soon a man on horseback galloped toward the keep.

She let out a long breath and squeezed her eyes shut. The laird and her sister had returned.

If the messenger arrived before Duncan left, then he would remain to await their arrival. Of course, even if he had ridden off, surely, he would see the bìrlinns arriving and turn around.

Why hadn’t she stayed at the keep and waited for Duncan to come as he’d planned? If only she’d waited until then to speak to him about the interchange with her mother.

She prayed that the travelers would need rest and not have the energy to speak to her or the others right away.

Her maid, Orla, hurried in. “Do ye require anything? It seems yer sister and her husband have returned.”

“How do ye know?”